A Bench mark

CINCINNATI, OHIO - Cincinnati Reds' catcher Johnny Bench hit his 314th home run as a catcher on this date in 1980, passing Yogi Berra for the most home runs by a backstop. Bench hit a two-run homer in the 5th inning, one batter after George Foster hit a three-run homer for the Reds as they beat the Montreal Expos 11-7. Carlton Fisk of the Chicago White Sox broke Bench's record for the most home runs by a catcher in 1990. Mike Piazza broke Fisk's record in 2004.

Here are the career home run leaders by position (they don't necessarily match the player's career home runs because some were hit while playing other positions):

1B Mark McGuire (566)
2B Jeff Kent (351)
3B Mike Schmidt (509)
SS Cal Ripken, Jr. (345)
C   Mike Piazza (396)
OF Barry Bonds (748)
OF Babe Ruth (686)
OF Willie Mays (640*)
P   Wes Farrell (37)
DH David Ortiz (333-still active)

Surprising as it is, Henry Aaron, the home run king until 2007 is not one of the outfield leaders because he hit a lot of his home runs playing 2nd and 3rd early in his career, and 1st base late in his career.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
Baseball Almanac

*Mays' home runs as an outfielder is an estimate. Baseball-Almanac only lists the top two career home runs by outfielders. A review of the statistics indicates Mays was third because he hit 660 career home runs. About 20 were hit while he was playing positions other than outfield.

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