Posted on 07/17/2023 1:35:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Cincinnati Reds legend Johnny Bench apologized Sunday for an antisemitic comment he had made a day earlier during a team event.
Bench was in attendance Saturday at a news conference to honor former Reds general manager Gabe Paul, who was Jewish, and former pitchers Danny Graves and Bronson Arroyo. The trio was being inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame.
Paul, who died in 1998, was represented at the event by his daughter, Jennie Paul. Near the end of the news conference, Pete Rose recalled his first contract negotiation with Gabe Paul, saying: "When I got out of high school in 1960, Gabe Paul signed me to a contract for 400 bucks a month."
Jennie Paul quipped, "That cheap, never mind."
Bench then responded, "He was Jewish," which prompted laughter from some in the audience.
Bench said in a statement Sunday that his comment was "insensitive" and that he apologized to Jennie Paul.
"I recognize my comment was insensitive," the Hall of Fame catcher said. "I apologized to Jennie for taking away from her father the full attention he deserves. Gabe Paul earned his place in the Reds Hall of Fame, same as the others who stood on that stage, I am sorry that some of the focus is on my inappropriate remark instead of solely on Gabe's achievement."
Jennie Paul told reporters she did not hear Bench's comment.
"I didn't even hear him say that," Jennie Paul said, according to The Athletic. "Johnny came up and said, 'Were you offended?' and I said, 'For what?'
"I didn't even hear him say that. I suppose if I would've heard him say that, I would've said something, but I didn't even hear him say that."
Gabe Paul was the Reds' GM from 1951 to 1960 and was responsible for the franchise's acquisition of several great players, including Rose and Hall of Famers Frank Robinson and Tony Perez. He also oversaw the Reds' integration of Black and Latin American players in the 1950s.
Didn’t Johnny Bench beat up LPGA player Sally Little at one point? Or am I misremembering?
I just looked it up and couldn’t find anything.
Something about Kings Island, OH, Ray Knight and Nancy Lopez. Maybe it wasn’t Sally. It’ll come to me.
Those Kikes, those Dagos, those Polacks, those Waps, those Wasps, those Firemen, all came out of the mouth of my grandmother, the wife of a Detroit police officer when I was a kid...........LOL!
Okay, but we don’t have to repeat it.
She was Irish, what can I say?
I’m sure a big payout would sooth the hurt feelings.
Never apologize to cowards who run the MLB and force the proletariate to shine the boots of the enlightened ones who destroy All Star games, Home Run Derbies, and promote the Perpetual Indulgences.
I don’t get a sense that he did it for MLB. I think he sincerely felt bad.
Jack Benny: A robber puts a gun in my stomach and says, “ Your Money or your Life!
Benny, *noi response.)
Robber, “I said your MONEY or your LIFE!”
Jack Benny, “I’m thinking, I’m thinking!”
FCOL IT WAS A JOKE!
Wop
With
Out
Papers
Pretty tame joke.
Exactly!!!
I met Gabe Paul once. I was in LA and the Winter Meetings were there. I was walking between two appointments. I walked by the hotel where the Winter Meetings were taking place, and since I had a bit of time, I stopped in for a few minutes just to experience the vibe.
I had seen Gabe Paul’s picture and recognized him. I said hello and complimented him on the deals he was making. He smiled, said “Thank you,” shook my hand, and excused himself.
He seemed like a nice guy from my very brief interaction with him.
So they’re not going to bench him for that remark?
Sounds nice.
White
Anglo
Saxon
Protestants
I’m a filthy mick(Mc).
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