Question 1

True or false: Bench never won a Gold Glove award despite his defensive reputation.

Accepted Answer

False. Bench won 10 Gold Gloves, the most for any catcher in history. This myth is completely false.

Question 2

True or false: Johnny Bench won the National League MVP award three times in his career.

Accepted Answer

False. Bench won MVP twice (1970, 1972), not three times. Many assume a third due to his sustained dominance.

Question 3

True or false: Bench hit 45 home runs in a season, a record for catchers at the time.

Accepted Answer

True. In 1970, Bench smashed 45 homers, setting the single-season record for catchers that stood for decades.

Question 4

True or false: Johnny Bench never played a single game at any position other than catcher.

Accepted Answer

False. Bench occasionally played third base and left field early in his career to get his bat in the lineup.

Question 5

True or false: Johnny Bench once caught a no-hitter thrown by Hall of Famer Tom Seaver.

Accepted Answer

True. Bench caught Seaver's 1973 no-hitter against the Cubs, a lesser-known gem in his defensive brilliance.

Question 6

True or false: Johnny Bench is the only catcher to hit three home runs in a single World Series game.

Accepted Answer

False. No catcher has ever hit three homers in a World Series game. Bench hit two in Game 4 of the 1976 Series.

Question 7

True or false: Bench was the last player to hit a home run off legendary pitcher Sandy Koufax.

Accepted Answer

True. Bench homered off Koufax in the 1966 season, which turned out to be Koufax's final year before early retirement.

Question 8

True or false: Johnny Bench was originally signed as a pitcher before converting to catcher.

Accepted Answer

False. Bench was signed as a catcher out of high school; he never pitched professionally. The myth stems from his strong arm.

Johnny Bench Trivia Questions