Johnny Bench was born on Sunday, December 7, 1947, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Bench was 19 years old when he broke into the big leagues on August 28, 1967, with the Cincinnati Reds. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Johnny Bench baseball stats page.
"Trained by his father Ted (Bench) to throw 254 feet — twice the distance from home plate to second base — from a crouch, (Johnny) Bench boasted that he could, 'throw out any runner alive.'" - Acocella, Nick. ESPN Classic. Baseball's greatest catcher. 25 October 2004.[Johnny Bench Quotes]
Johnny BenchJohnny 'The Little General' Bench Autograph on a 1983 Topps Baseball Card (#60 | Checklist) |
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Biographical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Johnny BenchJohnny Bench Pitching Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
- | - | Did Not Pitch | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
Johnny BenchJohnny Bench Hitting Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
1967 | 20 | Reds | 26 | 86 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .163 | .207 | .256 |
1968 | 21 | Reds | 154 | 564 | 67 | 155 | 40 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 82 | 31 | 8 | 96 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 14 | .275 | .311 | .433 |
1969 | 22 | Reds | 148 | 532 | 83 | 156 | 23 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 90 | 49 | 7 | 86 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 7 | .293 | .353 | .487 |
1970 | 23 | Reds | 158 | 605 | 97 | 177 | 35 | 4 | 45 | 0 | 148 | 54 | 9 | 102 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 12 | .293 | .345 | .587 |
1971 | 24 | Reds | 149 | 562 | 80 | 134 | 19 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 61 | 49 | 7 | 83 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | .238 | .299 | .423 |
1972 | 25 | Reds | 147 | 538 | 87 | 145 | 22 | 2 | 40 | 1 | 125 | 100 | 23 | 84 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 18 | .270 | .379 | .541 |
1973 | 26 | Reds | 152 | 557 | 83 | 141 | 17 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 104 | 83 | 14 | 83 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 22 | .253 | .345 | .429 |
1974 | 27 | Reds | 160 | 621 | 108 | 174 | 38 | 2 | 33 | 2 | 129 | 80 | 15 | 90 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 13 | .280 | .363 | .507 |
1975 | 28 | Reds | 142 | 530 | 83 | 150 | 39 | 1 | 28 | 2 | 110 | 65 | 12 | 108 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 12 | .283 | .359 | .519 |
1976 | 29 | Reds | 135 | 465 | 62 | 109 | 24 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 74 | 81 | 6 | 95 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9 | .234 | .348 | .394 |
1977 | 30 | Reds | 142 | 494 | 67 | 136 | 34 | 2 | 31 | 2 | 109 | 58 | 8 | 95 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 10 | .275 | .348 | .540 |
1978 | 31 | Reds | 120 | 393 | 52 | 102 | 17 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 73 | 50 | 10 | 83 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 9 | .260 | .340 | .483 |
1979 | 32 | Reds | 130 | 464 | 73 | 128 | 19 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 80 | 67 | 8 | 73 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 11 | .276 | .364 | .459 |
1980 | 33 | Reds | 114 | 360 | 52 | 90 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 68 | 41 | 2 | 64 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9 | .250 | .327 | .483 |
1981 | 34 | Reds | 52 | 178 | 14 | 55 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 17 | 3 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .309 | .369 | .489 |
1982 | 35 | Reds | 119 | 399 | 44 | 103 | 16 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 38 | 37 | 2 | 58 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14 | .258 | .320 | .396 |
1983 | 36 | Reds | 110 | 310 | 32 | 79 | 15 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 54 | 24 | 1 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .255 | .308 | .432 |
Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
17 Years | 2,158 | 7,658 | 1,091 | 2,048 | 381 | 24 | 389 | 11 | 1,376 | 891 | 135 | 1,278 | 11 | 90 | 19 | 201 | .267 | .342 | .476 |
Johnny BenchJohnny Bench Fielding Stats |
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Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
1967 Reds | C | 26 | 26 | 699 | 192 | 7.4 | 191 | 175 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | .995 | 7.38 |
1968 Reds | C | 154 | 139 | 3,903 | 1,053 | 6.8 | 1,044 | 942 | 102 | 9 | 10 | 18 | 49 | 44 | .991 | 7.22 |
1969 Reds | C | 147 | 135 | 3,747 | 876 | 6.0 | 869 | 793 | 76 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 30 | 40 | .992 | 6.26 |
1970 Reds | 1B | 12 | 5 | 162 | 79 | 6.6 | 78 | 74 | 4 | 1 | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .987 | 13.00 |
1970 Reds | 3B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 9.00 |
1970 Reds | C | 139 | 130 | 3,474 | 840 | 6.0 | 828 | 755 | 73 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 32 | 30 | .986 | 6.44 |
1970 Reds | CF | 2 | 2 | 45 | 3 | 1.5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.80 |
1970 Reds | LF | 15 | 8 | 234 | 16 | 1.1 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .938 | 1.73 |
1970 Reds | RF | 7 | 7 | 174 | 9 | 1.3 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .889 | 1.24 |
1971 Reds | 1B | 12 | 1 | 99 | 36 | 3.0 | 35 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .972 | 9.55 |
1971 Reds | 3B | 3 | 3 | 57 | 8 | 2.7 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 3.79 |
1971 Reds | C | 141 | 133 | 3,509 | 755 | 5.4 | 746 | 687 | 59 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 37 | 26 | .988 | 5.74 |
1971 Reds | LF | 10 | 8 | 189 | 10 | 1.0 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.43 |
1971 Reds | RF | 3 | 2 | 48 | 2 | 0.7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.13 |
1972 Reds | 1B | 7 | 2 | 84 | 25 | 3.6 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .960 | 7.71 |
1972 Reds | 3B | 4 | 4 | 99 | 10 | 2.5 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .900 | 2.45 |
1972 Reds | C | 129 | 124 | 3,419 | 797 | 6.2 | 791 | 735 | 56 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 24 | 31 | .992 | 6.25 |
1972 Reds | RF | 17 | 17 | 414 | 32 | 1.9 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .938 | 1.96 |
1973 Reds | 1B | 4 | 3 | 78 | 29 | 7.3 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 10.04 |
1973 Reds | 3B | 1 | 1 | 21 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.57 |
1973 Reds | C | 134 | 124 | 3,345 | 758 | 5.7 | 754 | 693 | 61 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 28 | 27 | .995 | 6.09 |
1973 Reds | RF | 23 | 22 | 543 | 35 | 1.5 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .943 | 1.64 |
1974 Reds | 1B | 5 | 0 | 39 | 15 | 3.0 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 10.38 |
1974 Reds | 3B | 36 | 30 | 789 | 80 | 2.2 | 77 | 22 | 55 | 3 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .963 | 2.63 |
1974 Reds | C | 137 | 129 | 3,400 | 831 | 6.1 | 825 | 757 | 68 | 6 | 16 | 3 | 37 | 35 | .993 | 6.55 |
1975 Reds | 1B | 9 | 3 | 112 | 46 | 5.1 | 45 | 45 | 0 | 1 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .978 | 10.85 |
1975 Reds | C | 121 | 115 | 3,008 | 626 | 5.2 | 619 | 568 | 51 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 32 | 27 | .989 | 5.56 |
1975 Reds | LF | 16 | 15 | 387 | 28 | 1.8 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.95 |
1975 Reds | RF | 3 | 3 | 72 | 6 | 2.0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.25 |
1976 Reds | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
1976 Reds | C | 128 | 120 | 3,213 | 713 | 5.6 | 711 | 651 | 60 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 57 | 42 | .997 | 5.97 |
1976 Reds | LF | 5 | 3 | 84 | 6 | 1.2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .667 | 1.29 |
1977 Reds | 1B | 4 | 2 | 63 | 24 | 6.0 | 23 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .958 | 9.86 |
1977 Reds | 3B | 1 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .500 | 1.80 |
1977 Reds | C | 135 | 125 | 3,197 | 781 | 5.8 | 771 | 705 | 66 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 64 | 42 | .987 | 6.51 |
1977 Reds | LF | 7 | 6 | 132 | 9 | 1.3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.84 |
1977 Reds | RF | 1 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
1978 Reds | 1B | 11 | 9 | 225 | 82 | 7.5 | 80 | 75 | 5 | 2 | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .976 | 9.60 |
1978 Reds | C | 107 | 96 | 2,508 | 660 | 6.2 | 653 | 605 | 48 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 49 | 35 | .989 | 7.03 |
1978 Reds | LF | 1 | 1 | 32 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
1978 Reds | RF | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
1979 Reds | 1B | 2 | 2 | 42 | 14 | 7.0 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 9.00 |
1979 Reds | C | 126 | 123 | 3,250 | 697 | 5.5 | 687 | 619 | 68 | 10 | 11 | 5 | 70 | 45 | .986 | 5.71 |
1980 Reds | C | 105 | 98 | 2,541 | 549 | 5.2 | 544 | 505 | 39 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 83 | 34 | .991 | 5.78 |
1981 Reds | 1B | 38 | 37 | 966 | 363 | 9.6 | 357 | 334 | 23 | 6 | 35 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .983 | 9.98 |
1981 Reds | C | 7 | 7 | 180 | 47 | 6.7 | 46 | 41 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | .979 | 6.90 |
1982 Reds | 1B | 8 | 5 | 137 | 57 | 7.1 | 57 | 53 | 4 | 0 | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 11.23 |
1982 Reds | 3B | 107 | 103 | 2,576 | 228 | 2.1 | 209 | 54 | 155 | 19 | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .917 | 2.19 |
1982 Reds | C | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 9.00 |
1983 Reds | 1B | 32 | 29 | 753 | 266 | 8.3 | 263 | 249 | 14 | 3 | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .989 | 9.43 |
1983 Reds | 3B | 42 | 41 | 958 | 90 | 2.1 | 84 | 26 | 58 | 6 | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .933 | 2.37 |
1983 Reds | C | 5 | 3 | 69 | 20 | 4.0 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | .950 | 7.43 |
1983 Reds | LF | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
C Totals | 1,742 | 1,627 | 43,465 | 10,196 | 5.9 | 10,099 | 9,249 | 850 | 97 | 127 | 94 | 610 | 469 | .990 | 6.27 | |
3B Totals | 195 | 182 | 4,518 | 421 | 2.2 | 391 | 107 | 284 | 30 | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .929 | 2.34 | |
1B Totals | 145 | 98 | 2,763 | 1,036 | 7.1 | 1,020 | 966 | 54 | 16 | 94 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .985 | 9.97 | |
LF Totals | 55 | 41 | 1,060 | 69 | 1.3 | 66 | 64 | 2 | 3 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .957 | 1.68 | |
RF Totals | 55 | 53 | 1,290 | 84 | 1.5 | 79 | 78 | 1 | 5 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .940 | 1.65 | |
CF Totals | 2 | 2 | 45 | 3 | 1.5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.80 | |
17 Years | 2,194 | 2,003 | 53,141 | 11,809 | 5.4 | 11,658 | 10,467 | 1,191 | 151 | 238 | 94 | 610 | 469 | .987 | 5.92 |
Johnny BenchJohnny Bench Miscellaneous Stats |
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Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
1967 Reds | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 86.0 | 4.5 | 14.3 | - | - | - |
1968 Reds | 1 | 5 | .167 | 7 | 0 | n/a | 37.6 | 5.9 | 6.9 | - | - | - |
1969 Reds | 6 | 6 | .500 | 11 | 0 | n/a | 20.5 | 6.2 | 5.9 | - | - | - |
1970 Reds | 5 | 2 | .714 | 5 | 0 | n/a | 13.4 | 5.9 | 4.1 | - | - | - |
1971 Reds | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2 | 0 | n/a | 20.8 | 6.8 | 9.2 | - | - | - |
1972 Reds | 6 | 6 | .500 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 13.5 | 6.4 | 4.3 | - | - | - |
1973 Reds | 4 | 1 | .800 | 2 | 0 | n/a | 22.3 | 6.7 | 5.4 | - | - | - |
1974 Reds | 5 | 4 | .556 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 18.8 | 6.9 | 4.8 | - | - | - |
1975 Reds | 11 | 0 | 1.000 | 6 | 0 | n/a | 18.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | - | - | - |
1976 Reds | 13 | 2 | .867 | 9 | 0 | n/a | 29.1 | 4.9 | 6.3 | - | - | - |
1977 Reds | 2 | 4 | .333 | 6 | 0 | n/a | 15.9 | 5.2 | 4.5 | - | - | - |
1978 Reds | 4 | 2 | .667 | 12 | 0 | n/a | 17.1 | 4.7 | 5.4 | - | - | - |
1979 Reds | 4 | 2 | .667 | 5 | 0 | n/a | 21.1 | 6.4 | 5.8 | - | - | - |
1980 Reds | 4 | 2 | .667 | 15 | 0 | n/a | 15.0 | 5.6 | 5.3 | - | - | - |
1981 Reds | 0 | 2 | .000 | 8 | 0 | n/a | 22.3 | 8.5 | 7.1 | - | - | - |
1982 Reds | 1 | 2 | .333 | 10 | 0 | n/a | 30.7 | 6.9 | 10.5 | - | - | - |
1983 Reds | 0 | 1 | .000 | 34 | 0 | n/a | 25.8 | 8.2 | 5.7 | - | - | - |
Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
17 Years | 68 | 43 | .613 | 133 | 0 | n/a | 19.7 | 6.0 | 5.6 | - | - | - |
Johnny BenchJohnny Bench Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
1967 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $5,500.00 | - | - |
1968 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $11,000.00 | Stats | - |
1969 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $23,500.00 | Stats | - |
1970 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $40,000.00 | Stats | Stats |
1971 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $90,000.00 | Stats | - |
1972 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $105,000.00 | Stats | Stats |
1973 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $115,000.00 | Stats | - |
1974 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $115,000.00 | Stats | - |
1975 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $175,000.00 | Stats | Stats |
1976 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $200,000.00 | Stats | Stats |
1977 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $235,000.00 | Stats | - |
1978 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $400,000.00 | Stats | - |
1979 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $400,000.00 | Stats | - |
1980 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $400,000.00 | Stats | - |
1981 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $400,000.00 | - | - |
1982 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $400,000.00 | - | - |
1983 Cincinnati Reds | 5 | $450,000.00 | Stats | - |
Johnny Bench Stats by Baseball Almanac |
Johnny Lee Bench was a Major League Baseball player who spent his entire seventeen year career with the Cincinnati Reds (1967-1983). Author Roger Kahn once said, "I remember I said to Red Smith, 'I've seen Campy and Berra, this fellow's better than that. And Red said to me, 'I've seen Dickey and Mickey Cochrane, and this fellow is better than them also. Ergo, Johnny Bench is the best catcher who ever lived." Join Baseball Almanac as we take a closer look at that comment:
Johnny Bench Rookie Card | 1968 Topps Baseball Card (#247 | Checklist)
Baseball Almanac Collection
Johnny Bench won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1968, batting .275 with 15 home runs and 82 RBIs, the first time the award had been won by a catcher. Manager Herman Franks said after his first full season in The Spokesman Review (07/23/1968, 'Rookie Catcher Praised', Page 6), "With more experience, he could be the best the league ever had." Manager Dave Bristol said in that same article, "One of the finest catchers in the league of all time. He has ability that is not noticed at times. He is strong, he has quick release of the ball, agile, and he has great body balance." Johnny Bench, when those comments were made, had one full season of experience at the time and was five months shy of his 21st birthday.
Johnny Bench was the youngest man (22) to ever win the National League Most Valuable Player Award when he won in 1970. He hit .293, led the National League with 45 home runs (Home Run Champions), set a team-record with 148 RBI (RBI Champions), and helped the Reds win the National League West Division. Two years later, Bench led the National League in home runs again, led the league in RBI again (snapping-up two legs of the Triple Crown each time), and won his second MVP Award - the first player in team history with two MVPs.
Johnny Bench was the second catcher (Roy Campanella was the first, in 1953) in National League history with a 100+ RBI / 100 runs scored season in league history. It was 1974, it was Bench's only 100 runs scored season, it was his third of six 100 RBI season, and his 73 extra base hits were the most in the league as well. Through this date, less than ten backstops have joined this unique hitting club.
Johnny Bench was the first individual baseball player to appear on the front of a Wheaties cereal box (image below). In an AP Wire article, July 6, 1989, Johnny Bench gets his picture on Wheaties box, the press reported, "Retired Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench has become the first baseball player to be chosen to have his picture placed on boxes of Wheaties cereal... 'This is a great honor for me,' said Bench, who retired after the 1983 season and will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame on July 23 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Bench, now a Reds television broadcaster, said he ate the cereal as a child and recalls seeing a picture of Olympic pole vaulter Bob Richards on the box."
Johnny Bench | Wheaties Cereal Box (1989 | Checklist) | Baseball Almanac Collection
In 1954, Ted Kluszewski set a new team record for Runs Batted In (RBI) when he drove in 141 runs — the first Cincinnati Reds player to reach the 140+ RBI plateau. Sixteen years later, Johnny Bench broke the team record with 148 RBI, a mark that stood for only seven years as George Foster had 149 RBI in 1977, but those three sluggers remain the only Reds — through today — to ever have a 140+ RBI season.
Johnny Bench | National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque | Class of 1989 (HOF)
The 1968 National League Gold Glove Award for catchers went to Johnny Bench, who caught 154 games and committed only nine errors, marking the first time the Gold Glove had been won by a rookie. That year was the first of thirteen consecutive years (1968 through 1980) that Bench caught 100+ games, a National League record, and the Gold Glove Award for catchers was his first of ten, all won consecutively as well (1968 through 1977).