Bench was drafted by the Reds in the second round of the 1965 amateur draft. He made his major league debut in 1967, and quickly established himself as one of the best catchers in the game. He was known for his strong arm, accurate throws, and leadership skills. He was also an excellent hitter, with a career batting average of .267 and 389 home runs.
Bench was a key member of the Big Red Machine, the Reds team of the 1970s that won four division titles and two World Series. He was the National League MVP in 1970 and 1972, and won the Gold Glove Award every year from 1968 to 1977. He was a perennial All-Star, making the team in 14 consecutive seasons from 1968 to 1981.
Bench retired in 1983, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. He is one of only two catchers to have won the MVP award more than once, and is still the Reds' all-time leader in home runs and RBIs. He is remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
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