The Top Major League Baseball Catchers Of All Time
Catchers don’t only have to study each of the opposing team’s hitters, but they must also know their pitchers to give helpful recommendations on how to pitch each hitter. That’s one of the reasons why catchers are among the most important players.
You can find many former catchers carrying coaches bag as a manager or coach these days. It’s no coincidence since catchers can actually carve a long and productive career not only if they know how to handle the glove, but also a pitching staff. The skills required to be a catcher makes them great natural leaders, both on and off the field.
This post gives honor to some of the best catchers in Major League Baseball’s history by taking a quick look back at their amazing careers. The list below is in no particular order. Some of these guys are here because they can handle the glove, others because of their performance with the bat.
5. Ivan Rodriguez
Nicknamed as “Pudge”, Ivan Rodriguez is best known for his extraordinary defensive abilities. He caught a total of 2,427 games in 21 seasons as a professional, winning 13 Gold Glove Awards in the process. Rodriguez’s statistics are excellent, too. With 14, 864 putouts, he set a Major League Baseball catcher record while he threw out 45.7% of attempted base stealers.
Ivan Rodriguez also stood out defensively, ranking first among catchers and ninth all-time in defensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) with 28.7. Pudge, like most other players you’ve seen with a catchers bag, also played as a hitter and did a terrific job at it. He had a batting average of .300 or better ten times in his career. In 1999, he posted a .332/.356/.558 triple slash with 35 home runs, 113 run battled ins (RBI), 116 runs scored, and 25 stolen bases. Those were enough for him to be named AL MVP that year.
4. Carlton Fisk
The original “Pudge,” Carlton Fisk ran down the first base line during the 1975 World Series as he helped wave a game-winning home run fair in Game Six. If there’s one thing that Fisk is most remembered for, it was that achievement, but there’s much more to him.
The MLB career of Carlton Fisk was incredible. He caught a total of 2,226 games, a record second only to Ivan Rodriguez. Some of the honors he received during his incredible career include winning the Silver Slugger award three times, and being voted for 11 occasions in the All-Star team. He ranked sixth all-time in RBIs (run battled ins) with 1,330, and his 376 home runs ranked him third all-time for catchers. Those feats made some people call him the “Commander”.
3. Gary Carter
When you think of all-around catchers, one of the first persons to cross your mind should be Gary Carter. He ranked second all-time at his position in terms of career WAR with 69.9. As a catcher, Carter had, no doubt, great power, nine-times hitting twenty or more home runs in his career, with two of those reaching 30-plus. In 1984, he recorded an NL-best 106 run battled ins. Carter didn’t have a single season wherein he hit .300, but that shouldn’t take away his deserved spot in the Hall of Fame.
With a career defensive WAR of 25.5, Gary Carter was an excellent defensive catcher, too. He is only behind Ivan Rodriguez in the defensive WAR list for catchers and ranks 15th all-time. In terms of caught stealing percentage, he became National League’s number one on four occasions.
2. Yogi Berra
Berra played for the New York Yankees, winning ten out of 14 World Series titles in the process. If there’s one most recognizable backstop in the game, it’s Yogi Berra.
Berra’s Yankees career was a remarkable one. He became part of the All-Star team on 18 occasions and earned three AL MVP awards. Berra had 358 home runs and was only struck out 414 times.
The pressure that surrounds the Yankees being a title-winning team playing for the people of the Big Apple was always high, but Berra contributed a lot in keeping the entire pitching staff focused, especially during big games. He was both a former catcher and coach for the Yankees.
1. Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench posted the highest career WAR for a catcher. His career WAR of 75.0 made him part of the top 50 list among position players. He was both an elite backstop and hitter, leading to a lot of baseball enthusiasts considering him as the greatest catcher in the history of the game. His career defensive WAR totaled 19.3.
After he hit .275/.311/.433 and achieved 15 home runs, as well as 82 RBIs as a 20-year-old, Bench won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1968. It was the first time he exploded onto the sport’s national scene, marking the start of an illustrious career. He led the NL in terms of attempted base stealers gunned down with 57.2%, which was also his career-high.
Johnny Bench won 2 NL MVP Awards, with the first one coming when he was just 22 years old. He led the Major League Baseball in home runs and RBIs with 45 and 148, respectively, while hitting .293/.345/.587 during that time. In 1972, he won his second NL MVP after once again leading the race of MLB teams for home runs and RBIs.
Conclusion
Catcher is both a unique and difficult position. However, despite facing a huge challenge, the individuals mentioned above have done wonders, enough to bring their names to the hall of fame.
