From David Schoenfeld at ESPN: "From 1970 to 1976, the Reds played 42 postseason games and Bench allowed just two stolen bases while nailing 13 would-be thieves. Meanwhile, he stole six bases in seven attempts. He stole more bases than he allowed. Incredible." Incredible, indeed.
Thanks for posting this, Johnny Bench was one of my favorite players, and I appreciate that you allowed me to watch an interview I would otherwise have missed.
I met Bench on a golf course I worked at in the 90s. He came up to me and said ' you mind if I get a chew of that Red Man you've got in your pocket there?' I gave him my pouch and he took about 1/3 of it lol. I just stood there and grinned. He was really cool and a damn good golfer
Bench won the MVP in '70. He hit a Homer in that infamous all star game the next year. He won his 2nd MVP a year after that. And a Lotta people don't remember that he lead the league in RBI for the 3rd time in '74. In '75 he drove in 110 RBI. He won the World Series MVP in '76 as the Big Red Machine win their 2nd title. And he proved the experts wrong in '77, when the said he was finished with 31 homers and 109 RBI. I saw him play in person. Still, after all these years, he's still the best catcher ever. Bar none.
There have been many great catchers: Berra, Campanella, Lombardi, Fisk, Munson, Dickey, Hartnett, Howard, Rodriguez, Piazza, Carter, etc.., but I feel this man was the best that's ever played the game. Most would agree with me.
What an interesting and down to earth person Johnny Bench is, he is truly a National Treasure. Thank you for this very enjoyable interview, great job by Tim MCcarver also.
As a lifelong Red's fan, I followed his entire career close up. On a daily basis, this man would do things defensively that most others could only dream of doing. He is hands down the greatest catcher I've ever seen in 60 plus years of watching baseball.
That video of the Bench catching that foul ball in S.F vrs the Giants and Willie McCovey is on 2 Topps baseball cards ! 1972 Bench in action & Bench's 1973 card ! WOW, i have never seen this shot before ?
at 17:18 he refers to Jim McGlothlin. I had Jim as a Red in a Topps baseball card. He died at 32 of Leukemia. I saw Jim play at riverfront. Flaming red hair too.
Typical thing a kid would say..."You can be from Oklahoma and be in the major leagues?"...got to love that...guess then he didn't know he was the JOHNNY BENCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the Tim McCarver Show as it's one of a dying breed of Sports Journalism actually based on intellectual value. Contrast that with today's infantile, shallow nature of Sports TV/Radio Media whereby we are 'entertained' by stupidity that lacks any semblance of serious analysis...instead, we have the 'fast lane' or 'would you rather' found on ESPN Radio whereby ridiculous material such as, for example, 'would you die of a Zombie or fall off a skyscraper' of which I do not make up...My oh my how 'dumbed down' the American Society has become with Sports being indicative of such.
That last sentence on his HOF plaque is poorly written. It seems like they say the last game of his career he hit a homer to lead to the '72 pennant. He played through 1983.
The greatest catcher ever. As kids we raced to see who would call his name and pretend to be him for the day. Others had to settle on pretending to be Carlton Fisk or Gary Carter.
@@abelincoln5698 how long did bench play, how long did fisk play? Who has the most career HRs for a catcher. Who hit the foul pole on a game winner in game six, the most famous HR in WS history?
Dave Concepcion Should be in the Hall of Fame..Its Shameful he's Not in & its a Shame Johnny doesn't mention that ! IMO I think He was the Best Shortstop of his Era Bar-None The Machine was Incredible..
Johnny, if you guys on that '72 team played the Oakland A's again, Oakland would still find a way to beat you guys every time. They had Hunter& Fingers, and that was the difference.
@Jim McCracken The right and best team won that 72' world series, and there's no, if, ands, nor buts about it. The Reds couldn't hit the A's pitching, and that's all there was to it. The A's had Hunter. That's the story.
@Jim McCracken Look, if you knew anything about Hunter's career then you'd know that's when he had arm problems. After the 75' season. Bobby Tolan.... That's an excuse. Got to find a scapegoat huh? Errors are part of the game Einstein.
Bench was maybe the best defensively in history. Offensively? Overrated. People act like he was a god with the bat. He literally had 2 Hall of Famers hitting in front of him (Rose, Morgan) and one (Perez) hitting behind him. Who other than maybe Ruth or Gehrig can say that? And in a hitter's park. Put him on an average team and he still makes the HOF but 90% on his glove and 10% with his bat. Never hit .300 for a full season and only ONCE above .280! In an average lineup he's a lifetime 250 hitter.
You have to consider the fact that they cracked his chest open and removed part of his right lung in '72, it was benign but he never regained his full strength.
I could listen to Johnny Bench talk all day
From David Schoenfeld at ESPN:
"From 1970 to 1976, the Reds played 42 postseason games and Bench allowed just two stolen bases while nailing 13 would-be thieves. Meanwhile, he stole six bases in seven attempts. He stole more bases than he allowed. Incredible."
Incredible, indeed.
That is quite a stat, never heard that one before!
That's unbelievable
One of my favorite players EVER and the greatest catcher of all time!
His defensive highlights are like an instructional video for aspiring catchers, the best overall catcher in MLB history...
Thanks for posting this, Johnny Bench was one of my favorite players, and I appreciate that you allowed me to watch an interview I would otherwise have missed.
I met Bench on a golf course I worked at in the 90s. He came up to me and said ' you mind if I get a chew of that Red Man you've got in your pocket there?' I gave him my pouch and he took about 1/3 of it lol. I just stood there and grinned. He was really cool and a damn good golfer
Bench won the MVP in '70. He hit a Homer in that infamous all star game the next year. He won his 2nd MVP a year after that. And a Lotta people don't remember that he lead the league in RBI for the 3rd time in '74. In '75 he drove in 110 RBI. He won the World Series MVP in '76 as the Big Red Machine win their 2nd title. And he proved the experts wrong in '77, when the said he was finished with 31 homers and 109 RBI. I saw him play in person. Still, after all these years, he's still the best catcher ever. Bar none.
Michael Semchyshyn agree and let the majors in rbi for the 1970’s
Wow! Awesome.
Sanguillen was better. He could run and hit
If only he could acknowledge that his teammate belongs in the Hall of fame.
I was disappointed in that as well.
There have been many great catchers: Berra, Campanella, Lombardi, Fisk, Munson, Dickey, Hartnett, Howard, Rodriguez, Piazza, Carter, etc.., but I feel this man was the best that's ever played the game. Most would agree with me.
Daniel Zanier Piazza was NOT a great catcher. He was a great hitter.
Yes, I would agree. Pitchers did not appear to be wild when Bench was behind the plate. He managed pitchers exceptionally well. Smart person.
Tim McCarver was no slouch either.
You forgot to mention Mickey Cochrane.
@@ThekiBoran you’re right.
What an interesting and down to earth person Johnny Bench is, he is truly a National Treasure. Thank you for this very enjoyable interview, great job by Tim MCcarver also.
Love me some Johnny Bench
Old School player with a great attitude
As a lifelong Red's fan, I followed his entire career close up. On a daily basis, this man would do things defensively that most others could only dream of doing. He is hands down the greatest catcher I've ever seen in 60 plus years of watching baseball.
This has always been an excellent show. The production would make a great archive for DVD release. Its one of the best Sports themed shows ever imho.
That video of the Bench catching that foul ball in S.F vrs the Giants and Willie McCovey is on 2 Topps baseball cards ! 1972 Bench in action & Bench's 1973 card ! WOW, i have never seen this shot before ?
at 17:18 he refers to Jim McGlothlin.
I had Jim as a Red in a Topps baseball card.
He died at 32 of Leukemia. I saw Jim play at riverfront. Flaming red hair too.
Typical thing a kid would say..."You can be from Oklahoma and be in the major leagues?"...got to love that...guess then he didn't know he was the JOHNNY BENCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The G.O.A.T of all catchers,my next catcher would be Thurman Munson.
Damn, Bench is smart.
Love the Tim McCarver Show as it's one of a dying breed of Sports Journalism actually based on intellectual value. Contrast that with today's infantile, shallow nature of Sports TV/Radio Media whereby we are 'entertained' by stupidity that lacks any semblance of serious analysis...instead, we have the 'fast lane' or 'would you rather' found on ESPN Radio whereby ridiculous material such as, for example, 'would you die of a Zombie or fall off a skyscraper' of which I do not make up...My oh my how 'dumbed down' the American Society has become with Sports being indicative of such.
Agree. Tim was superb on this.
He was the greatest!!!
My catcher hero. 1966.
1969
Never got a letter. Turn pro in ice hockey. I miss it.
great stories !!
i enjoyed the show like tim when he was with the expos
Johnny.bench.was.the.best.catcher.in.the.
World.he.was.player.from.the.red.machine.
Probably.the.best.team.in.earth.every.player.
Was.gloves.gold.and.that.is.amazing.the.red.
Machine.#.1.
One of the most feared teams ever assembled. Bench two MVP's, Morgan one,,,, I can still know all the position players from that team
all legends
@@user-jv9qz2bu1r ...and Rose and Foster one MVP each. Unbelievable team.
❤❤❤
I.loved this show..and take.me out to ball game w tom davis, on hts and masn. dave johnson.
That last sentence on his HOF plaque is poorly written. It seems like they say the last game of his career he hit a homer to lead to the '72 pennant. He played through 1983.
The greatest catcher ever. As kids we raced to see who would call his name and pretend to be him for the day. Others had to settle on pretending to be Carlton Fisk or Gary Carter.
Bench couldn't carry Fisk's jock strap
Carlton fisk, on his best day, was half the catcher Johnny bench was. Check your memory. Or their stats
@@DonQwantsyou if you want attention , accomplish something
@@abelincoln5698 how long did bench play, how long did fisk play? Who has the most career HRs for a catcher. Who hit the foul pole on a game winner in game six, the most famous HR in WS history?
@@DonQwantsyou How many rings does Fisk have ? And who has ever called him the greatest ? Nobody except deluded Sox fans
R.I.P Tim McCarver!
💘 Bench HOF 89
Johnny Bench, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra.
Where is the mention.of Ted Simmons
Dave Concepcion Should be in the Hall of Fame..Its Shameful he's Not in & its a Shame Johnny doesn't mention that ! IMO I think He was the Best Shortstop of his Era Bar-None The Machine was Incredible..
Talk about a man that has aged well. He looks older of course but not much different than he did in the World Series of 1972.
bench could do everything well. If he did not have the health issues he would have had bigger stats than he did. Defense , there were none better.
Had no idea he had that lung surgery. What a shame and kind of amazing he didn't mention it more.
Johnny, if you guys on that '72 team played the Oakland A's again, Oakland would still find a way to beat you guys every time. They had Hunter& Fingers, and that was the difference.
@Jim McCracken The right and best team won that 72' world series, and there's no, if, ands, nor buts about it. The Reds couldn't hit the A's pitching, and that's all there was to it.
The A's had Hunter. That's the story.
hes not actually going to see your comment. Are you simple minded ?
@Jim McCracken Look, if you knew anything about Hunter's career then you'd know that's when he had arm problems. After the 75' season. Bobby Tolan.... That's an excuse. Got to find a scapegoat huh? Errors are part of the game Einstein.
@@abelincoln5698 No shit Sherlock. It's rhetorical. Are you that stupid?
@@NkrumahTure if you want attention , accomplish something
Yes, that last statement on Johnny's Plaque is very poorly written, i am surprised they have not edited it?
Maryellen Dougherty - my grandmother - from Honesdale, PA, Kingston, NY, and Bay Ridge
Horrible editing.
Bench was maybe the best defensively in history. Offensively? Overrated. People act like he was a god with the bat. He literally had 2 Hall of Famers hitting in front of him (Rose, Morgan) and one (Perez) hitting behind him. Who other than maybe Ruth or Gehrig can say that? And in a hitter's park. Put him on an average team and he still makes the HOF but 90% on his glove and 10% with his bat. Never hit .300 for a full season and only ONCE above .280! In an average lineup he's a lifetime
250 hitter.
Bench had lesion on lung removed after 1972 season, he never was able to get back to form. Many do not know this.
He hit for power not singles. Lower average is a consequence of power hitting (of course there are exceptions
And Morgan didn't get there until mid 70s
he led the decade in RBI. And the guy who hit after him was 2nd. You sir are a moron
You have to consider the fact that they cracked his chest open and removed part of his right lung in '72, it was benign but he never regained his full strength.