American · Vega Baja, Puerto Rico · Born 6 November 1951American baseball catcher widely regarded as the greatest of all time, two-time National League MVP and Hall of Fame inductee with Cincinnati Reds
Johnny Bench is the standard by which all catchers are measured, a 14-time Gold Glove Award winner and two-time NL MVP who transformed the catching position with his one-handed catching technique and extraordinary leadership. The backbone of Cincinnati's Big Red Machine dynasty of the 1970s, Bench's combination of elite defence and impressive power — 389 career home runs — made him one of the game's most complete players.
Famous For
Revolutionary catching techniques and power hitting
Playing Style
How They Played
Defensive master with strong arm and power bat
Legacy
Lasting Impact
Widely considered the greatest catcher in baseball history
Honours & Achievements
Career Honours
- NL MVP 1970
- NL MVP 1972
- World Series Champion 1975
- World Series Champion 1976
- World Series MVP 1976
- NL Rookie of the Year 1968
- Gold Glove Award 1968
- Gold Glove Award 1969
- Gold Glove Award 1970
- Gold Glove Award 1971
- Gold Glove Award 1972
- Gold Glove Award 1973
- Gold Glove Award 1974
- Gold Glove Award 1975
- Gold Glove Award 1976
- Gold Glove Award 1977
- Baseball Hall of Fame inductee 1989
Team Career
| Team | Period | Games | Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | 1967–1983 | 2158 | #5 |
Career Journey
Timeline
1967
📌 MLB debut with Cincinnati Reds
1968
🥇 National League Rookie of the Year
1970
🥇 National League MVP Award
1972
🥇 Second National League MVP Award
1975
🏆 World Series champion with Cincinnati Reds
1976
🏆 World Series champion with Cincinnati Reds
1980
🎯 Hit 300th career home run
1983
📌 Retired from professional baseball
American Athletes