Catching is art, science, and a testament to pain threshold.

Bench was great defensively. . .it was nice to watch him at the end of his career. And his pre-steriod-infested numbers at the plate were terrific. He has all-star games and playoff appearances as well. The New Yawk writers will claim Berra because they think every Yankee's the best- but Bench has a strong case for being the best all-around catcher ever.

the best catcher ever

By far the greatest catcher that ever lived. No student of baseball would ever even argue it!

I don't know if he's the greatest catcher of all time but he was certainly the best I have seen in my 42 years. He was like Mark Gastineau in that he was a large bulky guy who was shockingly quick. He pounced on balls like a cat leaping out from behind the plate. And I hated the Reds. I was a Dodger fan during the days of the Big Red Machine ... you just have to give this guy credit. He was a fabulous catcher.

I believe him to be the best catcher ever to squat behind the plate. A howitzer for an arm, and a killer at bat. Oh, and a little sidebar for the Pete Rose defense League members. Go find some of the comments this long time team-mate of Rose's has made about your boy. The one I like best is when he was asked about Rose going to Cooperstown: If he goes in, I want out.

Bench was more than Pudges defensive equal ! Without question Bench was the greatest defensive and greatest all-around catcher to ever play the game !

With all due respect to Pudge and Piazza, I still have to say Bench is the greatest cather I've ever seen. Defensively, he is Pudge's equal, with numerous Gold Gloves and the innovator of the one-handed style of catching. He was next to impossible to steal on. Offensively, a fearsome power hitter. I can't think of any other catcher in the last 50 years who led his league in homers -- and he did it TWICE. Led his Reds to 6 post-season, and 2 World Titles. The 1976 Reds is considered one of the greatest teams of all times, although Bench actually had an injury-plagued off-year. But he went nuts in the post-season and won World Series MVP, to complement his two regular season MVPs. In the all-time list of catchers, I'd go: Bench, Berra, Rodriguez, Cochrane, Piazza, Dickey, Carter, Hartnett, Fisk, and maybe Darren Daulton (in his prime)

A power source for the Big Red Machine teams of the 70s, Johnny was named MVP of the 1976 World Series after hitting .533 against the Yankees. He was also a force defensively, utilizing a cannon throwing arm to win 10 straight Gold Glove awards.

Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds redefined standards by which a catcher are measured during 17 seasons with the Big Red Machine. Controlled Game on both sides of the plate with his (389 homeruns-record 327 as a catcher, 1376 RBI's), Throwing out opposing base runners, calling pitches and blocking home playe. N.L. MVP, 1970 and 1972. Won 10 Gold Gloves. Last Game, 9th inning he homered and led Cincinnati to the 1972 Pennant.

My favorite baseball player when I was a kid. Defensively, he was as good as any catcher in history. At the plate, he had a couple great years and several good ones. All in all, he was everything a team could ask for in a catcher.

A little overrated a great catcher best than any that have come after.But he is no Yogi Berra.

Pudge is years behind Bench, espicially when it comes to handling pitchers

Not the greatest catcher of all-time. Josh Gibson & Mickey Cochran were better before him and Ivan Rodriquez is better now. Catchers are getting good again offensively(Mike Piazza, Pudge, Javy Lopez, Jason Kendall). Carlton Fisk even gave Bench a run for his money in the 70's. Bench was probably second-best in history defensively, behind IR. Endurance keeps him down a bit. He was durable during his career, it just died early.

A damn fine catcher but not among the game's greatest.

The greatest gitting catcher of all time. Pudge R. needs about 8 more years to come close to Bench