Retired#5C1967–1983#69 all-time

Johnny Bench

Cincinnati Reds

Johnny Bench is often called the greatest catcher ever. The heart of Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine, he won NL MVP awards in 1970 and 1972, ten straight Gold Gloves and two World Series titles, and hit 389 home runs, all for the Reds.

Bats / ThrowsRight / Right

Age78

Height / Weight6' 1" / 208 lb

BornDec 7, 1947 · Oklahoma City, OK, USA

MLB debutAug 28, 1967

Last gameSep 29, 1983

TeamCincinnati Reds 1967–1983

Career home runs

389

2158 games · 17 seasons

Best season

1970 · Cincinnati Reds

All-time HR rank

#69

Next: Graig Nettles (390), 2 to pass

Spray chart 0 HR

Tap a landing spot to see the homer.

Season

Player’s Vault

14 badges earned

4Unicorn

5Rare Air

5Legend

×3UnicornGameThree home runsFirst Jul 26, 1970 · latest May 29, 1980
×2UnicornSeasonMVP award1970, 1972
UnicornCareerHall of FameInducted 1989
UnicornCareerMultiple MVP awards2 MVP awards · 1970, 1972
×19Rare AirGameMulti-homer gameFirst Jun 2, 1970 · latest Sep 7, 1981
×2Rare AirSeasonHome run title1970, 1972
×2Rare AirSeason40 home runs1970, 1972
Rare AirSeasonHomered in five straight games1972 · best 5 straight
×4Rare AirSeasonWorld Series home run1970, 1972, 1975, 1976 · 5 HR
×4LegendSeason30 home runs1970, 1972, 1974, 1977
×6LegendSeasonPostseason home run1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979 · 10 HR
LegendCareer300 home runs389 home runs
LegendCareerWorld Series ring2 rings · 1975, 1976
LegendCareer200 home runs389 home runs

Distance and exit-velocity badges count from 2015, when tracking began. Grand slams, walk-offs, inside-the-park, leadoff, pinch-hit, first-pitch, back-to-back, switch-hitting and ballpark badges count games from 2008 on.

Career arc

Home runs by season · tap a bar

Home runsSelected season

Personal records

Career

Longest of his career

Hardest hit of his career

Year by year

Regular season · MLB

Season	Team	G	PA	HR	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	AB/HR
1983	Cincinnati Reds	110	334	12	54	.255	.308	.432	.740	25.8
1982	Cincinnati Reds	119	439	13	38	.258	.320	.396	.716	30.7
1981	Cincinnati Reds	52	196	8	25	.309	.369	.489	.858	22.3
1980	Cincinnati Reds	114	407	24	68	.250	.327	.483	.810	15.0
1979	Cincinnati Reds	130	538	22	80	.276	.364	.459	.823	21.1
1978	Cincinnati Reds	120	451	23	73	.260	.340	.483	.823	17.1
1977	Cincinnati Reds	142	563	31	109	.275	.348	.540	.888	15.9
1976	Cincinnati Reds	135	552	16	74	.234	.348	.394	.742	29.1
1975	Cincinnati Reds	142	606	28	110	.283	.359	.519	.878	18.9
1974	Cincinnati Reds	160	708	33	129	.280	.363	.507	.870	18.8
1973	Cincinnati Reds	152	651	25	104	.253	.345	.429	.774	22.3
1972	Cincinnati Reds	147	652	40	125	.270	.379	.541	.920	13.4
1971	Cincinnati Reds	149	613	27	61	.238	.299	.423	.722	20.8
1970	Cincinnati Reds	158	671	45	148	.293	.345	.587	.932	13.4
1969	Cincinnati Reds	148	592	26	90	.293	.353	.487	.840	20.5
1968	Cincinnati Reds	154	607	15	82	.275	.311	.433	.744	37.6
1967	Cincinnati Reds	26	93	1	6	.163	.207	.256	.463	86.0
Career		2158	8673	389	1376	.267	.342	.476	.818	19.7

Splits

How he hits them

Every home run

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Quick answers

Johnny Bench home run facts

How many career home runs does Johnny Bench have?

Johnny Bench hit 389 career MLB home runs in 17 seasons (1967–1983), 69th all-time.

Where does Johnny Bench rank on the all-time home run list?

69th in MLB history with 389. Next: Graig Nettles (390), 2 to pass.

What was Johnny Bench’s best home run season?

His most home runs in a season is 45, in 1970 with the Cincinnati Reds, when he posted a .932 OPS.

Is Johnny Bench in the Hall of Fame?

Yes. Johnny Bench was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

What teams has Johnny Bench played for?

Cincinnati Reds (1967–1983).

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