bench featured speaker at hall of fame ceremony

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, a former Cincinnati Reds catcher, was the featured speaker last week as the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame inducted its newest group of members.

Bench told stories from his storied baseball career and gave the sold out banquet hall at the Knoxville Convention Center insight on his keys for success as he rose from a young man from a small town in Oklahoma into a player considered by baseball experts to be one of the top three Major League catchers of the past century.

Proceeds from the Hall of Fame induction ceremony went to the Boys and Girls Clubs of East Tennessee.

2008 Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame inductees:

Phillip Fulmer

Mack Gentry

Drew “Buddy” Gilbert

Ricky Gregg

Ron McCartney

Tim Priest

Lisa McGill Reagan

Coppley Vickers

Jackie Walker

Randy Wylie