Johnny Bench

Johnny Bench was the backbone of the Cincinnati Reds for 17 dynamic seasons, filling his trophy case with 14 All-Star selections, 10 consecutive Gold Gloves, the 1968 National League Rookie of the Year award, two National League MVPs and one World Series MVP. Despite bringing immense physical skills to the game (Bench can hold seven baseballs in one hand) he also re-invented the catcher position, settling into a one-armed stance now the standard for backstops league-wide, while wearing a hinged glove and a protective helmet behind the plate.