bench-warmer (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[bench-warmer 词源字典]
1892, baseball slang; see bench.
The days for "bench-warmers" with salaries are also past. ["New York Sporting News," Jan. 9, 1892]
Old English had bencsittend "one who sits on a bench."[bench-warmer etymology, bench-warmer origin, 英语词源]