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Message: [QUOTE="Carnac, post: 2066688, member: 5798"] I vividly remember Johnny Bench as a rookie with the Reds in August 1967 (his MLB debut). I was a huge baseball fan (Dodgers) back then. I also remember the Catcher he replaced as the Reds everyday catcher the next year. Do you? ([B]without looking it up[/B]) Here's a hint, he graduated from Ohio State. Bench was so impressive as a rookie, the Reds traded this guy to the Houston Astros later that year. [B]All[/B] of the baseball pundits (sports writers,broadcasters, coaches and managers) labeled Bench a "can't miss" HOF back then. They didn't do that often for a youngster, but they were right on the money on that prediction. Bench was elected to the National [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_Hall_of_Fame']Baseball Hall of Fame[/URL] in [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooperstown,_New_York']Cooperstown, New York[/URL], in [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_Hall_of_Fame_balloting,_1989']1989[/URL] alongside [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Yastrzemski']Carl Yastrzemski[/URL]. He was elected in his first year of eligibility, and appeared on 96% of the ballots, the third-highest percentage at that time. Sorry for veering off topic, but Bench was one of my favorites. Vin Scully would constantly sign his praises during the radio broadcasts whenever they played the Dodgers. [/QUOTE]