Johnny Bench Trivia Quiz

Answer: December 7, 1947 in Oklahoma City, Ok.

Johnny Bench was born on the 6th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. He grew up in Binger Oklahoma (pop. 640), a small town about 65 miles from Oklahoma City. Bench was a stand-out basketball and baseball player at Binger High School and was valedictorian of his graduating class. At age 16, he pitched a no-hitter in American Legion ball. John named his son Robert 'Binger' Bench.

Answer: Cincinnati Reds

He spent only two years in the Minor Leagues. In 1966, at the age of 18, he hit 22 home runs in 98 games for the Peninsula Grays of the Carolina League. They rewarded him by retiring his uniform number. In 1967 he played the first 4 months with AAA Buffalo before being called up in August to the Major Leagues' Cincinnati Reds.

Answer: 1968

Although, Johnny Bench was playing with the Reds in 1967, he did not have enough at-bats to be eligible as a rookie. Good thing for Bench, because 22 year old Tom Seaver ran away with the 1967 ROY Award. Bench was the first catcher to win the ROY Award.

He also became the first rookie catcher to catch 154 games and hit 40 doubles on his way to edging out Jerry Koosman by one vote for the 1968 ROY Award.

Answer: 1978

Bench knocked in 148 runs in 1970, 125 runs in 1972, and 129 runs in 1974. He had a career total of 1,376 RBIs. Johnny Bench led the entire Major League with 1,013 RBIs in the decade of the 1970s. Second, was teammate Tony Perez with 954 RBI's. In 1974, he became the first catcher to led the NL in total bases with 315.

Answer: Steve Carlton

On July 26, 1970, Bench hit 3 homers off Carlton when he was with the Cardinals and on May 9,1973, while Carlton was on the Phillies. His third 3 home run game was against Randy Jones of the Padres on May 29, 1980. Bench also, collected his 2,000 career hit off of Carlton on May 14,1983.

Answer: Yogi Berra

Johnny received a telegram from Yogi when he broke the record. "Congratulations on breaking my record. I always thought the record would stand until it was broken." Another Yogism for the book.
Bench finished with 327 HR as a catcher and 389 HR in his career. The record home run #314 came off of David Palmer of the Montreal Expos.

Answer: 10

Benchs' Gold Gloves came consecutively from 1968-1977. He was the first catcher to wear a protective helmet in the field and caught with one hand behind his back to protect it from foul tips. In 1980, he set an endurance record by catching in 100 or more games for 13 consecutive seasons.

Answer: He stole 5 bases in a single game.

In 1972 he hit 7 home runs in 5 straight games from May 30-June 3 on his way to winning the NL MVP Award. In his final career at-bat on September 29, 1983 he hit a 2 run pinch hit in Cincinnati during their final home game of the season. In spring training of 1968, Bench received an autographed baseball from Ted Williams. "To Johnny Bench a sure Hall of Famer".

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989.

Answer: 1970 & 1972

In 1970, he led the Major Leagues with 45 HR and 148 RBIs and his 1972, 40 HR and 125 RBIs also led the Majors. Both years Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs was runner-up for the NL MVP. On October 24, 1999 Bench was selected to the "All Century Team".

Answer: He wore uniform #6.

Bench wore #5 his entire career with the Reds and it was retired on August 11, 1984. John was selected as an All-Star from 1968 to 1980 and in 1983. He hit a home run in the 1969, 1971, and 1973 All-Star games. John played in 10 post-season series: 6 NLCS and 4 WS.

He hit at least one home run in every series, except the 1975 NLCS. In 45 post-season series games he hit 10 HRs and drove in 20 runs. During the Reds 1976 World Series sweep of the Yankees, he batted .533 with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs on his way to the MVP.