Hall of Famer Johnny Bench tests positive for COVID-19, says vaccine kept him out of hospital
Hall of Famer and former Big Red Machine great Johnny Bench announced Friday afternoon via Twitter that he's tested positive for COVID-19 and will not attend the upcoming National Baseball Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, New York.
Bench, 73, who was in Cincinnati last week for former broadcaster Marty Brennaman's Reds Hall of Fame induction and a Reds Hall of Fame Legends Game in which he managed one of the teams, added that he's been vaccinated and credited the vaccine for not requiring hospitalization.
Bench appeared in July on fellow Reds Hall of Famer Sean Casey's podcast. Later in the month, he hosted the Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon at the Bally Sports Club at Great American Ball Park to honor top baseball and softball catchers from college, as well as regional high schools.