Could Johnny Bench Hold 7 Baseballs?

A discussion of how many baseballs Johnny Bench could hold if he really tried.

Introduction

Johnny Bench is a former professional baseball player who played for the Cincinnati Reds. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest catchers of all time. During his career, he set multiple records, including most home runs hit by a catcher in a single season.

So, could Johnny Bench hold 7 baseballs? The answer is almost certainly yes. Johnny Bench was a very large man; at his peak, he weighed around 235 pounds. He also had extremely large hands; his hands were so big that he could squeeze two baseballs into one hand.

Johnny Bench’s Baseball Career

Johnny Bench is a former professional baseball player who spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Reds. He was a catcher and is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive catchers of all time. Bench was also an excellent hitter and was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1970 and 1972.

In addition to his many accomplishments on the field, Bench was also known for his large hands. It was rumored that he could fit 7 baseballs in one hand, although this has never been confirmed.

The Record

In September of 1970, Pittsburgh’s Dick Groat set the record for most balls held in one hand with six. Then, on May 5, 1972, Cincinnati’s Johnny Bench broke that record by holding seven balls in one hand.

Could Johnny Bench Hold 7 Baseballs?

Johnny Bench is considered one of the greatest catchers of all time. He was a 10-time All-Star, 2-time World Series champion, and the 1968 National League Rookie of the Year. He was also known for his strong throwing arm. So, could Johnny Bench hold 7 baseballs?

Theoretically

There is no record of Johnny Bench ever trying to hold 7 baseballs, so we can only theorize as to whether or not he could do it. However, given his famously large hands, it’s entirely possible that he could.

Practically

While we can’t know for sure without careful measurements, it seems highly unlikely thatBench could have held 7 baseballs in his hand. Baseballs are typically around 9 inches in diameter, which would make them difficult to fit side-by-side in one hand. Even if Bench could have fit 7 baseballs in his hand, it would have been at the expense of comfort and dexterity.

It’s important to remember that Johnny Bench was not just a power hitter, but also an excellent catcher. He would have needed his hands to be nimble and strong in order to properly field and throw the ball. It’s hard to imagine that he would have been able to do this with 7 baseballs crammed into his glove!

So while it’s certainly possible that Johnny Bench had unusually large hands, it seems unlikely that he could have held 7 baseballs.

Conclusion

Johnny Bench, considered one of the best catchers of all time, was also a great hitter. In his prime, he could hit for both average and power, and he was even better defensively. According to baseball-reference.com, Bench is the all-time leader in defensive WAR for catchers. He was also a two-time MVP and a 10-time All-Star. In short, Bench was an all-around great player.

So, could Johnny Bench hold 7 baseballs? The answer is yes – and he probably could have held even more!