1976 WS Gm4: Bench homers twice in clincher

[@GaryFox11000]

Johnny Bench was a terrific baseball player , defensively the best ever ! Strong arm, hit for power , intelligent , old school, Great smooth , humble leader ! Greatest 🏆 Bravo ⚾️👍

[@allenbrown9457]

Johnny Bench to this day my favorite baseball player of all time...and DEFINITELY the greatest catcher of all time

[@70sgirl42]

Allen Brown I am right there with you!!! Best of all time in my book!!

[@marcschneider4845]

Some would argue Yogi Berra. It generally depends on what team you root for. But Bench was truly a great player.

[@jamesgumm6364]

Johnny Bench, the greatest catcher of all-time. Clutch, class, powerful and smooth. He changed the way catchers played defense.

[@davidvanzant2019]

He was a absolutely a genius at his craft

[@carseye1219]

He might have 150 more homers except for the lung operation he had in 1972. Although he played well after it, as shown here, he himself said he never felt the same after the operation. Man, his 1970 season- 45 blasts, 148 RBI's, for a catcher!

[@miltonnegron65]

How can you not like Johnny B. It’s impossible !!!

[@fernandoguevara8258]

Three words- The baseball bunch!

[@loydkline]

Greatest baseball ⚾️ catcher ever

[@dougnelson423]

Greatest catcher EVER

[@aldixon1977]

Johnny Bench : The Greatest Catcher to ever play the game.

[@msw600]

Gary Carter is a close second.

[@andrewcrawford8019]

Your right Bench and carter super close

[@msw600]

Carter was more exciting, as he played with a great deal of intensity, and enthusiasm which rubbed off on his teammates, which helped elevate their game as well. I didn't see bench as much being only 47 and he retired at the end of the 83' season. Flip a coin. Both rank in the top five all time for catchers in my opinion. Bench, Gibson, Carter, Fisk, Berra, Dickey.... Piazza the best hitter. The others like Carter were better throwing out runners, and game calling is debatable. Piazza was pretty good at blocking the plate. Angels manager Mike Scioscia was the best at just blocking the plate from a defensive standpoint. Carter was almost as good blocking the plate as well. Lance Parrish was good. Not as good as Carter or Fisk but one of the best in his generation. Pudge Rodriguez was a fine all around catcher.

[@msw600]

Thank you...

[@steveblaugh2180]

I'll tell you what, those catchers you named are all outstanding and worthwhile on any list of import BUT I need to give a shout to a catcher I did see play for a long time and that is Steve Yeager of the dodgers. Bench does not give him or anyone the day off defensively and was a much better hitter than most, BUT I've never seen anyone as tough as Yeager. The guy had a near fatal accident when Bill Russell's bat cracked and part of it stuck in his throat while he was in the on deck circle. Add to that his overall play in several World Series and what he meant to some pretty good pitching staffs, and if that is not enough, getting bowled over by one Dave Parker and holding onto the ball and walking away from that encounter wins my respect in any league, any game, any time.

[@chop3625]

Two of the finest catchers to participate in a World Series.

[@ShawnC.T.]

Johnny Bench always played with such class, no showing up the opposing pitcher, just hit it out, and then just circle the bases like you've done it before...

[@stevecvino]

Not this day in age. Back then they were professional adults that played. Now they are older kids with bigger paychecks.

[@michaelbee2165]

Agreed and Johnny epitomizedthat time. All those guys were the kind of men you wanted your little boy to learn from. Thank God I'm not trying to raise a son today.😠

[@alan30189]

Bench was simply the greatest catcher to ever play the game. Great clutch hitter, great home run hitter, and the best ever defensively. No one comes close.

[@dzanier]

i wouldn't say no one comes close, but he is unquestionably the best. some might say yogi berra or roy campanella, but to me bench is the best ever.

[@acornsucks2111]

@@dzanier And Pudge.

[@waldolydecker8118]

Grew up in Cincinnati and saw Bench from day one to a year before he retired. Never thought ANYONE would compare to him...and they didn't for a while, but Pudge Rodriguez performed at or above a Bench level over a 20 year period. No one else did, but Pudge actually did it...and he did it without a "Big Red Machine" supporting cast. As a hitting catcher, Mike Piazza might have been the best ever, but his defense was as bad as his hitting was good. Bench came first and redefined the position, but even Bench would tell you, Pudge's resume puts he solidly right there with Bench. These two are head and shoulders above all others since Bench's 1967 debut.

[@laus7504]

My favorite athlete ever! Hugs and kisses to Johnny Bench from the little girl who wanted to play catcher. And loved this World Series!. OMG! I had no talent. But I loved baseballl.

[@dantheman5745]

#5 was always my number because of JB. When I was a little kid growing up in New Jersey, I wrote a letter to the Reds to tell them that Johnny Bench was my favorite player. I have no idea how it got there, because I KNOW I had no idea what the Reds' address was. But somehow it made it. I got back in the mail a b&w photo of Johnny, signed by him. Talk about a kid's most treasured possession!

[@dariowiter3078]

😁😁😁😁😁 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@michaelbee2165]

@@dantheman5745 Back when the players gave a damn about the kids. Johnny was and is a class act.

[@JayDogTitan]

The Cincinnati Reds of the '70s truly were "The Big Red Machine" But that '76 team was just AWESOME!!

[@Shindler39]

One of the greatest team of all time for sure. That lineup was loaded, no weakness.

[@thefrase7884]

JayDogTitan 1464 .....why did they start to break up after ‘76?

[@secondstring]

@@thefrase7884 - Cincinnati is obviously a small market team, and this was just the beginning of the "big spending" teams dominating MLB, mainly L.A. & N.Y.. George Steinbrenner was the Yankees owner and signed the Reds ace, Don Gullet in the off-season, and their #2 pitcher Rawly Eastwick under performed in '77 and they ended up getting rid of him mid-season. They also lost Tony Perez, one of their biggest bats. They were still good, but the Dodgers were stacked in '77. The Reds came back to win the division again in '79, but the Big Red Machine was never the same.

[@michaelbee2165]

@@thefrase7884 Not the point dimwit! Stick to the subject! The 1975 and 76 Reds one of the very greatest teams to EVER take the field in those years!

[@C5624]

@@michaelbee2165 FACTS!!!

[@joemartin1253]

Wow the Big Red Machine.

[@stevefowler1787]

I love the old school ball players...no celebrating at all...just run the bases and get back to the dugout.

[@tomservo5347]

And the big wads of chewing tobacco-banned of course. No fair comparing batters today to the defenses/pitchers that were out of this world at that time. Completely different era. I just remember Bench hosting 'The Baseball Bunch' a great show that I watched hoping to get tips for summer baseball.

[@BT-be8rh]

True for pro football now too!!

[@wilrobles5392]

When the Reds were the big Red machine. The great Red machine. It would be good to see Cincinnati rise to prominence again.

[@tomfreese5190]

I love these Reds teams

[@C5624]

💯

[@dantheman5745]

As a kid, I remember prior to the '76 World Series, my much-older brother-in-law, who was a huge Yankees fan, basically consoling me over how the Series would go. He said, yes, the Reds are good, but they're just no match for the Yankees. I remember thinking, hmm, I dunno, I thought the Reds were pretty good. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to watch and see. And then the Reds gut-stomped the Yankees. Probably the sweetest win ever, because in one shot, I got to see my two favorite teams win. (1st favorite: the Reds; 2nd favorite: whoever is playing the Yankees)

[@richarddobson3138]

The 75-76 Reds are by far the greatest team in the modern era. Remember baseball doesn't have profit sharing..The big markets generally control it and there was no way they wanted a longer standing dynasty in Cincinnati..Bob Howsam in the locker room after game 4 in 76 pretty much stated he was going to break up the team right in front of Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.. I have the video and you can find it on KZbin.. in game 3 Tony Kubek stated the Reds were looking to trade Perez.. Thats exactly what they did for a washed up pitcher named Woody Fryman..Tony Perez was the heart and glue of that team....Later they tried to make amends with the fans by trading to get Vida Blue....Bowie Kuhn vetoed the deal because he said it would upset the balance of baseball...But He never once tried to stop George Steinbrenner from buying all the superstars he wanted.... Baseball is generally a large market game and has been since Free Agency started But that 76 Yankee team didn't belong on the field with the Reds.. If the Reds had kept Perez, Rose, Morgan they would have won the next 3-4 world series after 76.

[@TL2354]

Why would you hate a team that isn’t a rival and is in the other league. That’s beyond idiotic

[@TL2354]

pete ziriaah still no match for the 90’s Yankees. They had to deal with an extra round and best of 7 LCS. Free agency was in its infancy in 1976 so the Reds didn’t have to worry about that. 90’s Yankees by TKO

[@70sgirl42]

@M this is America's greatest pastime! Don't talk about soccer on a baseball video please and thank you!

[@michaelbee2165]

Lol! Same for me! I hated the Yankees back then. Your BIL clearly paid no attention to the National League, never mind the Big Red Machine won the series the previous year. It would have been nice seeing this happen in Cincinnati. But watching the Reds destroy the Yanks in four and finish it in NEW YORK was worth way more than I could have imagined!!

[@williamtaylor5193]

The phrase "country strong" refers to guys like Johnny Bench.

[@Lava1964]

The 1976 WS was retribution for Bench. He had a subpar WS at the plate in 1975.

[@kenyork1107]

In the fifties as a kid I thought Yogi Berrie of the Yankees was the best and I still like him , but Johnny Bench became my favorite , classy and down to earth good Ole boy . I would love to meet him and hear his stories .

[@76carmel]

I remember Sparky say after Bench hit his 2nd home run, "We're gonna be world champs, Sugar Bear!"

[@benjamineisenbraun8166]

lol!

[@timelivofficialbeyou7878]

+Jim Stark sugar bear was George Scherger a Reds coach in the 1970s

[@michaelbee2165]

@@timelivofficialbeyou7878 Cha-ching!

[@theodoregibbons4615]

Bench was all business when playing. Actions speak louder than words.

[@jc6594]

Happy 70th Birthday Johnny Bench

[@therifleman5611]

I was 15 years old at the time and remember watching this on TV and Johnny Bench was always my favorite. Went to Cincinnati a few times with family and friends and have watched some of these games with all the Big Red Machine players. Not too many people could steal second base or third base from bench, he was that damn good.

[@shamardavis7398]

Even though I'm a Yankees fan, I have to respect the Big Red Machine

[@ericsmith8254]

Legend

[@shane6860]

If JB got a rest day every once in a while.. Like catchers today.. His numbers would be UNTOUCHABLE.

[@johnlevalley521]

Johnny Bench said he wasn't the same player after he had lung surgery in 1972. Damn, he was still awesome after that.

[@michaelbee2165]

@@johnlevalley521 No one would know better than Johnny. But no one would be able to tell the difference.

[@jeffreyhinkel3490]

that's what was so exciting about this Reds team ;.......Not only did they have the greatest catcher of all-time ;......He could uncork a home run at any time !!!!!

[@kyokogodai-ir6hy]

I know I am being picky, but couldn't any player uncork a home run at any time?

[@Tecumseh-vv1li]

+kyokogodai Bench led the league in homeruns a couple times..

[@dantheman5745]

If you were leading these Reds by 3 runs going into the 7th inning....you were in trouble.

[@doglips1958]

You kill me

[@michaelleroy9281]

This series was a good old fashioned butt kicking by the Reds

[@MOST550]

Johnny Bench is the greatest all-around catcher ever to play MLB, not Mike Piazza... I wish sportswriters would make this point very clear... It's not even close. Johnny is the first catcher I ever saw throw hall of fame base runner Lou Brock out at 2B from the squat position behind home plate... Bench was an incredible baseball player...

[@Slickmickyoyo97]

Piazza was so bad defensively he may as well have been a first basemen, and he was CLEARLY on steroids.

[@MOST550]

Pete Rose said Piazza " couldn't catch a cold"..... Hahaha

[@Slickmickyoyo97]

That's funny. And I remember a high school teammate of his came out in his defense a while back claiming "he never took steroids, he was alway huge." Nope. I looked on newspapers.com and sure enough there was pic of him from 1986 when he was senior first basemen at Phoenixville HS in PA. He was 6 ft2, but easily 45 pounds lighter. No way a 62nd round draft pic gets into the HOF as the best hitting catcher ever without supplementation, just doesn't happen.

[@dzanier]

hitting wise they're fairly comparable. fielding wise it's not even close. bench is the best ever. piazza's not even number 2. that would be Berra or Campanella.

[@crescentcity3407]

Roy Campanella 3 time NL MVP as a catcher for the Dodgers is worthy of being mentioned with Bench.

[@timburr4453]

that second home run he is way out there reaching and still pulls a sizzling line drive over the wall in left. That's strength

[@mitchellhughes5180]

Wow, I just realized the Reds have a nine game World Series winning streak.🤯

[@habyss]

Considering that it started in 1975 and hasn't been been extended since 1990, that's not saying much about their performance the last 30 years.

[@johnlevalley521]

@@habyss What it does say is small market teams can't compete in the same way that they used to pre 1994.

[@michaelbee2165]

@@habyss Please identify those teams with a WS winning streak that exceeds that of the Reds.

[@michaelbee2165]

@@johnlevalley521 No, I don't think it even says that. Who else has a nine game World Series winning streak? That's TWO WORLD SERIES sweeps in a row.

[@johnlevalley521]

@@michaelbee2165 Calm down Mike. I'm a Reds fan. My comment wasn't a criticism of the Reds. It was a criticism of MLB economics the last 25 years where small market teams can't keep a good team together very long like they were able to do pre 1994.

[@eddielester3589]

Reds peaked finally after 70..71..(off year)..73..74..(second place)75..76..It was their time.Yankees first Post Season since 64.The Red Sox were favored to win the American League.The Yankees were suppose to be 500 at best.Billy did a Great Job and got the most out of ordinary players with his style of ball.Hunter..Ellis...and Holtzman were the only players with Post Season experience.(Elrod Hendricks also).I can't think of any others.Yankees just overwhelmed by a powerful team here.They we're never in it.

[@davidlafleche1142]

The reason the Red Sox did NOT win in 1976 (barely won 83 games) was because the Yankees beat up their best pitcher, Bill Lee, and injured his shoulder. The Red Sox badly missed Lee's Kill-The-Yankees attitude.

[@michaelbee2165]

@@davidlafleche1142 Except that the Reds bench beat up Yankees pitching in 76.

[@zzremington]

Bench was the best catcher to ever play the game (all around) and most media outlets and sports publications agree - imagine if he had been a Yankee, he would be talked about like Mantle or Ruth.

[@michaelbee2165]

Lol, he IS talked about like Mantle or Ruth.

[@jimd2463]

GOAT !

[@terrymalloy69]

in 1978 I walked through JFK as a small boy with my mother, an over sized suit case and a Cincinnati Reds batting helmet. Even in 2014 I remember the dirty looks I got around every corner

[@michaelbee2165]

Stand tall young man!

[@eddierivera1860]

Josh Gibson my dad saw him play winter ball in puerto rico,( hes the best ever) Campanella saw Josh and Bench he called Gibson the best.

[@362chop]

Bench & Munson same series game, can you imagine??

[@tomitstube]

362chop. munson went 4 for 4 in this game. all singles.

[@michaelbee2165]

Has this ever been matched? Not in my lifetime.

[@briancoley6516]

Johnny was my hero growing up. I miss the days of the catcher being the cleanup and mashing baseballs

[@vincentrobinson3078]

Johnny Bench was a beast !!!

[@mthigh33]

Lol pause at :30... Rose was wildin 😅

[@povertyspec9651]

Love his reaction upon hitting the first one

[@michaelbee2165]

This is when baseball was still baseball. People got home from school or work as soon as possible to watch the World Series. No self worship back then. Some congratulations at the plate and dugout, then Bench cooly gears up to go back on the field.

[@frankcarone3769]

the cincinnati reds the best catcher johnny bench,the best 2nd baseman joe morgan ,hall of fame shortstop barry larkin ,best outfielder pete rose

[@brileyvandyke5792]

Oklahoma's own Johnny Bench.

[@OroborusFMA]

Billy Martin was a 1950s player managing in the 1970s. Can you image leaving in your starter of the 9th inning of a 3-2 game when you have your whole bullpen available. Martin didn't understand pitching, even 1970s pitching, because he was stuck in the 1950s.

[@michaelbee2165]

Yes he did. Billy was no simp. The Reds destroyed the Yanks. Deflect all you want. But that's what happened.

[@easyenetwork2023]

A lot of people would not know that Johnny led MLB in RBIs in the 70s.

[@PlayerToBeNamedLater1973]

His teammate was 2nd in RBI. Tony Perez

[@scottl.1568]

I don't know what that pitcher was trying to throw on that first HR

[@jmartinez9332]

Such a classy team they celebrate in the dugout but not when rounding the bases.

[@dukedematteo1995]

Greatest lineup in baseball history. A team 130 OPS+. That is absolutely absurd. Bench was the worst hitter on the team in 76.

[@kconner58]

Pete Rose was right. Bench was the best all around catcher. Piazza best offensive catcher. Pudge best defensive catcher. Bench best all around.

[@davidlafleche1142]

Carlton Fisk was pretty close to Bench, definitely #2.

[@michaelbee2165]

@@davidlafleche1142 Maybe. Perhaps top 5.

[@luckybestwash]

"May have been a hanging slider" Good analysis there Tony.

[@michaelbee2165]

He was a Major Leaguer. Outline for us your Major League career sport.

[@stephanielaurenbounds4958]

1976 World Series - one of the VERY FEW times I ACTUALLY enjoy seeing my BELOVED NEW YORK YANKEES get beat!!

[@BT-be8rh]

Uh the Reds beat the Red Sox in 76!!

[@stephanielaurenbounds4958]

@@BT-be8rh No, the Reds beat the Red Sox in the 1975 World Series. ⚾️⚾️

[@BT-be8rh]

@@stephanielaurenbounds4958 Ye my bad! Had my years mixed up!

[@andrewcrawford8019]

I am a huge reds fan. Go Bench. (Hate damm Yankees)

[@buddmannable]

second to none. not even close.

[@acornsucks2111]

Roy White had a chance to catch it, if the fan would have got out of the way.

[@kaseyrutherford5145]

My idol as a young boy. Only thing he didn't possess was speed. He was cat quick behind the dish, but he couldn't run a lick.

[@GlizzyRedDot]

Berra and Bench the 2 greatest Catchers of all time.

[@alan30189]

Bench being the greatest. No comparison.

[@dzanier]

alan30189 Bench is the best ever. No question.

[@benjamineisenbraun8166]

Which one is better, in your opinion?

[@alan30189]

Ben Eisenbraun Bench x 10. When was the last time a catcher won 10 gold gloves, plus hit like he did, plus throw runners out like he did? Never.

[@GlizzyRedDot]

Berra won 13 World Series titles and was a 18x all star and won 3 AL MVPs 1951,1954 and 1955...

[@DemDawwwgsEPIC-BEATDOWN]

greatest MLB teams ever... 1) 1976 Reds (2) 1975 Reds (3) 1927 Yankees (4) 1972-73-74 A's (5) 1970 Orioles

[@danajames8889]

Actually, I'd say the 1969 Orioles was best team Earl Weaver ever fielded. Unfortunately, they ran into the New York Mets buzzsaw and couldn't overcome the Miracles in a short series.

[@DemDawwwgsEPIC-BEATDOWN]

i'm a huge fan of the 1971 O's and the 4, 20 game winners, Cuellar, Palmer, Dobson, McNally, we'll never see that again!

[@michaelbee2165]

@@danajames8889 So not one of the greatest MLB teams EVER.

[@letsgomets07]

As a Mets fan I obviously love piazza, but man I love bench too. Best two catchers anyway you look at it.

[@michaelbee2165]

I understand. I really do. But Piazza didn't belong on the same field with Johnny Bench.

[@genegeneish]

And thats why the yankees got Reggie Jackson.

[@keithbeck2300]

These days Bench's 2nd homerun would have caused the game to be stopped as the umpire crew reviewed every angle for half an hour because of potential fan interference. I prefer the way they handled things in 1976.

[@BT-be8rh]

Didn’t need to wave it fair either!!

[@unowen334]

Look at the size of Johnny's hands. Compared to his teammate's hands, they look like suitcase!

[@unowen334]

***** What's your point, friend?

[@unowen334]

Clarify...othewise submit no more.

[@alan30189]

He could hold seven baseballs in one hand! There is a picture of him on the internet of him doing that with his big hands. Later in his career, when he played outfield he would take seven baseballs in one hand and then throw them into the stands for fans.

[@alan30189]

***** I grew up in Cinci also, watching the reds in the 70's kill everyone. Where do you live now? I am in Atlanta. Go Bearcats! Miami also- I went to Miami of Ohio. Here's some pics of Bench: www.google.com/search?q=Johnny+Bench+holding+7+baseballs&client=firefox-a&hs=p9q&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=RA7fU9zIBseSyATZxIDwBg&ved=0CCEQsAQ&biw=1536&bih=705

[@unowen334]

I played ball at St. Bonaventure; quite insignificant Division One. I also endured eight years of Ohio winter; and therefore, I live now in Northern California,.

[@fernandopalem9434]

Waoo rewind 1976 the yankees had 12 years wasn t in world serie and won the play off defeat royals in 5 games with walk off home run chris chamblis bench was mvpws.

[@sportshistorybuff319]

I suspect the world champion 1977 and 1978 Yankees regretted not having the opportunity to destroy the Big Red Machine in revenge, which they would have if Cincinnati had made the playoffs, then Series.

[@thefrase7884]

Why did the Reds start to break up after ‘76?

[@habyss]

They were aging.

[@michaelbee2165]

What team doesn't?

[@markmills186]

Free agency started in 1976.

[@siddaviscomedy]

Was that other announcer Phil Ruzzuto?

[@dantheman5745]

Yep. Sure was.

[@ECO473]

Mr. Sid Davis: The one and only Scooter.

[@OroborusFMA]

In today's game the idea of leaving the starter out there in the 8th inning, to face a guy that already taken him deep, in a game they were losing, would be unthinkable. Martin's handling of the staff in 1976 was completely atrocious, horrible, something out of the 1950s.

[@petezereeah517]

It wouldn't have mattered anyway. This Reds team was the greatest starting 8 line up in history. This Reds starting eight had 4 go to the Hall of Fame, led in every offensive category, had 4 Gold Gloves- all up the middle with Bench, Concepcion, Morgan and Geronimo. There is no shame in being swept by this team.

[@t21229513]

What are you talking about?

[@davidlafleche1142]

As far as I'm concerned, a pitcher SHOULD go nine, on less than 110 pitches. They used to do that all the time, and thought nothing of it. Nowadays, pitchers are so poorly trained, they get headlines for one measly complete game.

[@ECO473]

Oroborus: What are you talking about? Martin's 1976 team was the AL Champion, and his 1977 team won it all. He handled the staff pretty much the same way in '77, and the Yankees had 3 complete games in the WS win over the Dodgers, 1 by Ron Guidry and 2 by Mike Torrez.

[@michaelbee2165]

Nice try, but the Reds still get their due. One Martin decision doesn't change the outcome in 76.

[@mphineas1]

If only they had starting pitching to match their eight regulars. What might have been...

[@michaelbee2165]

Define "starters" from "regulars".

[@mphineas1]

@@michaelbee2165 do I really need to? The Great Eight, the 'regular' position players, deserved better 'starting' pitching. Good?

[@davidvanzant2019]

Best ever yessir

[@rockintetster]

The Reds won six division titles in the 70s. 70, 72, 73, 75, 76, and 79. The came away with only 2 World Series wins, however.

[@michaelbee2165]

You forgot the two NLCS Championships. I don't think the 1970s Reds' Championship records have been exceeded by very many teams. Give the Big Red Machine their due.

[@lockout88]

1st was a bomb

[@gregwatson8219]

Yankees wernt hungry for game 4

[@howardmenkes2926]

I was there

[@Mark-sj3xb]

Love seeing the Big Pink Machine....

[@michaelbee2165]

Pop quiz. How many outs to get off the field and bat? Sorry, ping pong is a long way from the Major Leagues.

[@osvalcs_]

Welp

[@gregwatson8219]

Yankees wernt hungry for game 4