Johnny Bench
MLB debut August 28, 1967 for the Cincinnati Reds Last MLB appearance September 29, 1983 for the Cincinnati Reds Career statistics Batting average .267 Hits 2,048 Home runs 389 Runs batted in 1,376 Teams Cincinnati Reds (1967–1983) Career highlights and awards 14× All-Star (1968–1980, 1983) 2× World Series champion (1975, 1976) 2× NL MVP (1970, 1972) World Series MVP (1976) NL Rookie of the Year (1968) 10× Gold Glove Award (1968–1977) Cincinnati Reds #5 retired Major League Baseball All-Century Team Major League Baseball All-Time Team Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction 1989 Vote 96.42% (first ballot) Johnny Lee Bench (born December 7, 1947 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bench, a 14-time All-Star selection and a two-time National League Most Valuable Player, was a key member of The Big Red Machine, which won six division titles, four National League pennants, and two World Series championships. ESPN has called him the greatest catcher in baseball history.