Johnny Bench
Star of the Cincinnati Reds ‘Big Red Machine’
Johnny Bench was born in Binger, Oklahoma, on December 7, 1947.
The third of four children of Ted and Katy Bench, he played basketball
and baseball in high school and was the Valedictorian of his graduating
class.
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 became a catcher and was selected in the 1965 amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds and
signed with them. After two seasons in the minors, 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.
Today, Bench enjoys a well-rounded, thoroughly enjoyable career. By making the transition
from athletic superstar to successful broadcaster, he has proven himself a winner in two of the
most popular areas in American culture: baseball and the media.
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January, 1989 with the third highest percentage of total
votes cast, Bench 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), and 14-time All-Star and ten-time Golden Glove recipient. He is also the Major
League record holder for home runs by a catcher (327), putting him at 21st on the all-time home
run list. In 1980, Bench set an endurance record by catching 100 or more games for 13
consecutive seasons.
Bench maintains a sense of balance by using his celebrity status to aid worthy causes, such as
the Heart Association, the American Cancer Society (as National Chairman of Athletes vs.
Cancer), the Kidney Foundation, Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Health System, and Muscular
Dystrophy. He also supports the Cincinnati Symphony, the Museum of Science and Industry,
and his own Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund, which aids Cincinnati-area college students.
Bench has enjoyed maximum national visibility through his thousands of hours of entertainment
experiences and personal appearances. He was part of the Bob Hope Christmas Shows in the
Far East and Desert Storm, has sung with the Cincinnati Pops, made records, authored books,
and hosted a wide range of television programs—from the 1978 National League Playoffs and
his Emmy Award-winning instructional show The Baseball Bunch to NBC's Games People Play,
the 1984 PBS special Billy Sunday, and various baseball oriented programs.
2003 marked Bench's 30th anniversary as spokesperson for Fifth Third Bank, based in
Cincinnati. He has appeared in hundreds of advertising campaigns promoting the banks'
products and services as well as teaming up to support a variety of community events.
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.
Bench's passion for golf has grown and spread into business opportunities from hosting
Mastering Golf and Golf in Paradise, two cable shows featuring guests and golf tips. Bench
played in several Senior Professional Golf Association events since becoming eligible in 1998
and, is on the Celebrity Golf Tour (CPT).
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.