Turn Off Ads?
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 33

Thread: Johnny Bench Story?

  1. #1
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Newport Beach, CA
    Posts
    8,069

    Johnny Bench Story?

    From Sun Deck: By Kaldanials:"Does anyone have details about the J Bench story in Bill Simmons mailbag this week.

    It tells of the time Bench kept getting shook off by a pitcher who wanted to throw a fastball, so JB proceeded to catch the next fastball with his bare hand to prove a point.

    Simmons ranked it the #1 manliest act in sports."

    Seems to me that it was Gerry Arrigo. IIRC, Bench wanted a breaking pitch and Arrigo wanted to throw a fastball. He kept shaking Bench off. Finally, Bench flashed the sign for a fastball. The batter took the pitch and Bench caught it barehanded. Supposedly, Arrigo never again shook off Bench.

    Rem


  2. Turn Off Ads?
  3. #2
    Box of Frogs edabbs44's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    16,358

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    Fascinating accounts, stories, and even myths about how fast - or not so fast - a pitch has gone are common in the annals of the game. One such account allegedly took place during a Spring Training game in 1968. A rookie catcher named Johnny Bench was behind the plate and eight-year veteran Jim Maloney was on the mound. Bench continuously called for breaking balls and Maloney continuously shook him off. Frustrated, the two met at the mound where Bench bluntly said, "Your fastball's not popping." Maloney, also blunt, replied, "%*$@ you." The rookie returned to his position behind the plate and called for a curve, only to be shaken off again. Bench gave in to the veteran (who had recently strung together four consecutive seasons with 200+ strikeouts) and signaled for a fastball. Maloney delivered. Before the pitch reached the plate Bench dropped his glove and caught the ball bare-handed - or so the story goes.
    http://www.baseball-almanac.com/arti...baseball.shtml

  4. #3
    Member Ron Madden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Cincinnati
    Posts
    21,732

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    I doubt JB ever caught a Jim Maloney fastball bare-handed.
    Last edited by Ron Madden; 08-12-2007 at 07:15 PM.

  5. #4
    Member corkedbat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2001
    Location
    Lexington
    Posts
    11,714

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    I watched Johnny catch. He had two hands. I seriously doubt he caught Maloney bare-handed, Even on an off-day a Maloney FB was some serious heat in his day.

  6. #5
    Big Red Machine RedsBaron's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Out Wayne
    Posts
    24,134

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    Quote Originally Posted by corkedbat View Post
    I watched Johnny catch. He had two hands. I seriously doubt he caught Maloney bare-handed, Even on an off-day a Maloney FB was some serious heat in his day.
    I vaguely recall that story, but, like Rem, I recall the pitcher being Arrigo. Maloney in his prime threw around 98 mph. I very much doubt that Bench ever tried to catch Maloney bare-handed.
    The story would not nearly as impressive if Bench had been catching most of the pitchers on the present day Reds staff.
    "Hey...Dad. Wanna Have A Catch?" Kevin Costner in "Field Of Dreams."

  7. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2000
    Location
    Huntsville, Al
    Posts
    99

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    According to the book Catch You Later by Johnny Bench, the pitcher was Arrigo. Johnny reached out with his bear hand and caught it like a tennis ball.

  8. #7
    nothing more than a fan Always Red's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Cincy West and WNC
    Posts
    5,558

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    I had a chance to talk with John Bench for a few minutes this spring at a local sports stag dinner.

    I asked him who threw the very hardest during his years behind the plate, and he did not hesitate in his answer: "Wayne Simpson wore me out; no one threw harder than he did in 1970."

    I only had a minute with him, and I'd have loved to have asked him who was pitching when he caught the ball bare handed. I've read that legend many times, and it's always been an anonymous pitcher. This is the first time that I've read it was Maloney. I think Maloney threw as hard, if not harder, than Simpson did?

  9. #8
    Haunted by walks
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Syracuse
    Posts
    9,933

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    Quote Originally Posted by Always Red View Post
    I had a chance to talk with John Bench for a few minutes this spring at a local sports stag dinner.

    I asked him who threw the very hardest during his years behind the plate, and he did not hesitate in his answer: "Wayne Simpson wore me out; no one threw harder than he did in 1970."

    I only had a minute with him, and I'd have loved to have asked him who was pitching when he caught the ball bare handed. I've read that legend many times, and it's always been an anonymous pitcher. This is the first time that I've read it was Maloney. I think Maloney threw as hard, if not harder, than Simpson did?
    Maloney threw as hard as Gibson and almost as hard as Koufax. He's unsung, but he was a rival of those guys.

  10. #9
    Strategery RFS62's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Fleming Island, Florida
    Posts
    16,849

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    No possible way it was Maloney.

    Johnny had big hands.
    We'll go down in history as the first society that wouldn't save itself because it wasn't cost effective ~ Kurt Vonnegut

  11. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Newport Beach, CA
    Posts
    8,069

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    Quote Originally Posted by RedsBaron View Post
    The story would not nearly as impressive if Bench had been catching most of the pitchers on the present day Reds staff.
    That's funny! Unfortunately, it's also sad.

    Maloney could really bring it. He was the type of pitcher that left hitters thinking, 'I didn't really see that pitch but it sure sounded good!"

    Arrigo, on the other hand, was a soft-tossing lefty that thought more of his fastball than Bench did; which, of course is the point of the story.

    Whether it's exactly true or not, it certainly is one of those stories that get passed down from generation to generation.

    Rem

  12. #11
    Member traderumor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Columbus, OH area
    Posts
    19,911

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    Quote Originally Posted by DiamondRat View Post
    According to the book Catch You Later by Johnny Bench, the pitcher was Arrigo. Johnny reached out with his bear hand and caught it like a tennis ball.
    That would seem to clinch the veracity of the story, unless Johnny is a bald-faced liar, which I haven't known him to be.

  13. #12
    Party like it's 1990 Blitz Dorsey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Columbus, OH
    Posts
    4,716

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    I also wondered about this when I read Simmons' column on ESPN today. I couldn't imagine something like that took place and I didn't already know about it. But it sounds legit.

    And yes, it must have been Arrigo in a real game (not spring training). For Simmons to rank it as the "No. 1 manliest act ever in sports" there is no way it could have taken place in an exhibition game. And I can't imagine Johnny would lie about something like that in his book when there would be plenty of his ex-teammates who could confirm or deny it. It must have happened. And I'm ashamed of myself that I didn't know about it until now. Ha.

  14. #13
    Member mth123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    31,935

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    I think this is a myth.

    When I was a kid, my Dad told me the same story about Ernie Lombardi.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!

  15. #14
    Party like it's 1990 Blitz Dorsey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Columbus, OH
    Posts
    4,716

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    Quote Originally Posted by mth123 View Post
    I think this is a myth.

    When I was a kid, my Dad told me the same story about Ernie Lombardi.
    so you believe that bench was lying in his book? no way.

  16. #15
    Member mth123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    31,935

    Re: Johnny Bench Story?

    Quote Originally Posted by Blitz Dorsey View Post
    so you believe that bench was lying in his book? no way.
    All I know is I heard that story about Lombardi before anyone ever heard of Johnny Bench. I don't remember for sure who the pitcher was.
    All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!


Turn Off Ads?

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.

Thank you, and most importantly, enjoy yourselves!


RedsZone.com is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds or Major League Baseball


Contact us: Boss | Gallen5862 | Plus Plus | Powel Crosley | RedlegJake | The Operator