Cincinnati's Number 5 is the bench-mark against which other cathers are compared. He controlled the game on both sides of the plate with his batting (.267 with 389 home runs and a record 327 as a catcher), throwing out opposing base runners, calling pitches and blocking homeplate.

Bench was named to the NL All-Star team fourteen times, played in every game from 1968 to 1975, and hit .409 with 3 home runs. He set a major league record for home runs by a catcher (327 plus 62 playing elsewhere), won two home run crowns, led the league in RBI's three times, and was chosen MVP twice.

While Bench is remembered most for his offense, he may have had his greatest impact behind the bat. He was the first receiver to use a protective helmet in the field, popularized catching onehanded, kept his throwing hand behind his back to protect it from foul tips, and said his father "taught me to throw 254 feet -- twice the distance to second base -- from a crouch."

Not known for keeping his counsel, Bench once said flatly, "I can throw out any runner alive," and brashly predicted that he would be the first catcher to be named Rookie of the Year. He did just that in 1968, caught 154 games, a rookie record, and won the first of ten straight Gold Gloves. Bench hit 45 homers and was chosen MVP for the first time in 1970.