MLB: The Mount Rushmore of Expansion Era Catchers

Johnny Bench

Johnny Bench played 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds is speculated as one of the best catchers of all time. He won a Rookie of the Year in 1968, won two MVP awards, won two World Series, a World Series MVP, and 10 Gold Gloves. He was dominant since he was 20 years old.

Bench had six seasons of at least 100 RBIs and two seasons with at least 40 home runs. He was both a monster behind the plate and at the plate. He is still the only catcher in MLB history to lead the league in home runs. He was a true two-way, elite player. Bench was one of the best players of the 1970s. He is named to Major League Baseball’s All-Century Team and All-Time Team. He was a first ballot Hall of Famer, receiving 96.42% of the votes.

Bench finished his career with 2,048 hits, 389 home runs and drove in 1,376 runs, as well as scoring 1,091 runs. Bench was the leader of the Reds team known as the Big Red Machine that dominated the National League in the mid-1970s, winning six division titles, four National League pennants, and two World Series championships. A true two-way player, Bench was one of the most dominant catchers of all time.