With Bench, There Was a Catch : Memorabilia: Former Cincinnati catcher and Home Shopping Network charged with duping consumers.

How much are Johnny Bench autographed baseballs worth? Not as much as a home shopping show charged when the Hall of Fame catcher hawked the collectibles with a misleading pitch, a consumer watchdog charged Thursday.

“Johnny Bench should have stuck with catching balls and stayed out of pitching products,” said New York City’s consumer affairs czar, Richard Schrader, who accused Bench and the Home Shopping Network of duping consumers.

Another television memorabilia show, Collector’s Showcase, was also cited for inflating prices and providing misleading information to potential buyers.

Bench, the first celebrity endorser to face such charges in New York, faces a minimum fine of $5,000, as does Collector’s Showcase. The Home Shopping Network faces a minimum fine of $12,500.

Bench was cited for an Aug. 5 appearance on the Home Shopping Network, where baseballs autographed by the former Cincinnati Red star were on the block.

Viewers were initially told the signed balls were worth $129. Later they were told, “We could easily sell these out at $99.95.” They were eventually sold for the “sensational” price of $49.95.

But a sports collectible price guide valued an autographed Bench baseball at $35.

“Throughout my career I have always leaned over backwards to be associated only with the best services and products and to be fair and honest with consumers and fans,” Bench said in a statement. “If in any way I confused or misled anyone, it was not intentional and I am deeply sorry.”

Bench said he was paid a flat fee for the appearance and had nothing to do with the show’s format or its product selection.

An investigation also charged the Home Shopping Network with misleading sales of:

--A “limited edition” Joe DiMaggio autographed photo plaque. The item sold for $199.95--”the least expensive Joe DiMaggio-autographed item ever done.” A month earlier, the same plaque had been offered at the same price.

--A sheet of uncut sports cards for $39.95; they claimed it was worth $360. Consumers Affairs received an offer of $20 for the sheet at a card show.

--A football card collection initially offered for $170. “We’ve never sold it for below $199,” the announcer said. One night earlier, the cards were selling for $139.95.