The Great Life of Johnny Bench For some people, sports do not come easy. They must toil day in and day out, just to be mediocre. That was not the case for Johnny Bench. After a long, successful career, Johnny Bench, considered one of the greatest catchers in history, continues to influence others today. Johnny Bench's life started like most boys' lives in rural Oklahoma. He was born on December 7, 1947 in Oklahoma City. He had two brothers and one sister. They moved to Binger, Oklahoma when he was five years old (Armour).Ted, Johnny’s father, had played baseball when he was in high school and for the US Army, by the time World War II ended, he was too old to play anymore; therefore, he poured all his dreams to his kids and started a boys…show more content… Johnny won the 1967 Minor League Player of the year. He also won ten consecutive Gold Gloves and Major League Rookie of the Year (Schultz 66). Johnny was a 14-time All-Star and he only played with one team his whole career and they won two World Series in 1975 and 1976 (“Johnny Bench-Growing up”). Johnny won MVP two times in his career in 1970 and 1972 (Schultz 66). He was also inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 (“Johnny Bench-Growing up”). Outside of baseball, Johnny was very public about his life. Johnny was the host of a 1980’s kids show called “The Baseball Bunch” which featured the San Diego Chicken and Tommy Lasorda (“Johnny Bench-Growing up”). He would also perform on camera him palming a basketball and him holding seven baseballs in his throwing hand (Armour). Bench is a longtime spokesman for Cincinnati based Fifth Third Bank. The Reds set up the Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund in 1983 to honor him.Bench has also supported medical causes like the Heart Association, and the Cancer Society’s Athletes vs. Cancer (“Bench,Johnny”). Johnny Bench was one of the most highly accomplished players in baseball history. He will always be remembered as one of baseballs pioneers and an influence of catchers today. Johnny did a lot in his career and outside of baseball. He had a lot of obstacles in the way, but he still overcame them and had a great
