Catchers have one of the toughest positions to fill in baseball: catchers. In this list we will look at some of the greatest all-around catchers throughout history (current catchers do not qualify). There have been great catchers throughout baseball's long history, and it is our goal to identify them all and select only the greatest among them.
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10) Bill Dickey
Over 17 seasons with the Yankees, Dickey scored more than.300 eleven times and hit double-digit homers nine times; reaching 100 runs batted in four times. In 1936 he started out hot, posting a.362 average with 22 home runs and 107 RBI; by 1940, this had increased to 29 homers, 27 rbis, 133 runs batted in and average of.332,.313 and.302.
9) Carlton Fisk
Fisk was best-known for one of the most dramatic home runs ever hit in World Series history and was an outstanding all-around catcher who was very similar to Gary Carter both statistically and technically.
8) Buster Posey
Posey stands out among previous generations as an outstanding catcher, amassing 1,500 hits with an.302 average and winning the MVP and Batting Title awards in 2012. In addition, he helped the Giants capture three World Series championships during his tenure, making him an invaluable member of their success.
7) Gary Carter
Carter hit 20 homers nine times while reaching 100 RBI four times, including a fantastic league-leading total of 106 in 1984. A great defensive player, Carter committed only 121 errors over 19 seasons while cutting down an average of 35% of runners attempting to steal bases - an 11-time all-star.
6) Yadier Molina
Catchers often compare and contrast Buster Posey and Yadier Molina as two of the greatest catchers ever, yet Molina holds an edge.
Molina stands as one of our greatest defensive catchers and holds nine Gold Gloves as well as four Golden Gloves, having made 10 All-Star teams during his 10-year MLB career and garnering over 2000 hits and likely being elected into Cooperstown.
5) Ivan Rodriguez
Rodriguez hit.300 10 times while also hitting 15 or more homers 10 times - hitting an amazing 35 home runs during 1999 when his average was.332 with 113 RBIs and 25 stolen bases to be named MVP of that season. A 14 time all-star, Pudge has also collected 13 Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers over his 19 season career; also cut down 46% of runners who attempted stealing, leading him to achieve an astounding fielding percentage of.991 during his 19 season career!
4) Josh Gibson
Gibson had an extremely high average from.359 to.384, hitting 55 homers over 137 games between Negro Leagues and other levels of competition that year alone! One story tells about him hitting an incredible walk-off home run against the Pittsburgh Crawfords that hit so far into the night sky that even they couldn't see it anymore - then playing against these same two teams two days later in Washington when an outfielder caught it from above - this led umpire shouted out "Yer out! Yesterday!" In reality however his defensive ability held back his overall ranking two positions from surpassing his hitting ability.
3)Roy Campanella
Over his ten-year career, Roy Campanella showed why he deserves such a high ranking. In seven out of ten seasons, he hit more than 20 homers seven times; drove in more than 80 runs six times; won MVP three times and set career bests with 41 homers and 142 RBI; appeared in eight all-star games; helped win one World Series and even had 48% throw outs between 1954-1957!
2) Yogi Berra
Berra's impressive 19-year career saw him hit 358 homers, drive in 1430 runs, and hit.285, catch nearly half of the would-be base stealers and win 10 World Series rings and three MVP awards, setting him apart from most players of his era.
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1) Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench had an outstanding arm and revolutionized the catching position by placing one hand behind his back when catching. With such powerful hands, he could squeeze a catcher's mitt like a first baseman's mitt!
Bench's offense included hitting 389 home runs over his 17-year career and driving in 1376 runs, as he earned two MVP awards during that span. Even during one of his poorest seasons - the 1976 World Series being an example - Bench was still named MVP by the Baseball Writers Association of America! Without question one of the greatest all-around catchers ever to have played the game!
Honorable mentions
Honorable mentions go out to Joe Mauer, Thurman Munson, Ted Simmons, Bill Freehan, Jorge Posada, Gabby Hartnett, Mike Piazza and Mickey Cochrane.
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