One of baseball’s greatest catchers has caught COVID-19.
The Cincinnati Reds great tweeted Friday that he tested positive for COVID-19, which means that he will be forced to miss next week’s Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, New York.
“Fortunately, I have been vaccinated,” Bench, 73, tweeted. “Otherwise (the) doctor said I would be hospitalized.”
Bench played 17 years in the major leagues, all with Cincinnati. He was a two-time National League MVP and led the Reds to three World Series appearances and two titles. He was a 14-time All-Star and was the 1968 N.L. Rookie of the Year.
Bench also hit 389 career home runs and drove in 1,376 runs. On defense, he was a 10-time Gold Glove winner.
He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.
Bench will miss Wednesday’s Hall of Fame ceremonies for the Class of 2020, when Derek Jeter, Ted Simmons, Larry Walker and Marvin Miller will be enshrined.
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