Johnny Bench items to be auctioned at MLB FanFest

Several memorabilia items owned and collected by Johnny Bench over the years will headline the 11th Annual Live Auction at T-Mobile All-Star FanFest during the Major League Baseball All-Star Game events in Cincinnati at the Duke Energy Convention Center.

The live auction is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 14 Downtown and will feature several of Bench's memorable items, including:

- An original painting done by LeRoy Neiman (Est. $50,000-$100,000)

- A game used bat from his 1970 three-home run game (Est. $10,000-$15,000)

- Bench's 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1983 MLB All-Star Game Rings (Est. $5,000-$7,500 each)

- Bench's 2,000th hit baseball (Est. $4,000-$6,000)

- A game-used fielder's glove (Est. $5,000-$7,500)

The Johnny Bench Collection consists of personal items owned and collected by the Hall of Fame catcher. A portion of the proceeds from the Bench collection items will go to the Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund through the Cincinnati Scholarship Fund. This fund benefits those college undergraduate students who demonstrated academic and athletic credentials in high school and are in need of financial support to continue their education at the college or university level.

"All of my trophies and awards hold special meanings," Bench said in a release. "I am including some very special ones in the All Star Auction. The sale of some these items will benefit my Johnny Bench Scholarship Fund that was created in 1984. Since that time, more than 500 kids have graduated because of the fund. I hope you take pride and enjoy my treasures with your bidding."

Hunt Auctions will hold a free sports memorabilia appraisal fair starting Friday until July 13.

The live auction is July 14 and features over 450 items, including a 1960 Ted Williams All-Star Game bat estimated at $150,000 and a 1953 Mickey Mantle All-Star Game bat estimated at $100,000.

In addition to the Bench items, there are several Reds-related pieces including:

- 1914 Buck Herzog Cincinnati Reds Presentational Bat (Est. $25,000-$50,000)

- 1971 Pete Rose Cincinnati Reds Professional Road Model Jersey (Est. $20,000-$30,000)

- Pete Rose "Babe Ruth Sultan of Swat" Presentational Award (Est. $50,000-$75,000)

- 1939 Bucky Walters NL Most Valuable Player Award pocket watch (Est. $30,000-$40,000)

- 1975 Cesar Geronimo Cincinnati Reds World Series trophy ($7,500-$10,000)

- 1990 Cincinnati Reds World Series Ring (Est. $5,000-$10,000)

-1972 Cincinnati Reds National League Championship Ring ($4,000-$6,000)

Other noteworthy items in the live auction include:

- Roy Campanella's 1953 NL Most Valuable Player Award ($175,000-$200,000)

- Vida Blue's 1971 AL Most Valuable Player Award ($75.000-$100,000)

- 1923 New York Yankees World Championship Pocket Watch (Est. $40,000-$60,000)

- 1939 Bucky Walters NL Most Valuable Player Award pocket watch (Est. $30,000-$40,000)

- Charles "Kid" Nichols single signed baseball (Est. $15,000-$25,000)

- Kansas City Monarchs professional model jersey c.1945-47 (Est. $15,000-$25,000)

- Negro League Bronzes from PNC Park and the Josh Gibson Foundation

Hunt Auctions will also hold daily silent auctions exclusively for visitors of T-Mobile All-Star FanFest on July 10.

Tickets for FanFest are $35 for adults and $30 for children ages 12 and under. There is a full autograph lineup starting Friday.