Editing Johnny Bench (section)

===Cincinnati Reds (1967–1983)===
Bench was called up to the Reds in August 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/1965/Round-2-1.shtml|title=Amateur Baseball Draft – The Baseball Cube|access-date=June 1, 2016|archive-date=July 31, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100731030536/http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/1965/Round-2-1.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> He hit only [[batting average (baseball)|.163]], but impressed many people with his defense and strong throwing arm, among them [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Hall of Famer]] [[Ted Williams]]. Williams signed a baseball for him and predicted that the young catcher would be a "Hall of Famer for sure!"<ref name="Johnny Bench at The Baseball Library"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/articles/johnny-bench-memorabilia-buying-guide |title=Johnny Bench Memorabilia Buying Guide &#124; Autographed Sports Memorabilia and Sports Collectibles at Sports Memorabilia |publisher=Sportsmemorabilia.com |access-date=September 24, 2013 |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928181051/http://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/articles/johnny-bench-memorabilia-buying-guide |url-status=dead }}</ref> Williams' prophecy became fact 22 years later in 1989 when Bench was elected to Cooperstown.

During a [[1968 Cincinnati Reds season|1968]] [[spring training]] game, Bench was catching [[right handedness|right-hander]] [[Jim Maloney]], an eight-year veteran. Maloney was once a hard thrower, but injuries had dramatically reduced the speed of his fastball. Maloney nevertheless insisted on repeatedly "shaking off" his younger catcher by throwing fastballs instead of the [[breaking ball]]s that Bench had called for. When an exasperated Bench bluntly told Maloney, "Your fastball's not popping," Maloney replied with an epithet. To prove to Maloney that his fastball was no longer effective, Bench called for a fastball, and after Maloney released the ball, Bench dropped his catcher's mitt and caught the fastball barehanded.<ref name="http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/fastest-pitcher-in-baseball.shtml |title=Fastest Pitcher in Baseball by Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=September 24, 2013 |archive-date=August 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812080555/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/articles/fastest-pitcher-in-baseball.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Bench was the Reds' catcher on April 30, [[1969 Cincinnati Reds season|1969]], when Maloney pitched a [[no hitter]] against the {{nowrap|[[1969 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]].<ref name=tnhsbm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fcZOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6986%2C2830643 |work=Toledo Blade |location=(Ohio) |agency=Associated Press |title=Third no-hitter spun by Maloney |date=May 1, 1969 |page=42 |access-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-date=April 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416002539/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fcZOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6986%2C2830643 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=nohstpt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r0tSAAAAIBAJ&pg=7124%2C429253 |work=St. Petersburg Times |location=(Florida) |agency=Associated Press |title=Reds' Jim Maloney pitches no-hitter |date=May 1, 1969 |page=1C |access-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-date=August 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829001853/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r0tSAAAAIBAJ&pg=7124,429253 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN196904300.shtml|title=April 30, 1969 Houston Astros at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=June 1, 2016|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804120527/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN196904300.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

In 1968, the 20-year-old Bench impressed many in his first {{nowrap|full season;<ref name=rcpr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XbdWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2327%2C2392877 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Rookie Catcher Praised |date=July 23, 1968 |page=10 |access-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-date=August 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829001852/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XbdWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2327,2392877 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} he won the National League [[MLB Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]], batting .275 with 15 home runs and 82 RBIs. This marked the first time that the award had been won by a catcher.<ref name="Johnny Bench career statistics at Baseball Reference"/><ref name="Johnny Bench at The Baseball Library"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1968.shtml#NLroy|title=1968 Awards Voting|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=June 1, 2016|archive-date=March 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330112109/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1968.shtml#NLroy|url-status=live}}</ref> He also won the 1968 National League [[Gold Glove Award]] for catchers, which was the first time that the award had been won by a rookie.<ref name="Johnny Bench career statistics at Baseball Reference"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/gold_glove_nl.shtml#1968|title=MLB National League Gold Glove Award Winners|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=June 1, 2016|archive-date=May 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528001941/https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/gold_glove_nl.shtml#1968|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="PSACards">{{cite web|url=https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1968-topps/reds-rookies-johnny-bench-ron-tompkins-247/31850|title=Reds Rookies (Johnny Bench/Ron Tompkins) – 1968 Topps|website=PSA|access-date=June 1, 2016|archive-date=May 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522112825/http://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/baseball-cards/1968-topps/reds-rookies-johnny-bench-ron-tompkins-247/31850/|url-status=live}}</ref> He made 102 [[Assist (baseball)|assists]] in 1968, which marked the first time in 23 years that a catcher had more than 100 assists in a season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/A_c_progress.shtml|title=Progressive Leaders & Records for Assists as C|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=June 1, 2016|archive-date=June 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621063805/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/A_c_progress.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[Vietnam War]], Bench served in the [[United States Army Reserve]] as a member of the [[Engineer Combat Battalion|478th Engineer Battalion]], which was based across the [[Ohio River]] from Cincinnati at [[Fort Thomas, Kentucky]]. This unit included several of his teammates, among them [[Pete Rose]], [[Bobby Tolan]] and [[Darrel Chaney]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Gavin |first=Lapaille |date=July 24, 2014 |title=Charlie Hustle: As Rose Sported Red, He Marched in Army Green |url=https://www.army.mil/article/130526/Charlie_Hustle__as_Rose_sported_red__he_marched_in_Army_green/ |newspaper=army.mil |location=Arlington, Virginia |access-date=February 4, 2015 |archive-date=February 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205010458/http://www.army.mil/article/130526/Charlie_Hustle__as_Rose_sported_red__he_marched_in_Army_green/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="defense">[https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/2727094/sports-heroes-who-served-star-baseball-catcher-johnny-bench-was-a-soldier/ Sports Heroes Who Served: Star Baseball Catcher Johnny Bench Was a Soldier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807170126/https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/2727094/sports-heroes-who-served-star-baseball-catcher-johnny-bench-was-a-soldier/ |date=August 7, 2022 }} [[United States Department of Defense]]. Retrieved August 7, 2022.</ref> In the winter of 1970–1971 he was part of [[Bob Hope]]'s [[United Service Organizations|USO]] Tour of [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Cook |first=William A. |date=2012 |title=Big Klu: The Baseball Life of Ted Kluszewski |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JFUgLGv6RnIC&pg=PA144 |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |publisher=McFarland |page=144 |isbn=978-0-7864-6999-4}}</ref>