Johnny Bench 'felt bad for Jim Crane'; PED users in Cooperstown 'hard for us to live with'

National Baseball Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Reds great Johnny Bench spoke by phone with The Dan Patrick Show on Friday, and talked about a number of topics - including the Houston Astros' sign-stealing controversy, the Big Red Machine teams for which he played and allowing players believed to have used steroids Hall of Fame election.

Patrick first asked Bench for his reaction to the Astros' apology press conference.

"I felt bad for Jim Crane. I guess because I know him and he's a nice guy and I doubt that he knew anything about (the sign stealing). I really do," Bench said. "You know, with (former Astros GM Jeff) Luhnow and (former Astros manager) A.J. (Hinch), you know they cost him $5 million and two draft choices and something. (Crane's) a quality individual. He'll never recoup that from those guys. And the guys - they were in a pennant race - they'll do anything they can. ... And yet, their denials ... you're never going to satisfy media or people who are naysayers or the Dodgers who suffered through the Astros and then the Red Sox. I feel bad for them. ... Who was receiving those signals in the dugout? Who's the guys that were whistling? Let's identify them. ... If I knew what was coming, I'd hit .700."

Bench told Patrick that he earned a total of $2.2 million during his Hall of Fame career. Patrick asked Bench whether he thinks alleged performance-enhancing drug users Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens will gain election to Cooperstown.

"There's guys the last few years that have been tied to steroids and they're in," Bench replied. "And I think they're just making sort of a thing about Clemens and Bonds so I think they're just trying to make examples. I do (think they'll get in). I'm in between. I remember when Frank Robinson - I think the first meeting they ever had - this isn't for the very good, this is for the great! ... I like the guys personally. It's hard to deal with. It's hard for us to live with. But I think with the last few years and everything else with people with shadows over their careers and stuff, it'll be interesting. I'll go with the sportswriters if they decide to do it, which they haven't."

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