Johnny Bench

Johnny Bench

Johnny Bench was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on December 7, 1947. The third of four children of Ted and Katy Bench, he was All-State in basketball and baseball at Binger High School and the Valedictorian of his graduating class.

Johnny Bench's childhood dream was to become a major league baseball player and his father counseled that the position of catcher was the most direct route to that goal. Taking that advice, he was selected in the 1965 amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds and signed with them. After two seasons in the minors, Johnny Bench made Cincinnati's Major League roster for the 1968 season. This marked the beginning of one of the most successful careers in baseball history and to Johnny Bench's ascension as a celebrity.

Johnny Bench was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 1989 with the fourth highest percentage of total votes cast, he is undoubtedly the greatest catcher ever. His honors include National League Rookie of the Year (1968), National League Most Valuable Player (1970 & 1972), World Series MVP (1976), 14-time All-Star, with 10 consecutive Gold Gloves. In 1980 Johnny Bench set an endurance record by catching 100 or more games for 13 consecutive seasons. In 1999, Major League Baseball announced that Johnny Bench was voted "Catcher of the Century" on the All Century Team.

He maintains a sense of balance by using his celebrity status to aid worthy causes, such as the Heart Association and the American Cancer Society (as National Chairman of "Athletes vs. Cancer"). In addition, Johnny Bench has enjoyed maximum national visibility through his thousands of hours of entertainment experiences and personal appearances on various baseball oriented programs.

Johnny Bench's nine years with CBS Radio broadcasting the National Game of the Week, the All-Star Game, the League Championship Series and the World Series. He has worked Reds baseball on television and co-hosted a daily in-season radio show focusing on baseball for twelve years. He now is a special consultant to the General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

Using a blend of sincerity, credibility and wit, Johnny Bench can move easily from the world of sports and entertainment to civic involvement, from culture to business. He is a symbol of winning through hard work as outlined in his presentation featuring "The Vowels of Success" which highlights easy to remember motivational tips.

Johnny Bench married Lauren Baiocchi in December 2004 and his pride and joy are his sons Bobby born in December 1989 and Justin born April 2006, they reside in Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

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