Reds great Johnny Bench sells homes in Rancho Mirage, Naples

Baseball great Johnny Bench has parted ways with two homes, selling his golf course estate in Rancho Mirage for $1.195 million and his waterfront residence in Naples, Fla., for $2.95 million.

The Rancho Mirage property, with lake and fairway views, occupies about half an acre at the Mission Hills Country Club community with a pool and spa, a putting green and a batting cage. Built in 2004, the single-story floor plan sports a center-island kitchen, an office, four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms in nearly 3,600 square feet. The living room has beamed ceilings and a large stone fireplace.

Sliding glass doors open to a covered pavilion with an outdoor fireplace, barbecue and wet bar.

The property came on the market in September for the sale price, records show. Bench and his wife, Lauren, paid $1.395 million for the home in 2006. Susan Winters of Windermere Real Estate was the listing agent and represented the buyer in the sale.

The Naples home, built in 1969 and since updated, features 170 feet of frontage, a boat dock and lift and a pool with a deck extending over the water on nearly half an acre. The 3,049-square-foot floor plan includes a great room with 20-foot ceilings, a formal dining room, an office, three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms.

Bench purchased the home in 2012 for $2.55 million, according to Collier County records.

The recent sales follow Bench’s purchase of a waterfront home in Jupiter, Fla., owned by former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Morris. The legendary catcher paid $3.3 million for the residence featuring a main house of about 7,400 square feet, 100 feet of frontage, a deepwater dock with two water scooter lifts and a pool with a spa and waterfall feature.

Bench, 67, totaled 10 Gold Glove Awards, 14 All-Star appearances and two World Series titles across 17 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

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