First Ballot Hall of Famer
Position: Catcher
Team: Cincinnati Reds
Voting Percentage: 96.42%
“I had no idea that the Hall of Fame was waiting for me. I don't think that any youngster ever dreams of that or ever thinks that's possible. You might think of All Star games and World Series but certainly you wouldn't think of the Hall of Fame because that is a place for the fantasies.”
The greatest collection of baseball players from the first century of the game, 1900's. Bench was named the starting catcher, alongside fellow HOF Catcher Yogi Berra.
Created to honor a person whose career in baseball, and life outside the game, have taken on legendary qualities by virtue of his talents, achievements and personal conduct.
Voted on by the fans, these players best represented their franchise and/or category through MLB history. Johnny was nominated for both Reds and MLB Living Legends.
Bricktown Ballpark
2 South Mickey Mantle Drive
Oklahoma City, OK
73104
Great American Ballpark
100 Joe Nuxhall Way
Cincinnati, OH
45202
The purpose of the Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund is to provide scholarships to college and university undergraduates who have displayed both academic and athletic credentials during their high school careers, and who are in need of financial help to begin or continue their education at the college or university level.
The Johnny Bench Award, proudly sponsored by BaseballSavings.com, is presented to the nation's most outstanding collegiate catcher, Johnny Bench, arguably the greatest catcher of all time, agreed to be the namesake for the annual award, which has accurately predicted some of MLB's next biggest stars.
The Johnny Bench Award is presently annually to the nation's top collegiate catcher as voted on by Division I coaches. A watch list is compiled from nominations received from the universities and released in March.
A selection committee will then narrow the list down to the semifinalists. Statistical information on each semifinalist is then compiled and sent to the national selection committee by the end of May. A vote by the national selection committee narrows the list to three finalists.
Another vote during the College World Series will determine who will be named the Johnny Bench National Collegiate Catcher of the Year. The three finalists will be brought to Wichita, KS for the awards banquet on June 29th, 2017.