Johnny Bench

Arguably the best ever defensively.

No other catcher comes close!

My all-time baseball hero, having played catcher almost exclusively growing up I am more captivated by profesional catchers then other positions. In my opinion Bench beats out Berra for the top spot, because defensive catchers are more valuble then offensive ones, and Bench is better then Berra defensivly.

You have to give Bench his due not for the obvious reasons but the rarely factored ones. Its the less tangible aspects of on field leadership, competitive spirit, handling of pitchers, defensive fear factor. Johnny Bench surely benefited by playing on the Big Red Machine. Even so, in his prime (and for a good bit beyond up to 1979/80) he could be counted on to throw out 50% or more of those attempting steals. he could pick you off from the croutch (which only five or six others could do throughout MLB history). Most importantly, he was excellent in the clutch. In games that mattered, down a run in the ninth, needing a rally to start? Bench came through better than 42% of the time. That is remarkable.

Bench was simply the best catcher EVER. 14 time All-Star, 378 HR, 1376 RBI and the most feared defensive catcher because of his cannon to second base. Was hard to steal on him in his prime.

Scroll down to tboneya's post it says it all. By the time I got to see him on Tv, c. 1979 , he had passed his peak, and I only saw him on rare occasions on tv, (as Cincinatti was about 850 miles away or something and in the other league anyhow) or on "The Baseball Bunch", a corny kids show he hosted for a while. The accomplishments speak for themselves, incredible totals for a catcher, especially considering he played much of his career, including his best years, in a pitcher's era.

He's the best catcher I ever saw. Everyone knew about his hitting but what would really catch you off guard was his speed. Not running the bases but the quickness with which he moved behind the plate. It was really disconcerting to watch; he was like a cat ... a big powerful one who was a vacuum behind the plate.

THE best! Had the pleasure to meet him in Nashville at a card show. Huge hands! Shook hands, thanked me for coming and spoke together briefly. Saw him hit his last HR on Johnny Bench night at Riverfont. Terrific fielder, great hitter, all around good guy.

Was part of the reason that the Big Red Machine was successful. He piled up superb offensive categories year after year.

NO EQUAL !!!!

Bench was the best no doubts about it. Power, arm, glove and could control a game. Best catcher that ever lived.

Terrific bat, great hands, and could throw out anyone. Considering he played in the pre-steriod era, his numbers are phenomenal. He's my all-time best and can't be any lower than 2nd or 3rd on anyone's list.

a solid backstop who's knees seemed to have given out a year or two earlier than they should've, which reduced Bench to pain, and playing a mediocre third base. a perenial All-star and one of the cornerstones of the 1970's Big Red Machine. a true HOFer

The best pure catcher in baseball history, although in my view he is pushed hard for the spot by Yogi Berra. Bench is the better defensively of the two, quite a bit better actually. This is to take nothing away from Berra, who was very good behind the plate, but Bench was spectacular defensively. Berra was the better hitter, but not by a landslide, so my vote goes to Bench.

Anyone who ever saw Bench play knows he was the greatest of all-time. Greatest at snagging balls that would have gotten past all other catchers, and he did it one-handed with no effort at all. Greatest at throwing out baserunners. Sometimes you wondered whether or not he was human.

I despised the Reds of the 1970s but Bench was a player I admired greatly. He was equally great on defense and offense.

It is seldom that a catcher ever leads the league in anything offensively. But Johnny Bench did; he led the NL twice in homers and thrice in RBI. Not even Piazza can touch that. Defensively, he was the best I saw though Pudge Rodriguez us his equal (Being from a NL town, I saw alot more of Bench than Pudge). I think he was the one who patented the one-hand catching technique that is commonplace today. He had 2 MVPs, a Rookie of the Year, and several Gold Gloves. He was a major cog in that Big Red machine. It's close between Bench and Berra, but Bench is the best backstop ever.

The best all-time, by any measure; defense, arm, offense. The Benchmark for all catchers. (pun intended)