The best Catchers in major
league baseball history:
21) Rick Dempsey: A four-decade major leaguer, Dempsey had a
.988 fielding percentage and threw out 40% of runners attempting to steal while
catching 1,633 games from 1969-1992. He was the MVP of the 1983 World Series.
20) Ray Schalk: A member of the Baseball
Hall of Fame, Schalk caught 1,727 games from 1912-1929, with a .981 fielding
percentage and 49% caught stealing rate, higher than the league averages at the
time of .976 and 44%.
19) Ted Simmons: An eight time All Star
while catching 1,771 games from 1968-1988, Simmons had a fielding percentage of
.987 and threw out 34% of runners, while batting .285 with 248 home runs and
1,389 RBI’s in his career.
18) Brad Ausmus: Ausmus caught 1,998 games for four teams from
1993-2010, winning three Gold Gloves. His career fielding percentage was .994
and caught stealing rate was 35%.
17) Mike Piazza: A twelve time All Star,
Piazza has a fielding percentage of .989 and threw out 23% of attempted
basestealers while catching 1,630 games from 1992-2007, but his value lay in
his bat. He has a career average of .308 with 427 home runs and 1,335 RBI’s.
16) Jorge Posada: A five time All
Star, Posada batted .273 with 275 homers and 1,065 RBI's, in 16 seasons. He caught
1,574 games with a .992 fielding percentage and a 28% caught stealing rate.
15) Elston Howard: A nine time All
Star and winner of the 1963 American League MVP award, Howard caught 1,138
games and had a fielding percentage of .993 and a 44% caught stealing rate.
14) Jim Sundberg: A three time All Star and
winner of six Gold Gloves, Sundberg had a .993 fielding percentage and threw
out 41% of runners attempting to steal, while catching 1,927 games from
1974-1989.
13) Bob Boone: Winner of seven Gold Gloves
and a four time All Star, Boone caught 2,225 games from 1972-1990, with a .986
fielding percentage and caught stealing rate of 40%. He batted .311 in 36 post
season games.
12) Lance Parrish: Catching 1,818 games from 1977-1995, Parrish won
three Gold Gloves and was named to 8 All Star teams. He had a fielding
percentage of .991, and threw out 39% of attempted base stealers. Parrish also
hit 324 home runs and drove in 1,070 runs.
11) Carlton Fisk: During a 24 year career
Fisk caught 2,226 games with a fielding percentage of .988 while throwing out
34% of base stealers. He batted .269 with 376 home runs and 1,330 RBI’s. Selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in
2000.
10) Thurman Munson: Winner of the
1970 Rookie of the Year Award, and named the American League MVP in 1976,
Munson was a seven time All Star selection and winner of three Gold Gloves. He
threw out 44% of base runners attempting to steal, and hit .373 and drove in 12 runs in 16 World
Series games. Munson caught 1,278 games in eleven seasons.
9) Mickey Cochrane: A two time All Star,
Cochrane was named American League MVP in 1928 and 1934. He has a career
batting average of .320 with a .419 on-base percentage. He threw out 39% of
basestealers while catching 1,421 games in 13 seasons. Selected to the Baseball
Hall of Fame in 1947.
8) Gary Carter: Winner of three Gold Gloves
and an eleven time All Star, Carter had a fielding percentage of .991 and
caught 35% of attempted basestealers while catching 2,056 games in 20 seasons. Selected
to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
7) Ernie Lombardi: A seven time All Star and
winner of the 1938 National League MVP award, Lombardi caught 1,544 games in 17
seasons. He had a .306 career batting average and threw out 47% of attempted
base stealers. Selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.
6) Gabby Hartnett: Catching 1,793 games in 20
seasons, Hartnett led the National League catchers in caught stealing
percentage six times, with a career mark of 56%. A six time All Star, he had a
career batting average of .297 and won the 1935 National League MVP award. Selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in
1955.
5) Roy Campanella: Named the National League
MVP in 1951, 1953, and 1955, Campanella was named to eight All Star teams. He
threw out 57% of basestealers while catching 1,183 games in 10 seasons. Selected
to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.
4) Bill Dickey: An eleven time All Star, Dickey's threw out
47% of runners attempting to steal. In 17 years Dickey had a .313 batting
average and caught 1,708 games, while contributing to seven Yankees’ world
championships in the 1930's and early 1940's. Selected to the Baseball Hall of
Fame in 1954.
3) Ivan Rodriguez: A thirteen time Gold Glove
winner and fourteen time All Star, Rodriguez won the 1999 American League MVP
award. Catching 2,427 games in 21
seasons, he threw out 46% of runners attempting to steal.
2) Johnny Bench: Winner of ten Gold Gloves
and a fourteen time All Star, Bench won the National League MVP award in 1970
and 1972. Catching 1,742 games in 17 seasons, he threw out 43% of basestealers
and had a .267 average, 389 home runs, and 1,376 RBI’s. Selected to the
Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.
1) Yogi Berra: Selected to the All Star team 15 times, Berra
won the American League MVP award in 1951, 1954, and 1955. He caught 1,699
games in 19 seasons and threw out 49% of basestealers to go along with a .285
career batting average, 358 home runs, and 1,430 RBI’s. Selected to the
Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
source for statistics: www.baseball-reference.com
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