Johnny Bench on Tim McCarver Show

when today's guest was beginning his major league career Ted Williams signed an autograph to him the bread to assure hall-of-famer Williams was prescient good work a gentle well because on his plaque in Cooperstown it reads that he redefines standards by which catchers are measured during 17 seasons with the Big Red Machine those two-time MVP wasn't just the greatest all-around catcher of my era but of all time I welcome my friend Johnny Bench our thank you very high praise coming from you thank you very much well it's had high praise because it was deserved when when Ted Williams signed that autograph to you I mean how could this guy know he was gonna like it back in 1969 it was it was in spring training and I wanted to get a ball signed eyes but I think it was receivers to go over and ask for me and he said sure and he he went in handed the ball and he handed back them in I didn't read it actually until I got back to towards the dugout you'd played one year 98 one year and I I'm looking around I mean I think you know they're being cool I don't know about candid camera or anything about it this time but I'm at the point where saying Ted Williams actually knows who I am and until you really to later on when I had the baseball bunch and I actually did a show we had 10 on as against and the night before we were at dinner and we're sitting there and I'm sitting next to him and he says boy they made a curve ball curve and I said well I think it's the rotation of the earth as it goes around on the ball and I turned away really quickly and I never come here at the end of dinner I never another word and so I would go everybody goes the room I get it the next morning and I'm picking him up take him to the park he hasn't closed the door what do you mean a rotation of the earth a what are you talking about when it seems hit the air when it pulled down the seams and the pull of the rotation on the seams and it's there huh you had me up all night I can't even believe that and that's that's the way he was Jen I remember and I'm not trying to over flatter you or anything like that so big oh that's okay yeah I used to sit on the bench and I used to look at you catch and I would ask myself how does he do that how did you do that I didn't have any other way of doing it and I'll tell em retention every kid that ever wants to pick up a minute when parents ask me what do I tell my kid he wants to be a catcher I said catch every ball and that's the way life is you never matter what profession and she catch every ball that's what it was I had no flexibility I've ever touched my toes in my life i l5 grows into my head I have never touched my clothes my life I have no flexibility whatsoever and so I flew out there saying what I really is no flexibility I was 17 years old and I signed I went from my physical with the tappet our butts they sent me to the doctor to get okay he said re touch your toes I said and touch my toes and I got the top my ankles somewhere around there he said son unless you get some more flexibility or never going to be able to play and so I started using the round bluff like everybody that I've been up to who wants the Cardinals and Derald brick with you played with the Dodgers they were playing and and I got it I used to I got a glove by some Jeff Torborg his boys he gave one of his brothers their older this brother and so I I end this Bluff you know I'm like this and I broke my thumb and then I split my thumb I said this is crazy I mean there's branding on the kitchen 60 games easier than one handy Club I think anyone else they hurt if you spend a little bit and I said the only way they can stay in the lineup is I could use the one handy blow up and keep my hand out of the way and so I started using one handed glove and you know I started by camping stuff and doing things that just came natural I mean I was trying to catch every ball I was blessed with my father's hands and by there not ever I ever thought of it I everything was reactionary to me but it bled and blessed with you find his hands your father must bed he played semi-pro ball and bigger rights bigger little home yeah he served to it she's going to work didn't get to play played some semi-pro against central page and the likes of that we're going to tell the stories but you know his dream was dirty they wanted to play so badly at anyone he wanted his kids to play and I was the third son I called I saw mantle playing on TV one day the announcer said that here's the next superstar switch hitter in Oklahoma I looked at my dad and I said and you can be from Oklahoma not play in the major hey I mentioned what I want to be any civil catching was the quickest way to the major leagues and what the major leagues needed bigger had set 760 people 661 616 we're so sorry 20-plus of 21 graduating class of 21 how far was commerce Oklahoma where a man was fro along I think Oh separately I was all the way to the corner of the state it was up nearest from Zuri almost open I mean if we ever got we clears back a pickup truck up took home the city was 55 miles of me that was a road trip we're going to talk about bigger Oklahoma and Inc Lee Oklahoma I know that's going to draw your the timid barbershop 15 minutes could save you 15% call Keiko at 109 for 7 auto or visit Geico calm I just said brought to you by Geico 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance call Geico and one 894 7 auto or visit geico.com we are back with a bigger bang or Johnny Bench we told you we're going to tell you about equally implemented by the name of Mike Moore was pitching in the 1989 earthquake series we're trying to find out where he Cleo Lahoma is i tap on the window johnny is doing radio with Jack bug tap on the window window and bring Johnny over and I said where's e club a clear Oklahoma he said right near bigger that 12 miles listen we're trying to find out where Mike Moore was from and I thought that you said your brother delivered in gas but you did I did I did one with my dad and propane business we had liquefied petroleum gas we drove food and drove the Astra and I would go up there and load the truck and I was only 15 is it you know when I was doing this and I would go up there I'm gonna take those valves and I would try to type them so tight my dad couldn't undo them of course then I'd ride up to the guest up to the loading place and and there we go you know it's like as equally bigger than bingo no God tiger 661 they're like only 300 and 400 people yeah I remember Steve hurt called the fire department that day they weren't open the police department for an open e called and tried to wake up the town of Hinkley up to Oklahoma and they were all watching the wall Cindy was well that's like when I when I was give the urine TV a--there while I was in bed 70 and we had a parade and bigger I mean you know why a dignitary Cincinnati coming down doc Pfeiffer wrote in the back of the missing bird was the only guy had a convertible in town so I'm in the convertible we've got all the cotton and you know cotton trailers and we've got them with those who'll put those tissues in there we've got congratulations Johnny and everything else and we go down into the town cotton overs Jen and farmer Jim was right beside it right across my brother's gas station and so we all got in line and so now the parade starts and we go up town know there they're all on the break everybody we're into drunk Indians come out of fights bars hey what's going on here birthday here's no spectator buddy buddy oh I mean we drove down and then when we make the u-turn then we were able to see each other coming down there we did so that's in fact well we talked about the the World Series in the earthquake and everything I followed your lead when it on October 17th at 5:04 p.m. but I'll never forget it you'll never forget it and I didn't know how to react I've never been in one and you went by the booth and you motioned me and I took off and I side by side we went down that running me that steel girder yeah Brian been enough of my day that was the safest place and of course it was sniffing him unbeliev we had no idea what was going on in the bridges the town everything else but I mean those light standards were shaking and you know it seemed like it went on forever it was a very short period of time but it did so much damage but then I came we went back to our boots and I walked into the booth and Jack who hadn't moved forget some Jack buck had moved from his seat he said if you'd have moved that fast when you played wouldn't it until double bloody I guess that was like you mentioned the 1970 season I don't think it got on that down a plane kind of know no other catcher has ever had a year like that then it happened you were what 23 years old coming in I was back to 20 to 22 then for 47 and I I just you know it was everything was magical I didn't think there was anybody get me out I didn't I actually approached hitting in one way I always this was 1972 the game against dating Jesse's down with a jumped away hot ball hitter there all change from hitting their people I feel as the homerun it's up by the blue this is a home run every all-star game is for 72 actually home I was in all-star game on fire but this isn't home game that series won seven game and we haven't misjudged fly ball in a couple plays that really hurt us and we should have won that World Series but I was I was thinking about you know the different things back in 70 that I actually looked check I look breaking ball and and adjusted to the fastball I mean that's just the way let's help how quick I thought I was I didn't think there was anybody throw fastball by minute then when you face the government right or somebody like that and didn't have a great breaking ball it was something but those were the days then 72 the other MVP and then you know two days after I turned 25 and lunch surgery had to had the spot of my life you the lesion that run why was the first surgery was kind of stable surgery in history and but it changed after that I never run ever was the same I mean I really oh yeah I mean it cut muscle to cut bone they could you know and nerves and not it never was the same I was I was disappointed I didn't do the things I really wanted to do and baseball what else would you wanted to do well I may do a lot but nice I I think you know caring a ballclub and and being so dominant being the one at the plate that could make the difference and I lost a little that edge I never because I knew what this quick I mean I there wasn't it was the balls I was getting to and and there was throws that I you know was just this much off and stuff like that it doesn't take a lot of you know as a professional to know one of the time to hang them up is or when you when you really start to feel the town downward trend but I you know I wanted to win more I wanted to do more it just it wasn't numbers or anything was just the idea of just being out there I loved it so much but one one thing I think the most prouder than all my playoffs and World Series was I think I want 27 games another stolen base and you know that's the difference that things that that's the things that make the difference in winning and losing because as a catcher you know how much we like to control the game yeah it was so much fun to get a guy pitcher I mean you catch gifts okay and we gotta get Sivir and Gullett those guys but to be able to get a guy who didn't have the good stuff and to get him a win yeah tennis you woke them and you want them they put us happier happier than he was because you knew the job that went out there that they would be back with more from Germany bench right after this we enjoy the quintessential Manhattan experience if yours which where'd you get the confidence to throw out the field that you could throw out any man a line or hit any faster oh man where'd it come from you know I have no idea I really do I mean I just I I came to play baseball I was always playing in the older leagues amount put older leagues away I played lumps you know I always yeah it's all 14 I was playing American Legion baseball 17 18 year olds and I was always a couple of years ahead and I I don't know I just assumed that I was supposed to play Major League Baseball and the first time I came up with it when we played the Cardinals in Cincinnati and here's bra man I got a chance baby here okay fine here's Luke Rock he thought he's it and so you get the double my son cheese woman's get a big lead off second maybe I've heard of me maybe I'll just go to a car wash I'll get it wet maybe I'll just pick it about second base real quick so he's our next pitcher cable must to the shortstop so Luke gets a big hop big lead again I come up tiring to them just to walk it down the second base Lou just walked over third I was like he just looked at me like it was just nothing at all to be done in it I mean it was great it was a great learning curve everything everything you're not here oh the guys are the successful guys don't make the same mistake but but to prepare for it John you dad used to have you through this short centerfield oh yeah I mean 50 200 feet I would stand I take that I took every slide out of our shed we have the I put a coffee can up on that shed and I'd stand it I just I was on me I was 75 and 3 lifetime pitching and and I and little Eva and a nod you start but I stand out there I would throw it that can and throw it that can't and I back up throw it they can I try to take the board's out my dad never said a word I had every rock out of the driveway twice gravelly he'd put another load in the driveway I did I'd stand up there were that bad split nap and I'd hit every run we played ten can in the backyard I mean ten Cameron Old Mill not cannon we throw it you know you hit it a couple of times can't they didn't hear a certain distance but he hit it a couple times well said you got some in said and I put screwballs the curveball slider and then it could cable to something missile man I mean they became a little Deepika you know I need rocket the thing but that's what our life was about worked in the field she played basketball he played baseball played home run derby down to the park and how I got to where I was I mean as far as when I'm cocky and other yeah I I don't even wanna say to you Kyle we also consider can see I think that was the main thing that people have to have an inter concede is an ability to be better than a situation so I never took it upon myself my team was the most important thing I had to do what I had to did I don't think I ever saw a guy who can transfer the ball for the myth to the hand any more efficiently than you did some guys could do it quickly but not if they Thurman Munson could do it quickly oh yeah but he did he threw the ball yeah but he never ever got he never got he that's right that's exactly right but he had to make up for he didn't any harm I mean it was just just amazing this is what we're talking about the transfer from the from the glove to the hand to the throat and then you can't be any quicker than that well I make my I make the kids to my early say you know I think everybody laugh about that because I was Paul Blair try looking down sit down they help you throw me out I said I was already feared of all the way to third but I think they might get every time you play catch you're working on transfer and I don't think there's anything I'm that's just I mean it's just until you just can't do it you know I was I'm from here to 15 p.m. as fast as anybody from that for that I'm done but but everything is just to react better that's why but that's it you do it by your ear he comes ball you do it and everything else and I was hard to do because I gets more than I ever thought everybody knew as a catcher but we I mean I was pitch the six games or high school I went every final we wanted to state championship and we have a kid that would play third or cancel wouldn't play third then I went to the American Legion baseball and they already had a catcher I had to go to another town if I played first I played third everybody do is a catcher catch I mean it was just amazing in a great life a catcher they didn't catch I think I caught 17 games an American Legion baseball the Ritz and no clue who I was I got drafted by the Reds I had no clue who I was in fact Jim McLaughlin was in a hotel in Baltimore some of the scouts were sitting around the first Friedman grant they said what do you think of this kid bench and Jim said however not that high and walked out sinned whose bench and they said in Tony bevel and mud and the Bob Thurman so let me play two games like we're kids the Baltimore was interested in the Reds ramp a second round donor prize Cincinnati Reds and Johnny Bench and getting $10,000 as bonus will be back with Johnny right after this will improve your golf game Saddle Brook is the place but 20 acre Golf Training Center encompass Dean minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance call Geico and one eight hundred nine four seven Auto or visit geico.com earlier in the show you heard Johnny Bench talk about the 1972 World Series saying that they should have beaten the Oakland Athletics you never forget that but there were a lot of things that happened in your career that that were so good you can't be moan you know some of the back acident oh you can't come Micra one of the guys on the right but let the blood sit beating the Phillies in 1976 when you and George Foster it order a poster and you back-to-back like remember that excited do I ever do I was in the bullpen that day that's the only reason we want that same thing on the right shot a great moment of my career and I don't get and I'm going to hear yours which is 75 World Series when we want and that bend MVP pin or either you're going on let us that's great but you have call people that apart you will get to that locker room after you win the World Championship and there are 25 players all the coaches the trainer's equipment man and your old world champions I don't think there's any greater moment anybody's life and if you're part of that so I was blessed to have two World Championship people say they don't miss it but I mean they know they had a great career but they're right that bring is important I'm fine I had I had to also in 1964 1967 and and when Gibson came back on two days rest after pitching at ending game and getting fine to be the unicycle to and they've come back in game 7 anyone setting the final pitch to provide a complete game that you never never forget coming back for charity for a final segment right up the macabre show is brought to you by Geico 15 minutes could save you 15% call Geico at one eight hundred nine four seven forever thinks that's possible because that is a place for the fantasies that is the place for the Saiyans and the vapors from the Lou Gehrig for the greatest players who ever played this game and now to be a part of them and share within this black gang on the wall and to be a part of the greatest thing that's ever happened in my lifetime and a lot of people's lifetime to be a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame to put one person who probably made catching more important outside at Roy Campanella a guy by the name of Yogi Berra said it's not over till it's over till he is over we have made it and thank you very much final segment from Johnny Bench we've had fun during this break but Johnny I finally got you on the murder business

Channel: Joseph Dougherty

Views: 42,495

Keywords: Johnny Bench

Id: zGg9lQi-_m4

Length: 21min 0sec (1260 seconds)

Published: Tue Mar 25 2014