Johnny Bench career highlights. I thought the greatest catcher ever deserved a highlights video! Thanks for 500 views on the Schmidt Video! Enjoy, like, and Subscribe.
@@coryvincent1932 he’s simply stating the truth. If it paints today’s players in a poor light then it’s on them. Maybe they should take a cue from a guy who always displayed style, respect, grace and humbleness. Sadly missing from so many athletes. Not all, mind you. But many
@@coryvincent1932 are you apart of the MLBPA??? whyare you whining about what this dude said about a player that played 40 some odd years ago?? if anyone needs to calm down its you
So if a player wants his market value he's greedy. If a owner tries to get as much out of the market he's savy. Is that how it works? Are the fans going to the game to watch the owners sit in his box or watch the players play the game?
Didn't he have a terrible injury that derailed him a bit or he would have been even greater. That era had Bench, Fisk, and Munson. I haven't seen anyone better since.
Bench had more RBIs than any other player in the 1970s [-his teammate Tony Perez was second in the decade in RBIs.}. A catcher who could do anything behind the plate and hits like that is unheard of . He was batting with sore hands half the time , tired legs from squatting , like any catcher . Getting any offense from your catcher is a bonus . Getting that kind of offense is damn near unheard of Johnny Bench was the man .
Bla bla! Pudge caught way more games! Wasn't he squatting and with tired legs as well?...dude you're out of line with that comment. More gold gloves for a reason!
@pete ziriaah so did Ivan. 10 consecutive as well, only difference is that JB stayed at 10 but the goat manage to get 3 more. 13 > 10 in favor of the 🐐. JB never batted above 300. in a single season the goat did it 10 times 10 > 0. Amazing!
@Huck Finn So the goat didn't produce? Who gives two shits about CF's opinion, he's just one man! Check the stats! It's a bonus to produce from the position bla bla. So 13 gold gloves overrated? The goat is one of five players in MLB history with a .290 batting average, 2,500 hits, 550 doubles, 300 home runs and 1,300 RBIs. The others? Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, George Brett and Barry Bonds. Again he said she said... The goat simply had better numbers and did it longer. Like I said...nothing wrong with having JB number 2.
I grew up in the 60's and 70's and idolized Johnny Bench. He is the greatest catcher to ever play the game. I also believe that he got a Gold Glove every season he played behind the plate. He is the reason I played catcher from 3rd grade into high school. Still to this day I get emotional just thinking about him.
I was kid back then and and when my dad asked me what I wanted for my birthday I said to go to a Padres game. The old man came through and we had 3rd row tickets above the visitors bench to see none other than the Big Red Machine. Dan Driessen broke a bat on a warning track out and after the game Joe Morgan came out and was kinda goofing with the kids above. Suddenly someone threw out some bats and he started handing them up under the netting. I grabbed Dreissen's and held on tight while bigger kids tried to wrestle it away from me. Suddenly I heard my dad's voice and then felt his hand wrap around the bat barrel - and the prize was secured! It was my biggest win as a kid! My dad n I didn't have many moments like this, he was already on his way out of the marriage, I guess. But that one moment I remember it like it was yesterday.
Johnny Bench has said that the "Big Red Machine" could never exist today. Each player from that team (Rose, Morgan, Bench, Conception, Geronimo etc) would command today huge contracts that one team simply couldn't pay (and Cincinnati is not a major market team to even begin to pay those kind of salaries to so many different players)
I was a very young kid in Columbus, Ohio during the reign of the Big Red Machine. My Dad and I would watch games together, and Johnny was my favorite player. Still is.
@M this thread has NOTHING to do with soccer/European football. As a Tottenham fan, I suggest you go to a thread that is discussing soccer. No one hear cares what you have to say.
The Greatest of All Time! Bench did things defensively that others could only dream of doing. He had incredible instincts and lightning quick reflexes. His hands were as good as any shortstop in the game. And his arm . . there is no debate. To understand the greatness of Bench as an all around ballplayer, review the following statistics. From 1970 thru 1976, Bench played in 42 post season games (playoffs & WS). This was a time in the history of National Lequge baseball where the stolen base was "paramount" . . speed was a huge part of the game. In those 42 games, opposing baserunners were successful in stealing a base 2 out of 14 attempts meaning he threw out would be base stealers at an 85% clip which is amazing in and of itself. However, during those same 42 games, Bench himself stole 6 bases in 6 attempts . . not because he had blazing speed but because he was an incredibly smart player with amazing instincts for the game.
Greatest Catcher of all time..And 1976 Big Red Machine greatest team of all time..Gotta love Sparky Anderson when they asked him about Thurman Munson and He said “ he a fine young catcher but like not embarrass anybody by comparing him to Johnny Bench”..Nuff Said G.O.A.T
they had plenty of greenies , blackies and reds - make no mistake - the level of morality wasn't any higher in the 70s as it was in the 90s or any other time
I was a poor kid living in Indiana lucky to have a pair of shoes to walk in but I always listen to Pete Rose and Johnny Bench and the Big Red Machine and a great 70 teams thank you Johnny Bench I went to one Cincinnati game and you hit three home runs in that game my aunt took me to the game and I felt very fortunate lucky
Never went to Riverfront to see a game. Poor might be material things but we are blessed to be in a country where we enjoyed JB and the Big Red Machine.
0:28 That solo homer with 1 out in bottom of 9th of deciding Game 5 of 1972 NLCS tied the game vs the defending champion Pirates. One of the greatest clutch home runs in baseball history.
@@esportshighlights2457 There was also his home run in the bottom of the 9th of Game 3 of the 1976 NLCS which also tied the game against the Phillies. Similar to 1972, it led to the pennant-winning rally for the Reds
@@bluesrocker79 Al Michaels just made baseball sound so exciting, the way he has done with the NFL, NBA and the Miracle on Ice. I wish he still covered baseball.
@@Milordvega Not quite as dramatic since it led to a sweep. Probably inevitable Reds still win series if they don't win that game. Also, it was back end of back-to-back homers to tie game with George Foster getting the fireworks started.
The greatest catcher of all time and the greatest clutch hitter. He never made it about him rounding the bases. Johnny just did his job with the grace and humility then that no longer exists today. I wish that today's PROFESSIONAL athletes watched these films about how it should be done. Think of what our kids could learn from Johnny and so very many of those players he competed against in that time. These men were humble and didn't seek glory. They allowed their play to speak for itself without all the arrogance.
The Big Red Machine!! I remember at the All Star Game, when the National League hit the field all the position players were the Reds! Bench was a clutch hitter, but if he didn't get you... well you had to get thru Perez, Foster, Morgan and that Pete Rose guy!
Johnny Bench and Pete Rose - the 2 greatest players I ever saw. My parents used to take me down to Atlanta every year to see the Braves always when they were playing the Reds, between 1972 and 1980. Those Reds really put on a show. The longest home run I ever saw was hit by Johnny Bench. A low liner they kept rising until it landed in the second deck at Fulton County Stadium.
And his setup and movements around the plate ... they were just so effortless and natural. Johnny Bench was literally born to play catcher. He is the standard that all other catchers are judged by. Undoubtedly the greatest catcher of all times. But then again, he WAS my childhood idol. Tee hee.
Wow gotta love people who still tell it like it is and fewer and fewer are telling it in the World today like they know..Lying has been accepted..and that’s why we have all these problems..Thanks for being one with honesty.
@Flip Arrachi Because he was the best and most fundamentally sound catcher of all time maybe. Easiest way to avoid a plate collision is to catch the way Johnny did. Stay right along the line instead of inside the line and tag with your whole body, not just your hand.
I was there for two of Bench’s biggest home runs. The first was when he broke the then record for catchers in 1980, against Montreal. It was huge because the record had belonged to Yogi Berra. The video doesn’t have this moment. The second, which is shown at the end of the video, was when hit it out against Houston on Johnny Bench night, which was his last homerun and the last time he played catcher. Before the game, there was a lot of fanfare and when Bench spoke to the crowd, the last thing he said was that, “ I’m gonna try my best to play well for you tonight...”. I believe it was his second at bat when he hit it out. He pulled it down the left field line and it was hooking. Everyone in the third base seats was blocked out and couldn’t tell if it stayed fair. A fan seated next to the foul pole motioned that it was good. The whole place erupted! Riverfront stadium was packed! It was just what you’d expect from JB!
Sorry that the video doesnt have that first moment. Unfortunately MLB really hasnt uploaded a lot of footage from the 70s and 80s. Cool stories though!
Time passes. Johnny Bench is still the standard of a moral, loving man, and awesome baseball player. He will never or should be never compared to another man when it compares to guts behind the plate. Never!
when you think catcher...the way he ran the team from the plate, along with his hitting prowess..not too many come to mind...Berra yes because he was on so many winnners in the day...but JB was a thinking mans catcher...he represents baseball in the finest fashion. ya gotta love the guy.
Johnny revolutionized the catcher's position and what you could expect from a catcher, both defensively and offensively. As Sparky Anderson said, I'd never want to embarrass another catcher by comparing him to Bench.
Bench's throw at second to get the A's Bert Campaneris was impressive. Back in the day he was called Campy Campaneris. When I was a kid, I once went to an A's game on helmet day, and I accidentally dropped my helmet into the A's dugout. Campy picked it up, signed it, and handed it back to me. Didn't say anything, but it meant a lot to a little kid. But Johnny Bench was my hero as a kid, it would have meant the world to me to get his autograph. He was just a solid, all-around ball player. No BS.
When I was a kid, I was a dyed-in-the-wool Reds fan, even though I grew up in NJ. When I was somewhere around 8-10 years old, I wrote a letter to the Reds to tell them that Johnny Bench was my favorite player. I have no idea how on earth the letter got to them. There's no way I had any particular address for the Reds front office. I probably just mailed it to "Cincinnati". But I know for a fact they got it, because a couple of weeks later I received a B&W photo of Johnny in the mail from the Reds, signed by Johnny himself.
In 1983 when Johnny Bench retired, there was a special on TV about his career, I remember recording it, but lost the tape years ago, it has to be on RU-vid somewhere, but I can't remember the name of the special. It came on Saturday early evening on NBC I believe, I could be wrong, but I do remembering watching it and recording it, watched it over and over for years.
I have his Reds throwback jersey in Red. Johnny Bench is one of my favorite baseball players. I think he was the best catcher of all time. Really humble and down to earth personality.
My parents would take me to Candlestick Park when l was a boy & in Little League to see the Giants play the Reds & watching the Big Red Machine but l was always focused on #5 Johnny Bench. What an awesome catchef
I wasn't old enough to see Bench play so want to watch what he was all about. Pretty remarkable how he could elevate the ball and muscle it over the fence while reaching for it. Also, helluva arm.
My dad took the whole family to watch a Reds game when I was nine or ten . We were about six rows back over the first base dugout . Johnny Bench hit three home runs in a row , and then in his fourth at bat , he got thrown out going for second . So , he had three home runs and a single ! it was all anybody could talk about , and we were at the game ! I cannot find it anywhere on here ! It happened ; We were there ; It was awesome ! Why in the world can't I find it on You Tube ! I'm pissed !
The man could hold 5 major league baseball regulation size balls in one hand, that is why he could grip and throw them so ridiculously fast to 2nd base. What a hero. He, is my hero. Such a great guy, on and off the field!
@@clockworkorange5588 As hard as it is to believe,it was actually 7 baseballs that he could hold. He pretty much stuck some of them between his fingers. And I don't know how he could grip the bat with hands that size.
As a Marine musician, I was stationed out in Cali for a couple years. During the memorial day parades in Palm Springs (where Bench lived), Johnny Bench would always make an effort to come over and shake all of our hands. A thrill for myself for sure as he is my favorite player of all time. And yes, his hands are very large, I'm 6'4" with pretty large hands for my height and his dwarfed mine. It was like shaking a catchers mitt.
@chop 362 Couldn't agree more...Of the modern era, Bench #1 Munson #2. Munson played on fire in 76 series against Reds, was only real bright spot in that series for Yankees, but Bench was only player on both teams that outplayed him...but only very slightly.
Johnny use to be my idol when I was young. My dad and I went to see him in Phila. My dad and I were at the stadium very early and saw him take batting practice. When he walked by us,my dad yelled to him, hey Johnny. I wanted just an autograph, he looked up at us and kept walking. Johnny, you broke my heart.
@@snipersquat4758 GG is an over rated "participation" trophy. As for best defensive catcher, since so few alive ever saw the great HOF'ers of the past, it really cannot be stated who is the greatest.
Some fans may not realize, but back in Bench's day if the ball arrived first at second on a steal, they were out. I think this was done to help avoid players putting their hands in front of the runner's cleats. So they would be out if they did put their glove in front of the cleats, but they were not required to do so. They called it a phantom tag. The result was the same.
@@esportshighlights2457 Johnny also said that when he was on his game and had all his pitches working, the toughest pitcher he ever faced was Juan Marichal.
He used that catchers mitt like a shortstop. Rifle arm. Never missed a popup. He was overall the best catcher in history on one of the greatest teams in history. And I was fortunate enough to have a front row seat( so to speak ). Lived 50 miles away( in Dayton) and me and my buddy would just on a whim decide to catch a game. Hop in the car, drive down I75 get there just in time. Memories.
I just went to Fenway this week, first game there, I’m a Reds fan and all the Boston fans loved talking about the Big Ted Machine (Rose, Bench, Morgan etc.), great fans there.
Hands down the greatest Catcher I ever saw, and most likely the greatest ever ( I'd put Ivan Rodriguez right behind him ) If not for Cancer surgery that robbed him of some of his raw power in 1973, he may have held the HR record, he hit 45 HR's in 1970, 40 in 1972, never hit 40 again after the surgery. Reds Mgr. Sparky Anderson once said that if Bench were a selfish player he could have changed his stroke and won multiple batting titles...but he knew the Reds needed him as a Power / RBI guy. He also made the single greatest play I have ever seen a Catcher make ( can't believe it's not on this list ) I was watching the game...Reds vs. Cubs at Wrigley, which at the time had a HUGE area from Home Plate to the backstop. Bobby Murcer is on 1st, 1 out. The Batter fouls one back toward the screen, Bench flips off the mask and gives chase. At the last second he jumps into the screen catching his right foot in the mesh and catching the pop up before it got into the screen. Murcer figuring Bench A. has his back to him...and B. Has to make a VERY long throw...tags up. In one motion Bench catches the pop up pivots around using the right foot to push off against the back wall and fires an ABSOLUTE PEA to 2nd getting Murcer by TEN FEET ! The look on Murcer's face was PRICELESS !
@@charleynewman4783 Pudge was amazing....he's the only one who is CLOSE to Bench defensively ! Carter was good, the other "Pudge" Fisk was VERY good, I never saw Campanella....but of the Catchers I've seen...Bench and Pudge Rodriguez are on another level defensively !
That last one vs the Astros happened when I was in the 6th grade. Our entire safety patrol got tickets to the game. It was a blustery cool day and the Astros had the Reds down 9-0 and so the guy who drove us to the game in his van wanted to leave and we missed the comeback.
1:56 to receive the ball 6 feet from the plate and get the tag. He focused on catching the ball first, like a good receiver in football who doesn't try to run before tucking it away. Then lightning quick to the tag
