Johnny Bench tests Positive For COVID, Will Miss Hall of Fame Ceremony

Reds legend Johnny Bench won’t attend Hall of Fame induction after testing positive for COVID-19

Cincinnati Reds legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench won’t be on hand to welcome Derek Jeter into the Hall. Bench will miss the festivities after testing positive for COVID-19.

Bench, 73, revealed the news Friday, saying a doctor told Bench he would be in the hospital if he wasn’t vaccinated.

The induction ceremony – set to honor members of the Class of 2020, including Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker – is scheduled to take place on Wed., Sept. 8 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center.

Johnny says he’s glad he got inoculated because his bout with the virus could have been much worse otherwise … he says his doctor told him he would have been hospitalized if not for getting the COVID-19 vaccine.