On November 22, 1968 — Johnny Bench, who kept his rookie status by missing the final three games of the 1967 season due to a hand injury, is named the National League’s Rookie of the Year by the narrowest of margins. The 20 year-old Reds’ catcher edges Mets’ southpaw Jerry Koosman for the award when Chicago American veteran writer Jim Enright splits his choice because he “couldn’t vote for one and ignore the other.”
BENCH BECOMES THE THIRD MEMBER OF THE REDS IN SIX YEARS TO BE NAMED THE TOP ROOKIE.