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You are here: Home / Sports Card News / Vintage Sports Card News / Cool Early Johnny Bench Cards

Cool Early Johnny Bench Cards

May 13, 2016 By Bob D'Angelo

If you opened packs in the 1970s, Johnny Bench baseball cards were about as good as it got.  Even your mom probably knew the name thanks to all of those prime time games and resulting championships, the many commercials…and The Baseball Bunch.

Reds Hall of Fame Johnny Bench exhibitBench was a manager’s dream as a catcher. He was sure-handed and knew how to call a game. Blessed with a strong arm, he was equal to the challenge of would-be stealers, throwing out 469 of them (a 43 percent success rate) in 17 seasons.

He was a powerful, clutch hitter, too, leading the National League twice in homers and three times in RBI. He hit 389 homers and drove in 1,374 runs. Bench led the Reds to six postseason berths during the 1970s, including four World Series appearances and two Series titles.

Yet Bench made several appearances on cards before the Machine revved its engine.

Here are five early cards to honor the man who famously wore No. 5. Two of them are regular-issue Topps cards, but the other three are more obscure and intriguing.

1968 Topps Johnny Bench Rookie Card (#247)

Johnny Bench 1968 Topps

This one is obviously the perfect place to start.  He debuted with Cincinnati as a 19-year-old in 1967 but the 1968 Topps Johnny Bench rookie card is where his career starts for collectors.  Bench sports an old-time, pre-Big Reds Machine cap, appropriately turned backward. He is positioned on the left-hand side of the card, sharing it with a pitcher named Ron Tompkins, a 6-foot-4 right-hander nicknamed “Stretch.”

Bench’s first full season wasn’t too shabby — 15 homers, 82 RBIs, a Gold Glove award, an All-Star berth, and Rookie of the Year honors.  The value of a Johnny Bench rookie card today varies greatly based on condition but you can buy a nice one for a lot less than you probably think.

1967 Reds Photo Team Issue Postcards

johnnybench_1967

This is the first card depicting Bench in a major-league uniform. The card measures 3 ½ inches by 5 ½ inches and was issued by the Reds. Designed in a postcard-like format and issued later in the season, the cards contain a player photo, a facsimile autograph in bluish-purple tint, and red letters heralding the “Cincinnati Reds.” The cards are not numbered and considered very hard to find.

The Bench card is a wonderful portrait of the young Reds’ catcher, who played in 26 games that year. Bench had 14 hits in 86 at-bats, and six of those hits went for extra bases.

1968 Kahn’s Weiners Johnny Bench

johnnybench_1968_Kahn's

The Cincinnati-based meat company had been putting out baseball card issues since 1955 and would continue through 1969.  These were actually part of the label that wrapped around Kahn’s hot dog packages.

The 1968 set featured 56 players, and Bench is easily the most valuable card in the set. According to the latest Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards, the Bench card is worth $550 in near mint condition — double the amount of any other card in the set — assuming the card has the top advertising panel and the bottom panel intact. Cut the price in half if the top tab is missing.

The 1968 cards measured 2 13/16 inches by 4 9/16 inches with both panels intact. A color photo is framed by yellow and white vertical stripes. Bench is shown in the act off tossing off his mask. The card also sports a facsimile autograph.

1968-69 Partridge Meats Johnny Bench

JohnnyBench_1968_PartridgeMeats

The 1968-69 Partridge Meats collection is a 12-card set that was issued in conjunction with players’ autograph appearances at Kroger grocery stories in the Cincinnati area. These cards measure 4 inches by 5 inches and feature a black-and-white photo set against a borderless white background. Bench is referred to as “John,” and the card notes that the Reds’ catcher “Likes” Partridge — the meats with big league energy.

Not easy to find and prices are currently running $400 and up but another great early Bench card to own.

1970 Topps No. 660 Johnny Bench

johnnybench_1970ToppsThis card coincides with what was arguably Bench’s finest season in the major leagues: he hit 45 home runs, added 148 RBIs and collected 177 hits — all career highs. He won a Gold Glove and won the first of two National League Most Valuable Player awards.

Bench is shown in a classic catcher’s pose, as if he were squatting behind the plate. The photo was taken during spring training in Tampa; in the background, one can see a relatively new Tampa Stadium (the Big Sombrero) rising against a blue sky.

The 1970 Topps set broke records by being the largest baseball card set in the company’s history to date, with 720 cards. The Bench card was part of Topps’ 7th series in 1970, part of the difficult high-numbered cards the company issued each year.  Thirty years ago, you had to hunt larger shows to find them and while they’re not exactly common today, thanks to the internet, you can have your pick from any grade.

Below is a live list of the most watched Johnny Bench baseball cards on eBay.

1957 Topps Football #138 John Johnny Unitas RC Rookie HOF PSA 6 " LOOKS NICER " 1957 Topps Football #138 John Johnny Unitas RC Rookie HOF PSA 6 " LOOKS NICER "
26 bids - Price: $886.00 - Watchers: 46
1973 Topps Set-Break #380 Johnny Bench PSA 8 NM-MT 1973 Topps Set-Break #380 Johnny Bench PSA 8 NM-MT
20 bids - Price: $148.50 - Watchers: 44
1969 Topps Set-Break # 95 Johnny Bench All-Star Rookie PSA 9 MINT MBA GOLD 1969 Topps Set-Break # 95 Johnny Bench All-Star Rookie PSA 9 MINT MBA GOLD
26 bids - Price: $870.00 - Watchers: 43
T206 Johnny Evers HOF Chicago Cubs Sweet Caporal  150 Subjects T206 Johnny Evers HOF Chicago Cubs Sweet Caporal 150 Subjects
17 bids - Price: $152.50 - Watchers: 42
1957 Topps Football #138 John Johnny Unitas Colts RC Rookie HOF SGC 1 Pr 1957 Topps Football #138 John Johnny Unitas Colts RC Rookie HOF SGC 1 Pr
14 bids - Price: $37.50 - Watchers: 38
1957 Topps Set-Break #138 Johnny Unitas RC VG-VGEX *GMCARDS* 1957 Topps Set-Break #138 Johnny Unitas RC VG-VGEX *GMCARDS*
15 bids - Price: $118.50 - Watchers: 38
2023 Bowman Chrome Johnny Bench 1st GOLD retrofractor AUTO /50 Reds SSP #1! 2023 Bowman Chrome Johnny Bench 1st GOLD retrofractor AUTO /50 Reds SSP #1!
18 bids - Price: $530.00 - Watchers: 32
1970 Topps Set-Break #660 Johnny Bench PSA 8 NM-MT 1970 Topps Set-Break #660 Johnny Bench PSA 8 NM-MT
26 bids - Price: $330.00 - Watchers: 32
2022-23 Spectra FOTL Johnny Davis Exclusive RPA 4/8 On Card Auto SSP 🔥 2022-23 Spectra FOTL Johnny Davis Exclusive RPA 4/8 On Card Auto SSP 🔥
8 bids - Price: $21.50 - Watchers: 27
1968 TOPPS #247 JOHNNY BENCH RC REDS HOF PSA AUTHENTIC DNA AUTO A2377-971 1968 TOPPS #247 JOHNNY BENCH RC REDS HOF PSA AUTHENTIC DNA AUTO A2377-971
14 bids - Price: $81.00 - Watchers: 26
1969 Topps #95 Johnny Bench REDS 2nd Year VG - VG/EX 1969 Topps #95 Johnny Bench REDS 2nd Year VG - VG/EX
15 bids - Price: $32.00 - Watchers: 25
2020 Topps Definitive Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds HOF AUTO 10/10 2020 Topps Definitive Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds HOF AUTO 10/10
18 bids - Price: $71.00 - Watchers: 25
2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball Johnny Bench Chrome 1st Base SSP BCP-253 2023 Bowman Chrome Baseball Johnny Bench Chrome 1st Base SSP BCP-253
14 bids - Price: $34.00 - Watchers: 24
2023 Topps Chrome Johnny Bench Legends Refractor Auto Autograph #08/50 Reds 2023 Topps Chrome Johnny Bench Legends Refractor Auto Autograph #08/50 Reds
18 bids - Price: $102.50 - Watchers: 24
1968 Partridge Meats Regional-Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds (R) ex/mt,no creases 1968 Partridge Meats Regional-Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds (R) ex/mt,no creases
6 bids - Price: $26.04 - Watchers: 24
2002 Topps Tribute Johnny Bench Pastime Game Used Logo Team Patch #PP-JB PSA 8 2002 Topps Tribute Johnny Bench Pastime Game Used Logo Team Patch #PP-JB PSA 8
17 bids - Price: $41.00 - Watchers: 23
Johnny Bench Signed 1976 Topps Card JSA Auth Decal Reds Auto Johnny Bench Signed 1976 Topps Card JSA Auth Decal Reds Auto
3 bids - Price: $20.50 - Watchers: 23
2014 SP Authentic Johnny Gaudreau Future Watch Auto Rookie /999 MNT 9.5 10 Raw 2014 SP Authentic Johnny Gaudreau Future Watch Auto Rookie /999 MNT 9.5 10 Raw
10 bids - Price: $24.41 - Watchers: 23
1968 Topps Johnny Bench #247 Cincinnati Reds Baseball Card Rookie RC HOF 1968 Topps Johnny Bench #247 Cincinnati Reds Baseball Card Rookie RC HOF
5 bids - Price: $59.00 - Watchers: 23
1968 TOPPS #247 ROOKIE STARS/JOHNNY BENCH RC/RON TOMPKINS 1968 TOPPS #247 ROOKIE STARS/JOHNNY BENCH RC/RON TOMPKINS
20 bids - Price: $75.00 - Watchers: 22
1968 Topps Set-Break #247 Johnny Bench RC EX-EXMINT *GMCARDS* 1968 Topps Set-Break #247 Johnny Bench RC EX-EXMINT *GMCARDS*
12 bids - Price: $83.00 - Watchers: 21
2022-23 Donruss Optic Johnny Davis Dominators Gold Prizm Rookie RC Auto 08/10 2022-23 Donruss Optic Johnny Davis Dominators Gold Prizm Rookie RC Auto 08/10
12 bids - Price: $22.50 - Watchers: 21
2015 TOPPS HIGH TEK JOHNNY BENCH AUTO RED ORBIT DIFFRACTOR /5 BGS 10 PRISTINE 2015 TOPPS HIGH TEK JOHNNY BENCH AUTO RED ORBIT DIFFRACTOR /5 BGS 10 PRISTINE
17 bids - Price: $66.00 - Watchers: 20
🔥2022 Topps Heritage Real One RED AUTO JOHNNY BENCH Card #41/73 ROS-JBN MINT🔥 🔥2022 Topps Heritage Real One RED AUTO JOHNNY BENCH Card #41/73 ROS-JBN MINT🔥
13 bids - Price: $151.00 - Watchers: 20
1967-68 Topps #76 Johnny Bower Toronto Maple Leafs (2a) 1967-68 Topps #76 Johnny Bower Toronto Maple Leafs (2a)
3 bids - Price: $0.92 - Watchers: 20
2023 Topps Heritage Real One Autograph Johnny Bench Rare Red Ink Auto 26/74 2023 Topps Heritage Real One Autograph Johnny Bench Rare Red Ink Auto 26/74
16 bids - Price: $151.00 - Watchers: 20
1966 PHILADELPHIA #24 COLTS JOHN "JOHNNY" UNITAS PSA 5 Q0508 1966 PHILADELPHIA #24 COLTS JOHN "JOHNNY" UNITAS PSA 5 Q0508
3 bids - Price: $6.50 - Watchers: 20
1971 Kellogg 1971 Kellogg's Set-Break # 28 Johnny Unitas NM-MT OR BETTER *GMCARDS*
7 bids - Price: $10.60 - Watchers: 19
JOHNNY BENCH SGC 6.5 1968 TOPPS #247 ROOKIE STARS REDS HOF RC 6632 JOHNNY BENCH SGC 6.5 1968 TOPPS #247 ROOKIE STARS REDS HOF RC 6632
6 bids - Price: $207.50 - Watchers: 19
1911 George Close Candy E94 Johnny Bates  1911 George Close Candy E94 Johnny Bates 
5 bids - Price: $4.81 - Watchers: 18
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About Bob D'Angelo

Bob has been a sportswriter and copy editor for more than 35 years and a blogger for a decade. He is celebrating his 50th year of card collecting, and still counts his 1965 Topps Mickey Mantle as his favorite. You can reach him at [email protected].

Filed Under: Popular Stories, Vintage Sports Card News Tagged With: 1960s baseball cards, 1960s baseball rookie cards, Johnny Bench, Johnny Bench rookie card, Kahn's

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