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Cool Early Johnny Bench Cards

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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.

1968 Topps Johnny Bench ROOKIE RC #247 PSA 9 MINT (PWCC) 1968 Topps Johnny Bench ROOKIE RC #247 PSA 9 MINT (PWCC)
24 bids - Price: $1,611.00 - Watchers: 56
Item #143457637930
1969 Topps Johnny Bench #95 PSA 9 MINT (PWCC) 1969 Topps Johnny Bench #95 PSA 9 MINT (PWCC)
16 bids - Price: $695.00 - Watchers: 34
Item #143457638986
1963 Topps Sandy Koufax Don Drysdale Johnny Podres AUTO PSA/DNA Auth (PWCC) 1963 Topps Sandy Koufax Don Drysdale Johnny Podres AUTO PSA/DNA Auth (PWCC)
16 bids - Price: $304.99 - Watchers: 32
Item #143457623369
1968 Topps Johnny Bench ROOKIE RC #247 SGC 9 MINT (PWCC) 1968 Topps Johnny Bench ROOKIE RC #247 SGC 9 MINT (PWCC)
15 bids - Price: $655.00 - Watchers: 31
Item #352873474728
1987 Donruss Opening Day Error Johnny Ray Barry Bonds ROOKIE #163 BGS 9 (PWCC) 1987 Donruss Opening Day Error Johnny Ray Barry Bonds ROOKIE #163 BGS 9 (PWCC)
26 bids - Price: $409.00 - Watchers: 31
Item #401980381355
1984 Fleer Johnny Bench Carl Yastrzemski AUTOGRAPHED PSA/DNA AUTO #640 PSA PWCC 1984 Fleer Johnny Bench Carl Yastrzemski AUTOGRAPHED PSA/DNA AUTO #640 PSA PWCC
26 bids - Price: $81.99 - Watchers: 23
Item #143458699718
1969 Topps #95 Johnny Bench 1969 Topps #95 Johnny Bench
9 bids - Price: $14.50 - Watchers: 18
Item #312873792835
1909-11 T206 Johnny Evers (HOF) "Chicago Shirt" Sweet Caporal 350-460/25 - BVG 3 1909-11 T206 Johnny Evers (HOF) "Chicago Shirt" Sweet Caporal 350-460/25 - BVG 3
2 bids - Price: $81.00 - Watchers: 18
Item #352876128346
JOHNNY BENCH 1968 Topps #247 PSA 7.5 NM+ rookie card (RC) HOF JOHNNY BENCH 1968 Topps #247 PSA 7.5 NM+ rookie card (RC) HOF
18 bids - Price: $118.50 - Watchers: 17
Item #184071398875
HARMON KILLEBREW ROOKIE 1955 TOPPS DOUBLE HEADER #111/112 JOHNNY PODRES HARMON KILLEBREW ROOKIE 1955 TOPPS DOUBLE HEADER #111/112 JOHNNY PODRES
10 bids - Price: $21.00 - Watchers: 17
Item #392565753807
1/1 JOHNNY BENCH 2019 Panini Flawless Black Legends Autograph Auto Reds HOF 1/1 JOHNNY BENCH 2019 Panini Flawless Black Legends Autograph Auto Reds HOF
11 bids - Price: $63.00 - Watchers: 16
Item #163976341615
Encased 2019 Flawless Diamond Legends Johnny Bench 4/10 Encased 2019 Flawless Diamond Legends Johnny Bench 4/10
4 bids - Price: $2.25 - Watchers: 16
Item #254443335804
1972 Topps Johnny Bench #433 PSA 7 NRMT (PWCC) 1972 Topps Johnny Bench #433 PSA 7 NRMT (PWCC)
5 bids - Price: $29.00 - Watchers: 15
Item #143457644978
2018 Johnny Bench Topps Definitive Framed Auto 09/10 2018 Johnny Bench Topps Definitive Framed Auto 09/10
7 bids - Price: $20.50 - Watchers: 15
Item #264559763680
1968 Topps Johnny Bench ROOKIE RC #247 PSA 6 EXMT (PWCC) 1968 Topps Johnny Bench ROOKIE RC #247 PSA 6 EXMT (PWCC)
6 bids - Price: $99.00 - Watchers: 15
Item #352873474727
2019 Topps Transcendent Collection Auto JOHNNY BENCH Gold Framed AUTOGRAPH 19/25 2019 Topps Transcendent Collection Auto JOHNNY BENCH Gold Framed AUTOGRAPH 19/25
8 bids - Price: $29.00 - Watchers: 14
Item #303393531968
1909-1911 T206 johnny evers HOF portrait PIEDMONT near set break LOOK 1909-1911 T206 johnny evers HOF portrait PIEDMONT near set break LOOK
1 bids - Price: $80.00 - Watchers: 13
Item #143458984317
1968 Topps Baseball Johnny Bench #247 (R) PSA 7 REDS NM HOF 1968 Topps Baseball Johnny Bench #247 (R) PSA 7 REDS NM HOF
10 bids - Price: $100.00 - Watchers: 13
Item #202831020079
1972 Topps Baseball #433 PSA 7 Johnny Bench HOF Reds 1972 Topps Baseball #433 PSA 7 Johnny Bench HOF Reds
11 bids - Price: $30.00 - Watchers: 13
Item #312874268412
Signed Johnny Bench 1968 Topps #247 PSA 10 Auto Signed Johnny Bench 1968 Topps #247 PSA 10 Auto
5 bids - Price: $113.61 - Watchers: 13
Item #333429144888
1968 Topps #247 Johnny Bench rookie 1968 Topps #247 Johnny Bench rookie
11 bids - Price: $34.33 - Watchers: 13
Item #352877172042
01 Fleer Great Johnny Bench Autograph 78/140 01 Fleer Great Johnny Bench Autograph 78/140
7 bids - Price: $21.50 - Watchers: 12
Item #174116576869
Johnny Bench 1998 Topps stars rookie reprint Reds autograph BGS 9 Auto 10 Johnny Bench 1998 Topps stars rookie reprint Reds autograph BGS 9 Auto 10
6 bids - Price: $34.50 - Watchers: 12
Item #202846705172
1969 Topps Set Break # 95 Johnny Bench VG-VGEX *GMCARDS* 1969 Topps Set Break # 95 Johnny Bench VG-VGEX *GMCARDS*
18 bids - Price: $29.00 - Watchers: 12
Item #312868620366
Johnny Bench 1968 RC PSA 6 Johnny Bench 1968 RC PSA 6
6 bids - Price: $100.91 - Watchers: 11
Item #153748185904

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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].

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