I played American Legion ball starting when I was 14. But I didn’t catch until I was 17. I was 75-3 as a high school pitcher, but it was like everybody knew that I was supposed to be a catcher. When the scouts would come around, and I was pitching, they’d make me take infield practice so the scouts could watch me throw. Johnny Bench Read Quote
You have to be the one setting your own goals, trying to achieve those goals. Johnny Bench Read Quote
It was not me failing that I was scared of. It was failing those people back home who believe in you. They only delivered the newspaper once a week where I lived in Oklahoma, and those people lived and died with the box score of my games. Johnny Bench Read Quote
My biggest moment was winning the World Series because everyone in my town was able to feel he was a world champion. Johnny Bench Read Quote
I pulled cotton at 6 years old and worked on the peanut farm and paper route. Johnny Bench Read Quote
I don’t think you can set up a computer to do a strike zone on a guy who’s 6-foot-5 and then a guy who’s 5-8. Where does it draw the line? One guy stands tall, and another squats down, and it changes the lines. Nah. I still love the umpires; they do a great job. I don’t have a problem with any of that. Johnny Bench Read Quote
These guys were the best. They were the best at their positions and made playing the game easier. And at the same time it made it so much more enjoyable. Johnny Bench Read Quote
The most validating thing was when my picture was on my first bubble gum card. That was in ’68 for me. I was finally on the Topps card. Johnny Bench Read Quote
