Had to go with Bench between the defense, game calling and power. He made the other team adjust to him both at the plate and behind it.

And he just kept on hitting, and hitting, and hitting.........

Hardly ... he hit only .255 in his last four seasons. With any other team, he wouldn't have been in the lineup.

No one else is considered this. Morgan would be the closest but he did not play as long with the Reds as Bench did. That is why Bench gets the nod.

I thought about it, and the point is valid. But by the far of the best part of Morgan's career was in Cincinnati ... his two MVP awards and five Gold Gloves confirm it.

It has to be a tie between Rose and Bench for me. Both were arguably the best at their position. Rose played anywhere and has more hits than anyone ever to play in the MLB. Bench was AMAZING defensively and had the full package for a cather, good average, great power, a great arm, and called a good game.

I thought about it, and the point is valid. But by the far of the best part of Morgan's career was in Cincinnati ... his two MVP awards and five Gold Gloves confirm it.

 

I agree with you on the best part of Morgan's career was in Cincy. No doubt and he is my favorite Red during the Big Red Machine years.

 

And I am not fond of Bench.

 

But to look at it being the greatest RED, Bench did it for a much longer time in a Red's jersey. That was the LONE reason, I give it to Bench over Morgan.

It has to be a tie between Rose and Bench for me. Both were arguably the best at their position. Rose played anywhere and has more hits than anyone ever to play in the MLB. Bench was AMAZING defensively and had the full package for a cather, good average, great power, a great arm, and called a good game.

 

Bench arguably is the greatest at his position of all time. His is the first name thought of when this debate comes up.

 

But, when discussing the greatest hitter of all time, Rose is not the first name that generally comes up. Rather it is Ted Williams. While Rose is in the discussion, he does not lead the list.

 

That is why I went with Bench.

Pete

I gave it to Bench, all-around great player. Although he isn't the best I loved Larkin in a Red Uni. Frank got a look as did Pete obviously but I had to go with a guy who was agruably the best defensive and offensive catcher ever.:thumb:

Johnny Bench...

Joe Morgan. Just ask him.

Bench, Rose and Morgan are my 3 All-Time favorite players. Rose was a machine he could hit and was versatile enough to play anywhere. Morgan was an absolute STUD, one of the absolute best 2nd basemen of all time. Bench redefined the position, he played D like he was on offense. Disrupted the other teams running game and was an incredible caller of a game. In the end while I did give it some long thought, I kept coming back to Bench. JB is probably the starting catcher on the All-Time MLB Team.

ESPN had this on last night. Their panel of experts had Bench #1, followed by Rose, and then Robinson. The fan vote had Rose #1 followed by Bench, and Bucky Walters.

Pete Rose.

ESPN had this on last night. Their panel of experts had Bench #1, followed by Rose, and then Robinson. The fan vote had Rose #1 followed by Bench, and Bucky Walters.

:thumb:

Rose. Nobody played the game like 14 did.