Johnny Lee Bench Wiki Biography

Johnny Lee Bench was born on the 7th December 1947, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA,and is best known as a former American professional baseball player, a catcher in American Major League Baseball (MLB), who played for the Cincinnati Reds. His career was active from 1967 to 1983, and is considered to be the greatest catcher in the history of baseball. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

Have you ever wondered how rich is Johnny Bench as of early 2016?Sources estimate that Bench’s net worth is over $10 million, with the main source of this amount of money originating from his career as a professional baseball player. Additional to this, he has appeared in several TV shows and series, increasing his net worth further. One more source of his wealth has come from selling his books.[divider]

Johnny Bench Worth $10 Million

[divider]Johnny Bench was raised with three siblings in the small town of Binger, near Oklahoma City. He started playing baseball while he was at Binger High School, and also played basketball, and was offered scholarships to play both sports in college. In 1965 he was a part of the MLB amateur draft, and was selected the 36th overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds. He stayed for two seasons in the lower league, playing for the Buffalo Bisons, before he was brought up to the Cincinnati Reds squad. Thus his professional career began when he signed a rookie contract, which started his net worth, and he subsequently played for the Reds until his retirement in 1983.

During that time, the contracts he signed with the team were the sources of his net worth. During his time at the Reds, Johnny won and received numerous titles and awards, as a part of the team but also individually. He was 14 times a part of the All-Star game, consecutively from 1968 until 1980, and then again in 1983. In his first season, he won the NL Rookie Of The Year award, batting .275 and having 15 home runs. Johnny was a NL MVP twice, in 1970, and 1972, and the NL Home run leader in the same seasons. To speak further of his accomplishments, he received 10 times Golden Glove award, from 1968 to 1977, and was three times the RBI leader in 1970, 1972 and 1974.

Other than that, Johnny twice won the World Series with the Reds, in 1975 against the Boston Red Sox, and in 1976 defeating the New York Yankees – he was the MVP of the World Series in 1976. Thanks to his successful career, Johnny’s jersey number was retired by the Reds, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. He now serves on the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

After retirement, Johnny featured in several TV series, and shows, which also added to his net worth, such as “The Baseball Bunch” (1982-1985), “Easy Rider 2: The Ride Home” (2012), among several others. He has also published two books – “Catch Every Ball: How to Handle Life’s Pitches” (2008); he had co-authored an autobiographical book “Catch You Later” (1979), which sales also increased Johnny`s net worth.

Speaking about his personal life, Johnny Bench has been married to Luren Baiocchi since 2004, but previously he was in marriage with Vickie Chesser (1975-1976) and Laura Cwikowski (1987-1995). He has three sons, and currently resides near Cincinnati, Ohio. In free time Bench enjoys playing golf.



Full Name Johnny Bench
Net Worth $10 Million
Date Of Birth December 7, 1947
Place Of Birth Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Height 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
Weight 94 kg
Profession Actor
Nationality American
Spouse Lauren Baiocchi (m. 2004), Laura Cwikowski (m. 1987–1995), Vickie Chesser (m. 1975–1976)
Children Bobby Bench, Justin Bench, Joshua Bench
Parents Ted Bench, Katy Bench
Siblings William Bench, Teddy Bench, Marilyn Bench
IMDB
Movies Easy Rider: The Ride Back
TV Shows The Baseball Bunch, Games People Play
Quote
1 I’ve seldom seen a horny player walk into a bar and not let out exactly what he did for a living.
2 A catcher and his body are like the outlaw and his horse. He’s got to ride that nag till it drops.
Fact
1 Inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 (first baseball player so honored).
2 Made major league debut on 28 August 1967.
3 Member of 1970 and 1972 National League Champion Cincinnati Reds teams. Member of 1973, 1979 and 1981 National League Western Division Champion Cincinnati Reds team. Member of 1975 and 1976 World Series Champion Cincinnati Reds teams.
4 Catcher/Third Baseman/First Baseman/Outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds (1967-1983).
5 1968 National League Rookie of the Year for hitting 40 Doubles, 82 RBI and 57 Extra-Base Hits.
6 1970 and 1972 National League MVP.
7 Cincinnati Reds Career RBI Leader (1,376).
8 Cincinnati Reds Career Home Run Leader (389).
9 Spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds.
10 Also played first base and in the outfield, in addition to catching and playing third base.
11 Learned to throw hard as far as 250 feet with great accuracy.
12 Beat out Jerry Koosman of the New York Mets for Rookie of the Year honors in 1968 by one vote.
13 Has large hands; can hold seven baseballs in them.
14 Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1989 with the fourth highest voting percentage ever.
15 Is of Choctaw Indian descent.
16 Was a broadcaster for the Reds from 1987 to 1990.
17 Won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1968.
18 Won the National League MVP Award in 1970 and 1972 and the World Series MVP Award in 1976.

Actor

Title Year Status Character
Easy Rider 2: The Ride Home 2012 MLB Scout
The Partridge Family 1973 TV Series Pool Waiter
Mission: Impossible 1971 TV Series Captain of the Guards

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
Field of Dreams: Roundtable with Kevin Costner, Johnny Bench, George Brett, and Bret Saberhagen 2004 Video documentary short special thanks

Self

Title Year Status Character
Mike & Mike 2015 TV Series Himself – Baseball Hall of Famer
The Cleveland Show 2012 TV Series Himself
Prime 9 2009-2011 TV Series Himself
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show 2009 TV Series Himself
18th Annual American Century Championship 2007 TV Mini-Series Himself
Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith 2006 TV Series Himself
The Top 5 Reasons You Can’t Blame… 2005 TV Series Himself
This Week in Baseball 2005 TV Series Himself
16th Annual American Century Championship 2005 TV Mini-Series Himself
Catching Up! 2004 TV Special Guest
The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour 2004 TV Movie Himself
Field of Dreams: Roundtable with Kevin Costner, Johnny Bench, George Brett, and Bret Saberhagen 2004 Video documentary short Himself
ESPN SportsCentury 2000-2004 TV Series documentary Himself
ESPN 25: Who’s #1? 2004 TV Series documentary Himself
The Tim McCarver Show 2003 TV Series Himself – Guest
100 Years of the World Series 2003 Video documentary Himself
Cincinnati: Just Around the Corner 2003 Documentary short Himself
Yes, Dear 2003 TV Series Himself
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire 2001 TV Series Himself
1994 MLB All-Star Game 1994 TV Special Himself – Field Reporter
Married with Children 1993 TV Series Himself
1992 American League Championship Series 1992 TV Series Himself – Color Commentator
This Week in Baseball’s Greatest Plays 1991 Video Himself
Bob Hope’s Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia 1991 TV Special Himself
Mr. Belvedere 1989 TV Series Himself
The New Hollywood Squares 1988 TV Series Guest Appearance
Greats of the Game 1985 TV Series Guest
1983 MLB All-Star Game 1983 TV Special Himself – NL Third Baseman
Late Night with David Letterman 1983 TV Series Himself
The Baseball Bunch 1982 TV Series documentary Himself – Host
Greatest Sports Legends 1982 TV Series Himself
Games People Play 1980 TV Series Co-Host
1980 MLB All-Star Game 1980 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher
1979 National League Championship Series 1979 TV Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
The Bad News Bears 1979 TV Series Himself
Good Morning America 1979 TV Series Himself
1978 National League Championship Series 1978 TV Mini-Series Himself – Color Commentator
The Mike Douglas Show 1971-1978 TV Series Himself – Pro Baseball Player / Himself – Baseball Player / Himself – Co-Host
The Jim Nabors Show 1978 TV Series Himself
1977 MLB All-Star Game 1977 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher
Super Night at the Super Bowl 1977 TV Movie Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1972-1976 TV Series Himself
1976 World Series 1976 TV Mini-Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1976 National League Championship Series 1976 TV Mini-Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1976 MLB All-Star Game 1976 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher
Dinah! 1974-1976 TV Series Himself
1975 World Series 1975 TV Mini-Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher / Hiself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1975 National League Championship Series 1975 TV Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1975 MLB All-Star Game 1975 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Bob Hope 1974 TV Special Himself
1974 MLB All-Star Game 1974 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher
The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams 1974 Short Himself
Hee Haw 1972-1974 TV Series Himself – Special Guest / Himself / Himself – Guest
1973 National League Championship Series 1973 TV Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1973 MLB All-Star Game 1973 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher
Cavalcade of Champions 1973 TV Movie Himself
1972 World Series 1972 TV Mini-Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1972 National League Championship Series 1972 TV Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1972 MLB All-Star Game 1972 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher
1971 MLB All-Star Game 1971 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher
1970 World Series 1970 TV Mini-Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1970 National League Championship Series 1970 TV Mini-Series Himself – Cincinnati Reds Catcher
1970 MLB All-Star Game 1970 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher
1969 MLB All-Star Game 1969 TV Special Himself – NL Catcher

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
Prime 9 2009-2011 TV Series Himself
DHL Presents Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes 2006 TV Mini-Series documentary Himself
Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith 2006 TV Series Himself
Boston Red Sox: 100 Years of Baseball History 2001 Video documentary Himself (uncredited)
The 50 Greatest Home Runs in Baseball History 1992 Video documentary Himself
Bob Hope’s Overseas Christmas Tours: Around the World with the Troops – 1941-1972 1980 TV Movie documentary Himself