Coleman Company - Johnny Bench Award - Past Winners

Johnny Bench Biography

Johnny Bench was born in Binger, Oklahoma on December 7, 1947. The third of four children of Ted and Katy Bench, he was an All-Star in basketball and baseball in high school and was the Valedictorian of his graduating class.

Johnny's childhood dream was to become a major league baseball player and his father counseled that the position of catcher was the most direct route to that goal. Taking that advice, he was selected in the 1965 amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds and signed with them. After two seasons in the minors, Bench made Cincinnati's Major League roster for the 1968 season. This marked the beginning of one of the most successful careers in baseball history.

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 1989 with the fourth highest percentage of total votes cast, Bench is undoubtedly the greatest catcher ever. His honors include National League Rookie of the year (1968); national League Most Valuable Player (1970 & 1972); World Series MVP (1976); 14-time All-Star; and 10-time Gold Glove winner. In 1980 Bench set an endurance record by catching 100 or more games for 13 consecutive seasons.