Hi Angelica,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

LeRoy Neiman (born LeRoy Leslie Runquist; June 8, 1921 – June 20, 2012) was an iconic American artist known for his vivid, expressive portrayals of athletes, entertainers, and the thrill of live events.

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Neiman displayed artistic talent early, painting advertising posters and even ink-tattoos on schoolmates. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II—as a cook and painter of Red Cross stage sets and mess‐hall murals. Using the G.I. Bill, he studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and later taught there for a decade.

Neiman’s work is instantly recognizable—rich, saturated color palettes, expressive brushstrokes, and compositions that pulsate with motion and excitement. He became a beloved chronicler of live action, sketching events like the Olympics, major sporting competitions, the Fischer–Spassky chess match, and the Democratic National Convention—all sometimes done in real time for television audiences.

Johnny Bench was the iconic catcher for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s (the “Big Red Machine”) and is broadly considered one of the greatest catchers in Major League Baseball history. By choosing Bench as his subject, Neiman marries the world of elite sport (iconic athlete) with his signature visual style, thereby elevating a sports moment into a work of fine art. The series was painted during the Hall of Fame catcher's first National League MVP season.

The print titled "Johnny Bench – The Catcher" is designated as a limited edition print; a 200-edition lithograph was published in 1970 with a 250-edition serigraph version issued in 1989; yours appears to be from the earlier edition.

There also is an earlier “1970” lithograph version (edition of 200) by Neiman. Others from this edition have sold at auction for prices ranging from $700-1,200. If it were possible to know the edition number (likely obscured by the mat), I might be able to refine that number a bit, towards the higher side if it was made in the first part of that run when the plate was strong.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012)
"Johnny Bench – The Catcher"
lithograph print, presumably from an edition of 200
signed and dated in the plate; signed in graphite additionally.
29 by 23 inches, matted and framed
CONDITION: This appears to be in very good condition
PROVENANCE: Acquired from a dealer or gallery
$ 700-1,200*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia