tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post6916491895025212394..comments2022-12-31T20:03:34.406-05:00Comments on 1969 Topps Baseball: Johnny Bench (#95)Jim from Downingtownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post-20142549033538738812017-07-22T17:26:49.661-04:002017-07-22T17:26:49.661-04:00I love this pose, fresh-faced Johnny in the old Re...I love this pose, fresh-faced Johnny in the old Reds' vesties throwing out his mitt and seeming to say "show me what you got." Which reminds me of this story:<br /><br />Having Johnny Bench behind the plate was like having another coach on the field, and he always knew how to get his point across.<br />So says George Diaz of the Cincinnati Post, who recalled a game in 1969 when the Reds sent Jerry Arrigo to the mound against the Dodgers. Arrigo liked his fastball. Bench didn't.<br />Said Bench: "He was pitching against hitters I knew he couldn't possibly throw it by. I called for a curve and he shook it off. I called a curve one more time and he shook it off. He finally threw a fastball outside." <br />Bench caught the ball. Bare-handed. The point was made.<br />http://articles.latimes.com/1989-08-07/sports/sp-25_1_bare-hand<br />Swoonin' A'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03417522552720041177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post-59635684036529624332014-07-02T10:44:17.514-04:002014-07-02T10:44:17.514-04:00I read somewhere that he popularized the use of th...I read somewhere that he popularized the use of the hinged catcher's mitt, which allowed for 1-handed catching.Jim from Downingtownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01537007940455183397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6037263425226837432.post-14640786254245228042014-07-02T07:31:55.930-04:002014-07-02T07:31:55.930-04:00As a hitter, my thought during Bench's early y...As a hitter, my thought during Bench's early years was how good can this guy get?...Equally significant was Bench was the first catcher who showed me the value of excellent defense...makes me wonder about teams try to convert good hit no field players in the backstop positionDouglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01050857323785108411noreply@blogger.com