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Johnny Bench - Professional Achievements
 

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 and to Johnny's ascension as a celebrity.

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, with 10 Gold Gloves. In 1980 Bench set and endurance record by catching 100 or more games for 13 consecutive seasons.

Bench has enjoyed maximum national visibility through his thousands of hours of entertainment experiences and personal appearances. He has been part of Bob Hope Christmas Shows in the Far East and Desert Storm, has sung with the Cincinnati Pops, authored books, and hosted a wide range of television programs, from his Emmy Award winning instructional show “The Baseball Bunch”, a 1984 PBS special “Billy Sunday” and various Baseball oriented programs.

Johnny's passion for golf has grown and spread into business opportunities from hosting Mastering Golf and Golf in Paradise, two cable shows featuring guests and golf tips, to the formation of Johnny Bench Golf, Inc. a golf marketing company which covers a wide range of golf oriented products and services.

Additional Information
 

Today Johnny enjoys a well rounded, stellar career. By making the transition from athletic superstar to successful broadcaster, he has proven himself a winner in tow of the most popular areas in American culture: baseball and the media.

Using a blend of sincerity, credibility and wit, Johnny Bench can move easily from the world of sports and entertainment to civic involvement, from culture to business. He is a symbol of winning through hard work as outlined in his presentation featuring “The Bowels of Success” which highlights easy to remember motivational tips.

He maintains a sense of balance by using his celebrity status to aid worthy causes, such as the Heart Association, the American Cancer society (as National Chairman of “Athletes vs. Cancer”), the Kidney Foundation, Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Health System and Muscular Dystrophy. He also supports the Cincinnati Symphony, the Museum of Science and Industry, and his own Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund, which grants financial aid to Cincinnati college students.

Programs
 

"The Vowels of Success"

"The Baseball Bunch"