Hall of Famer and former Big Red Machine great Johnny Bench announced Friday afternoon via Twitter that he's tested positive for COVID-19 and will not attend the upcoming National Baseball Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown, New York.
Bench, 73, who was in Cincinnati last week for former Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman's Reds Hall of Fame induction and a Reds Hall of Fame Legends Game in which he managed one of the teams, added that he's been vaccinated and credited the vaccine for not requiring hospitalization.
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.