Career Recognition
All Century Team
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.
Living Legend
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.
Franchise Four
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.
Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund
Mission
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.
History
- The Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund was established with a donation of $25,000 in 1983 by the Cincinnati Reds as a tribute to Johnny’s illustrious 17-year career with the team.
- Over 775 recipients have received grants through the 2017-18 school year totaling over $2,420,000, including 67 from Johnny’s home state of Oklahoma;
- Currently there are 57 students receiving scholarships at 10 colleges and universities including 8 students from Binger, Oklahoma, Johnny’s home town.
- There have been over 345 students graduate from college with financial assistance from the Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund.
Johnny Bench Award
Mission
"Presented to the collegiate cacher whose talent, toughness and integrity most closely resembles the legend after whom the award is named."
The Award
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.
