--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Johnny Bench befriended me my first year…" description: "\"Johnny Bench befriended me my first year in the big leagues. He took me under his wing during my first All-Star Game and we've been friends ever since...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf9/gary-carter-24391_all-star-game_johnny-bench-befriended-me-my-first-year_2918693.jpg" --- # Johnny Bench befriended me my first year in the big… ![“Johnny Bench befriended me my first year in the big leagues. He took me under his wing during my first All-Star Game and we've been friends ever since. He's one guy I've tried to emulate and I'll always compare myself to Johnny (Bench).” quote by Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf9/gary-carter-24391_all-star-game_johnny-bench-befriended-me-my-first-year_2918693.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf9/gary-carter-24391_all-star-game_johnny-bench-befriended-me-my-first-year_2918693.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf9/gary-carter-24391_all-star-game_johnny-bench-befriended-me-my-first-year_2918693.jpg) > “Johnny Bench befriended me my first year in the big leagues. He took me under his wing during my first All-Star Game and we've been friends ever since. He's one guy I've tried to emulate and I'll always compare myself to Johnny (Bench).” [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A veteran player helped a rookie, offering mentorship that shaped his career and personal standards. **In simple terms:** Mentor guided rookie, becoming role model. Key Takeaway Seek mentorship and emulate positive examples. Themes mentorship career development role models Mood grateful inspired Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - first season - all-star debut - team dynamics - career planning Key Concepts leadership skill transfer personal growth Questions to Reflect On - Who can you mentor today? - How does emulating a role model affect your identity? A Different Perspective Mentorship may create dependence or unrealistic comparisons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-stars/) [All-star game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-star-game/) [Benches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benches/) [Big leagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-leagues/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [There were never a lot of attacks on my work. We were building more parks than were ever built in the city, building more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-kilpatrick/there-were-never-a-lot-of-attacks-on-my-work-we-were-building-more/) [Kwame Kilpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-kilpatrick/) > [I feel that the All-Star game is more like a party because its made up of a lot of elements. However the core of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yao-ming/i-feel-that-the-all-star-game-is-more-like-a-party-because-its-made/) [Yao Ming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yao-ming/) > [The last thing you want to do is go down in the history of All-Star game competition as the only injury (his nose was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/the-last-thing-you-want-to-do-is-go-down-in-the-history-of-all-star/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I was told I would never make it because I'm too short. Well, I'm still too short, but I've got 10 All-Star games, two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirby-puckett/i-was-told-i-would-never-make-it-because-i-m-too-short-well-i-m-still-2/) [Kirby Puckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirby-puckett/) > [Nobody seems to appreciate what an incredible player Wilt was," Russell said at 1997 All-Star Game when the league named and honored its 50…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilt-chamberlain/nobody-seems-to-appreciate-what-an-incredible-player-wilt-was-russell/) [Wilt Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilt-chamberlain/) > [Does Pete (Rose) hustle? Before the All-Star game he came into the clubhouse and took off his shoes and they ran another mile without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-aaron/does-pete-rose-hustle-before-the-all-star-game-he-came-into-the/) [Hank Aaron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-aaron/) > [It doesn't feel different being here (at the All-Star Game) I feel like I'm on an All-Star team everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/it-doesn-t-feel-different-being-here-at-the-all-star-game-i-feel-like/) [Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/) > [I'm not playing for the All-Star Game, I'm playing to win games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-redd/i-m-not-playing-for-the-all-star-game-i-m-playing-to-win-games/) [Michael Redd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-redd/) > [Just because it is an All-Star Game doesn't mean that you are playing as efficiently as you should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/just-because-it-is-an-all-star-game-doesn-t-mean-that-you-are-playing/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [It's not the NBA Finals, it's not even a regular-season game. It's the All-Star game, it's a celebration. A celebration of talent, speed, grace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/it-s-not-the-nba-finals-it-s-not-even-a-regular-season-game-it-s-the/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [It's a mere moment in a man's life between an All-Star game and an old-timer's game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/it-s-a-mere-moment-in-a-man-s-life-between-an-all-star-game-and-an/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I was 8 or 10, and I was a catcher, and my grandmother said to me, 'I want you to be like Johnny Bench.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-was-8-or-10-and-i-was-a-catcher-and-my-grandmother-said-to-me-i/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I don't want to embarrass any other catcher by comparing him to Johnny Bench.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sparky-anderson/i-don-t-want-to-embarrass-any-other-catcher-by-comparing-him-to/) [Sparky Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sparky-anderson/) > [Fickleness has always befriended the beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/propertius/fickleness-has-always-befriended-the-beautiful/) [Propertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/propertius/) > [There's always some place to go. You don't need workshops, you don't need friends necessarily, you can be befriended by literature itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/there-s-always-some-place-to-go-you-don-t-need-workshops-you-don-t/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) ## More by Gary Carter > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Nothing will ever replace the feeling I got when Jesse Orosco struck out Marty Barrett to end the game (Game 7 of the 1986…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/nothing-will-ever-replace-the-feeling-i-got-when-jesse-orosco-struck/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [I would love to get back to the big leagues as a coach, possibly a manager. I would love that opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/i-would-love-to-get-back-to-the-big-leagues-as-a-coach-possibly-a/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [I love you Lord, you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior. And my God is my rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/i-love-you-lord-you-are-my-strength-the-lord-is-my-rock-my-fortress/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [That's what every young kid thinks about when they first put on a uniform - is to play in the Major League and then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/that-s-what-every-young-kid-thinks-about-when-they-first-put-on-a/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [I like mellow music. I like some jazz. But I'm not a big hard rock guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/i-like-mellow-music-i-like-some-jazz-but-i-m-not-a-big-hard-rock-guy/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [I got that nickname my first spring training camp with the Expos in 1974. Tim Foli, Ken Singleton and Mike Jorgensen started calling me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/i-got-that-nickname-my-first-spring-training-camp-with-the-expos-in/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [I saw him (Barry Bonds) when he first broke in. He was a scrawny, skinny, 185-pound guy that had great talent. And then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/i-saw-him-barry-bonds-when-he-first-broke-in-he-was-a-scrawny-skinny/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Sometimes you just have to play in pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/sometimes-you-just-have-to-play-in-pain/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [I tried the broadcasting thing, the coaching thing, but I'll never replace the competitive feeling of being out on the field when we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/i-tried-the-broadcasting-thing-the-coaching-thing-but-i-ll-never/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [The only thing on my mind now is getting that World Series ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-only-thing-on-my-mind-now-is-getting-that-world-series-ring/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Theres a place in my heart for every team I played on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/theres-a-place-in-my-heart-for-every-team-i-played-on/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [There were probably a few games I played where I should not have played, because of some nagging injuries or something. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/there-were-probably-a-few-games-i-played-where-i-should-not-have/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [It is a grueling position (catching). My knees will tell you that. I've had nine knee surgeries. I've had a couple of broken thumbs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/it-is-a-grueling-position-catching-my-knees-will-tell-you-that-i-ve/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Load up your mind with pictures capturing your preferred tomorrow. Put the remembrances of the past in a place where they won't block your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/load-up-your-mind-with-pictures-capturing-your-preferred-tomorrow-put/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) [Explore all 24 Gary Carter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) ## More All-star game quotes > [“Remember what the fashion big mouths were saying about Jessica Simpson? Looking at her magazine pictures, sucking their teeth, going, "Oh, look at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/remember-what-the-fashion-big-mouths-were-saying-about-jessica/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I just don't want to go to the All-Star game to be in the dunk contest and go home. I want to be there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-jordan/i-just-don-t-want-to-go-to-the-all-star-game-to-be-in-the-dunk/) [DeAndre Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-jordan/) > [As a kid, everyone dreams of being in an All-Star game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-miller/as-a-kid-everyone-dreams-of-being-in-an-all-star-game/) [Reggie Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-miller/) > [People came to the All-Star Game to see the dunk contest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-wilkins/people-came-to-the-all-star-game-to-see-the-dunk-contest/) [Dominique Wilkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-wilkins/) > [In an All-Star game the players are having more fun than usual and showing their personalities more than usual. And there are guys in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-doolittle/in-an-all-star-game-the-players-are-having-more-fun-than-usual-and/) [Sean Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-doolittle/) > [Just thinking about all the shortstops that start an All-Star Game, being next to them now, it makes me very happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-tatis-jr/just-thinking-about-all-the-shortstops-that-start-an-all-star-game/) [Fernando Tatis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-tatis-jr/) > [I'm proud of everything that I've accomplished since I was a little boy. That was my dream - to be a ballplayer. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-alomar/i-m-proud-of-everything-that-i-ve-accomplished-since-i-was-a-little/) [Roberto Alomar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-alomar/) > [It's not the NBA Finals, it's not even a regular-season game. It's the All-Star game, it's a celebration. A celebration of talent, speed, grace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-stern/it-s-not-the-nba-finals-it-s-not-even-a-regular-season-game-it-s-the/) [David Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-stern/) > [Just because it is an All-Star Game doesn't mean that you are playing as efficiently as you should.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-robertson/just-because-it-is-an-all-star-game-doesn-t-mean-that-you-are-playing/) [Oscar Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-robertson/) > [All-Star games don't resonate with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cowherd/all-star-games-don-t-resonate-with-me/) [Colin Cowherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cowherd/) > [I don't know if a lot of players can actually say they played in the All-Star Game in their actual city, their team's city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-don-t-know-if-a-lot-of-players-can-actually-say-they-played-in-the/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [Im feeling really loved right now and I appreciate all the support that helped me earn a starting position in the All-Star game. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/im-feeling-really-loved-right-now-and-i-appreciate-all-the-support/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Got a chance to meet the McDonald's All Americans from Chicago at the game last night. I found out too that 8 out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/got-a-chance-to-meet-the-mcdonald-s-all-americans-from-chicago-at-the/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [Buster's a Giants legend, obviously. Three world championships, seven All-Star Games, an MVP season, a batting title, five Silver Sluggers, three no-hitters caught, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-crawford/buster-s-a-giants-legend-obviously-three-world-championships-seven/) [Brandon Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-crawford/) > [I don't want the All-Star Game to be a one-time thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lewis/i-don-t-want-the-all-star-game-to-be-a-one-time-thing/) [Reggie Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lewis/) [Browse all 92 All-star game quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-star-game/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Johnny Bench befriended me my first year in the big leagues. He took me under his wing during my first All-Star Game and we've been friends ever since. 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