This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/14/2024
No backstop in modern history has revolutionized the way the position is played like Johnny Bench. He popularized the one-handed style used to this day and his lightning-quick throwing arm kept runners glued to their bases. Spending his entire 17-year career with the Reds, Bench helped lead Cincinnati to two World Championships and four National League pennants. For a decade Bench owned the Gold Glove Award for catcher, taking home the prize every year from 1968 to 1977.
This Bench piece of lumber dates to his last Gold Glove season in which he hit .275 with 31 homers and 109 RBI. The unbroken 1977 Hillerich & Bradsby A99 professional model bat shows outstanding game use, with several ball marks and stitch impressions on the barrel along with cleat marks and bat rack streaks in red, green and blue. The knob features Bench’s immortal number “5” in red marker. The barrel end is cupped for a lighter, quicker swing. The handle bears a heavy coat of pine tar. The Hall of Famer has signed the barrel just to the right of his stamped signature in blue pen. The bat comes with a Beckett LOA for the signature. John Taube of PSA/DNA has graded this sensational Bench gamer a perfect GU 10.