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Johnny Bench was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on December 7, 1947. The third of four children of Ted and Katy Bench, he was All-State in basketball and baseball at Binger High School and the Valedictorian of his graduating class.

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, Johnny 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, Johnny 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), and 14-time All-Star, with 10 consecutive Gold Gloves. In 1980, Bench set an endurance record by catching 100 or more games for 13 consecutive seasons.

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 Greater Cincinnati-area college students.

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 Vowels of Success” which highlights easy to remember motivational tips.