Make wishtv.com your home page

Johnny Bench tests positive for COVID, to miss Baseball Hall of Fame ceremonies

Former Cincinnati Reds player Johnny Bench, left, and Barry Larkin participate in Joe Morgan Day at a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Reds at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench says he has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss this year’s induction ceremonies in Cooperstown, New York.

The 73-year-old Bench posted Friday on Twitter that he had the virus.

“Fortunately, I have been vaccinated, otherwise doctor said I would be hospitalized,” Bench said.

Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker will be enshrined in the Hall festivities on Wednesday.

Bench was a two-time NL MVP, a Rookie of the Year, a 14-time All-Star and a 10-time Gold Glover for the Cincinnati Reds while playing from 1967-83.

Bench hit 389 career home runs and was a driving force for the Big Red Machine. He was MVP of the 1976 World Series when Cincinnati won the second of its back-to-back championships.