Johnny Lee Bench ( born December 7, 1947 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ) is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Bench was the Reds ' catcher on April 30, 1969 when Maloney pitched a no hitter against the Houston Astros.

At the post-World Series press conference, Reds manager Sparky Anderson was asked by a journalist to compare Munson with his catcher, Johnny Bench.

Byrnes also traded young ace Mat Latos to the Reds for starting pitcher Edinson Volquez and prospects Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal and pitcher Brad Boxberger.

* Donnie Scott, MLB catcher for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds

* Terry McGriff, MLB catcher for the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros, Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals

* Devin Douglas Mesoraco is currently an American Major League Baseball catcher for the Cincinnati Reds.

In honor of Crosley Field, the Cincinnati Reds ' home park from 1912 to June 1970, a monument reminiscent of the park's infamous left field terrace was built on the main entrance plaza on Joe Nuxhall Way ; statues of Crosley-era stars Nuxhall, catcher Ernie Lombardi, first baseman Ted Kluszewski, and outfielder Frank Robinson are depicted playing an imaginary baseball game.

After the 1970 World Series upon seeing him receive his World Series MVP award ceremony in which he received a brand new Toyota as part of his award, Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench said, " Gee!

In 1940 Cincinnati Reds catcher Willard Hershberger committed suicide in his hotel room by slitting his throat.

He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds from to.

Díaz immediately became the Reds ' starting catcher.

Díaz was the Reds catcher on June 6, 1988, when pitcher Tom Browning almost threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres.

This game is best remembered for the often-replayed collision at home plate between Reds star Pete Rose and catcher Ray Fosse of the Cleveland Indians.

Ernesto Natali " Ernie " Lombardi ( April 6, 1908 – September 26, 1977 ), was a Major League Baseball catcher for the Brooklyn Robins, the Cincinnati Reds, the Boston Braves and the New York Giants during a Hall of Fame career that spanned 17 years, from 1931 to 1947.

While Lombardi played for the Reds as the starting catcher, teammate and backup catcher Willard Hershberger became the only major league player to commit suicide during a season.

With the Reds trailing Juan Marichal and the Giants 4 – 3 in the eighth inning, catcher Johnny Bench tied the game on a solo home run.

Reds acquire catcher Ramon Hernandez from Orioles

John Gransfield Kling ( February 25, 1875 – January 31, 1947 ) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs ( the Chicago Orphans until 1903 ) ( 1900 – 1908, 1910 – 1911 ), Boston Rustlers & Braves ( 1911 – 1912 ), and Cincinnati Reds ( 1913 ).

Dioner Favian Navarro Vivas ( born February 9, 1984 ) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball.

Michael Jason " Rusty " LaRue ( born March 19, 1974 in Houston, Texas ) is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals.

As a member of an All-Star family, he is the son of Bob, a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels and Kansas City Royals (–) and later a manager with the Royals and Cincinnati Reds ; his brother Aaron is a third baseman who has played with the Reds, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, and Houston Astros.

The Cincinnati Reds proclaimed September 17, 1983, " Johnny Bench Night " at Riverfront Stadium.

Other Reds players in the unit included Johnny Bench, Bobby Tolan, and Darrel Chaney.

* Johnny Wyrostek, MLB outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds

* Johnny Temple, 6 time All-Star and former MLB 2nd Baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, and Houston Colt. 45s

He came in third in the Most Valuable Player voting behind Billy Williams and winner Johnny Bench, his Cincinnati Reds teammate who had one of the best offensive seasons in the history of catchers that year (. 293 / 45 / 148 ), in addition to winning a Gold Glove.

* Starting pitcher Johnny Vander Meer ( Cincinnati Reds ) throws back – to – back no-hitters, meaning they came in two consecutive starts, something not accomplished before or since.

In, fans of the Cincinnati Reds stuffed the ballot box and elected 7 Reds players to start in the All-Star Game: Johnny Temple ( 2B ), Roy McMillan ( SS ), Don Hoak ( 3B ), Ed Bailey ( C ), Frank Robinson ( LF ), Gus Bell ( CF ), and Wally Post ( RF ).

* Johnny Bench, a former Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983

# Johnny Edwards: 1, 008 ( Cincinnati Reds 1963 )

Consequently, he would spend the next three seasons at AAA, playing for Havana and the Jersey City Jerseys, where he would continue to struggle with his bat while being blocked in the majors by superior Reds ' second basemen in All Stars Johnny Temple, Billy Martin, and Don Blasingame.

A fairly obvious comparison of opposing backstops was made to Reds manager Sparky Anderson during the post-World Series press conference, to which, Anderson responded, " Munson is an outstanding ballplayer and he would hit. 300 in the National League, but you don't ever compare anybody to Johnny Bench.

Morgan, along with teammates Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Tony Pérez, and Dave Concepción, led the Reds to consecutive championships in the World Series.

On May 9, in a Reds 9 – 7 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, Johnny Bench hit three home runs and drove in seven runs against pitcher Steve Carlton.

By 1975 Concepción joined Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Ken Griffey, Sr., George Foster and César Gerónimo in the famous " Great Eight " starting lineup of The Big Red Machine that would help the Reds win the next two World Series titles.

He also has the distinction of catching both of Reds left-hander Johnny Vander Meer's back-to-back no-hitters, accomplished on June 11 and June 15, 1938.

On August 10, 2010, he suffered a concussion caused by a kick to the head by the Cincinnati Reds ' Johnny Cueto, during a bench-clearing brawl.

Johnny Bench followed with his first home run to give the Reds a 3 – 1 lead that they never relinquished.

In contrast, the Reds ' big boppers, Johnny Bench (. 270 avg., 40 HR, 125 RBI, NL MVP ), Tony Pérez (. 283 avg., 21 HR, 90 RBI ), and Denis Menke ( 9 HR, 50 RBI ), combined for only two homers and five RBI the entire Series.

The Reds had Joe Morgan on third and Bobby Tolan on first base with Rollie Fingers pitching to NL MVP Johnny Bench.