Bidder to return Bench’s items

We just couldn’t let this stuff go …

The winning bidder on over $1 million worth of memorabilia from a recent auction of

Bench’s been friends since 1967.

Businessman

Gold Glove awards.

Johnny personal collection is returning the items to the Hall of

Fame catcher, with whom he’s

Alan Horwitz, sits courtside at home games wearing his Sixth Man jersey, and ’76 World Series rings last month. He also bought the catcher’s 1970 and ’72 NL MVP awards, 1968 NL rookie of the bat and several of Bench’s 10

Horwitz said he and Bench tion before Bench took over

Reds beginning with the 1967

“After that, for the next 16 seasons, I met Johnny at every spring training in Tampa, and a fan of the Philadelphia 76ers who successfully bid for Bench’s 1975 year award, 1969 All-Star Game first met during Christmas vacacatching duties for the Cincinnati along with his fans, watched him play at All-Star Games, World

Series games, and of course witnessed his Hall of Fame

Induction,” Horwitz said in a statement. “When I learned of the auction of Johnny’s memorabilia I felt compelled to participate, with the goal to return some of the items to the Bench family and Johnny’s fans.”

Bench and his family have offered the items Horwitz bought for display to several locations, including the Baseball Hall of

Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., the

Reds Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma

Hall of Fame and Bench’s museum in his hometown of Binger,

Okla.

“I am truly stunned by Alan’s generous gesture and am grateful and proud that these trophies and memorabilia pieces will be on display for millions of fans to experience,” Bench said. “Alan’s only request was to meet my boys, which will happen as soon as we can resume safe travel.”

Bench, who turned 73 this week, told The Associated Press in October that he planned to use the auction proceeds to fund his youngest sons’ college educations.

The auction was held Nov. 14.

Sales totaled just under $2 million, according to Hunt Auctions, which ran the sale.