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Johnny
Bench's Home Plate Restaurant opened on
February 16, 1974, at the Northgate
Mall, corner of Springdale & Colerain,
in Cincinnati, Ohio. The restaurant
featured a giant scoreboard, and a row
of red lockers to check your coat. The
cocktail lounge was called the
"Dugout," decorated with bright red
uniforms, bats, balls, and gloves.
Behind the bar was a trophy case, symbolic of Bench's greatest
achievements; MVP Award, a trophy for
leading the National League in home
runs in 1972, and other gold plated
memorabilia. There was also a football
Room, Basketball room, and a hockey
room.
The menu advertises house specialties under the headings of baseball
jargon: "Warm-up" drinks and cocktails,
"Batting Practice" Salad-Bar in the
Bengal Room. "The Line-up" contained
J.B.'s Pepper Steak, with such "Pinch
Hitters" as a Baked Potato. "On Deck"
Coffee, tea or Milk. "Extra Innings"
desserts. After Dinner drinks "In the
Bullpen" Wine list "From The Dugout"
Due to the increase in the cost of beef in 1974, a note was stapled to the
menu to inform customers that .50¢
would be added to the price on choice
beef.
Souvenir drinking glasses and beer mugs were also offered for sale. The
3.25 inch tall, 9 once drinking glass
features the Johnny Bench's Home plate
logo, Bench in his number 5 Cincinnati
Reds uniform and catching gear with a
runner sliding into home plate, and a
Johnny Bench facsimile autograph in
red.
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