National catcher award named for Bench

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The best catcher in college baseball will be getting a new award named for Oklahoma baseball great Johnny Bench. <br><br>It's called, appropriately, the Johnny Bench National

Thursday, April 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- The best catcher in college baseball will be getting a new award named for Oklahoma baseball great Johnny Bench.

It's called, appropriately, the Johnny Bench National Collegiate Catcher of the Year award.

It was created by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission in Wichita, Kansas. The winner will be selected by a panel of sportswriters, sportscasters, coaches and scouts.

Bench is from Binger and played for the Cincinnati Reds. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 after catching in more than 100 games for each of 13 straight years.

The first Bench award will be presented June 20th.