Did Johnny Bench ever marry?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 11, 2026
Before Christmas 1987, Bench married Laura Cwikowski, an Oklahoma City model and aerobics instructor. They had a son, Bobby Binger (named for Hope and Knight, and Bench's hometown), before divorcing in '95.
Did Johnny Bench ever get married?
Personal life. Bench has been married four times. Once hailed as "baseball's most-eligible bachelor," he shed that distinction before the 1975 season when he married Vickie Chesser, a toothpaste model who had dated Joe Namath. Four days after they met, Bench proposed, and they were married on February 21, 1975.
Could Johnny Bench hold 7 baseballs in one hand?
BENCH can hold as many as seven baseballs at a time in his throwing hand. His fingers are long and strong, and he can hold a baseball between the tips of his middle and fourth fingers and snap it toward a target.
Was Johnny Bench good?
Selected for 14 All-Star teams, Bench was a lifetime . 267 hitter with 389 homers as he set a major league record for home runs by a catcher with 327. (Carlton Fisk and Mike Piazza have since passed this mark.) He is the only catcher to ever lead his league in total bases, when he accumulated 315 in 1974.
What size bat did Johnny Bench use?
Based upon factory records, and player use characteristics, it was during his late career 1979 season Bench used this 34.5 inch, 31.1 ounce, Louisville Slugger R43 model bat.
22 related questions foundIs Ole Miss Justin Bench related to Johnny Bench?
Personal: Full name is Justin C. Bench … Son of Jill and John Bench … Born August 28, 1999 …
What team did Johnny Bench play for?
Johnny Bench, in full Johnny Lee Bench, (born December 7, 1947, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.), American professional baseball player who, in 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds of the National League, established himself as one of the game's finest catchers.
What record did Johnny Bench Break?
Today in Reds history, 1980: Johnny Bench breaks Yogi Berra's record for most home runs by a catcher with his 314th blast. Bench hit an additional 33 home runs while playing other positions.
How many times did Reggie Jackson strikeout in his career?
Jackson's 2,597 strikeouts are the all-time AL/NL record, though Jim Thome came very close by retiring with 2,548.
Is Johnny Bench a single dad?
Read more about Bench's memories from the Big Red Machine and his new life as a single dad at SI.com.
Did Johnny Bench ever win MVP?
Highly honored during his career, Bench won the 1968 NL Rookie of the Year, was a two-time NL MVP (1970 and 1972) and 14-time All-Star. He won the 1976 World Series MVP Award as the Reds completed their back-to-back run of titles.
What was Johnny Bench's caught stealing percentage?
Bench led his league three times in caught stealing percentage, Rodriguez nine times. For their careers, Bench had a 43 percent caught stealing rate against a league average of 35 percent.
Who did Johnny Bench replace?
Don Pavletich, who played for the Cincinnati Reds for parts of nine seasons and joked that he was replaced at catcher by Hall of Famer Johnny Bench and later - with the Boston Red Sox - by Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk, died Thursday at age 81, according to his obituary.
When was Johnny Bench drafted?
Draft: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 1965 MLB June Amateur Draft from Binger HS (Binger, OK).