Johnny Bench memorabilia catches eyes of collectors, nets nearly $2M at auction

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Memorabilia from the career of Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench was a big hit with collectors Saturday night.

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More than 100 personal items from the Cincinnati Reds great, including rings, trophies and equipment, were part of the 17th Annual Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Live Auction, hosted by Hunt Auctions. The collection netted nearly $2 million in sales, David Hunt, president of Pennsylvania-based Hunt Auctions, told Sports Collectors Daily.

Bench, 72, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. He spent 17 years with the Reds and was a 14-time All-Star between 1967 and 1983.

Bench’s World Series rings from 1975 and 1976, plus his 1970 National League MVP award, pulled in the most money during the auction, Sports Collectors Daily reported.

Bench’s 1976 World Series ring, when the catcher was the series’ MVP, went for $146,875, while his 1975 World Series ring and 1970 NL MVP trophy each sold for $135,125.

The collection of Bench’s 10 Gold Glove awards netted $393,375, while a home jersey from his final season in 1983 sold for $105,750. The bat Bench used to hit the last of his 389 career home runs -- a two-run, third-inning shot against Houston Astros pitcher Mike Madden at Riverfront Stadium in 1983 -- sold for $94,000.

Bench lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with his 30-year-old son Bobby and sons Justin, 14, and Josh, 11, according to The Associated Press. Bench said he would use the proceeds from the sale to help his family.

“The memories are still there. I still am the MVP," Bench told the AP. “I’m blessed with what I’ve got, and I’m enjoying my life.'”

Some of the other items that sold in the auction included Bench’s 1975 World Series trophy, an autographed catcher’s mitt from the 1970s and his 1970 National League championship ring.

“Simply stated, Johnny Bench is universally regarded as one of the finest players in the history of the game,” Hunt said in a news release. “His statistics certainly speak volumes to the accomplished Hall of Fame career he enjoyed with the Cincinnati Reds, but Johnny meant so much more to the game than his stat lines. Through 14 All-Star Games, countless playoff appearances, or even the ‘Baseball Bunch’ television show Johnny Bench was a consistent ambassador for the game and beloved by fans alike.

"The incredible prices realized within the auction today only serve as further confirmation of Johnny’s legacy within the game and his fans.”

Anne Jewell, the executive director of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, said Bench “delivered another unforgettable home run for his fans and our lucky guests.”

“We are thrilled and honored that Johnny Bench chose the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Live Auction for his historic collection,” Jewell said in a news release. “He entrusted our factory with crafting his baseball bats throughout his legendary career. Choosing our museum now for this next phase in his family life allows us to celebrate not only one of the greatest hitters of the game but also a longtime fan-favorite statesman of the sport.”

Cox Media Group