Who do u think was or is the best catcher of all time?
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#15 Munson
Josh Gibson
Of those that i have seen Johnny Bench has to be the best all around catcher
Wes Westrum was one of the best defensive catchers I ever saw
Wes Westrum was one of the best defensive catchers I ever saw
Johnny Bench.
#5 Johnny Bench
Bench, Jim Sundberg is next for me
If we eliminate hitting there are several in the running. If we go total package (IMO) Bench.
There are a few young MLB catchers that might be considered at some point. Especially the guy in MN.
Also, Pudge, is going to be a Hall of Famer in my estimation. But Bench revolutionized the position in some ways.
There are a few young MLB catchers that might be considered at some point. Especially the guy in MN.
Also, Pudge, is going to be a Hall of Famer in my estimation. But Bench revolutionized the position in some ways.
Bill James says Yogi is #1. Bench is #2.
Munson
Steve Yeager.....Just Kidding, Johnny Bench!
Yogi Berra
Ht : 5'8" Wt : 175
Ten World Series Championships
14 AL Championships
Fifteen-time All Star,
AL MVP three times, in 1951, 54 and 55.
World Series records
most games by a catcher (63),
hits (71),
and times on a winning team (10),
first in at bats,
first in doubles,
second in RBI's,
third in home runs and BOB's.
Yogi also hit the first pinch hit home run in World Series history in 1947
Nobody comes close to Yogi as a catcher.
Yogi also managed
won an AL pennant with the Yankees in 1964
won NL pennant with Metsin 1973
Ht : 5'8" Wt : 175
Ten World Series Championships
14 AL Championships
Fifteen-time All Star,
AL MVP three times, in 1951, 54 and 55.
World Series records
most games by a catcher (63),
hits (71),
and times on a winning team (10),
first in at bats,
first in doubles,
second in RBI's,
third in home runs and BOB's.
Yogi also hit the first pinch hit home run in World Series history in 1947
Nobody comes close to Yogi as a catcher.
Yogi also managed
won an AL pennant with the Yankees in 1964
won NL pennant with Metsin 1973
I know this doesn't answer the question, but my FAVORITE catcher of all time is the free-swinging, sweet-smiling Manny Sanguillen.
quote:Originally posted by Tooldforthis:
Josh Gibson
^ this is probably the correct answer.
I believe Pudge is the greatest catcher of all time, however, I also believe he was guilty of using PED's. There was a 5 year period in the late 90's when he was truly dominate behind the plate and also a .300 hitter.
Buster Posey
Best catchers I've seen in person - Joe Mauer, Johnny Bench.
Best catcher I've never seen - Yogi Berra, Josh Gibson
Best catcher I've seen while on PED - Pudge
Best catcher I've never seen - Yogi Berra, Josh Gibson
Best catcher I've seen while on PED - Pudge
Here's my top three...
1. Bench
2. Pudge
3. Mauer
GED10DaD
1. Bench
2. Pudge
3. Mauer
Bench.
I grew up in the Bench era. I was not a Reds fan per se but loved Bench and Pete Rose.
If you held a gun to my head Bench. Yogi Berra deserves much more love than he gets however. He also caught the only perfect game in World Series history.
If you held a gun to my head Bench. Yogi Berra deserves much more love than he gets however. He also caught the only perfect game in World Series history.
I don't see how it can be anyone other than Berra and Bench in the argument for No. 1.
However, from all accounts Gibson would have been in there had he been allowed to play in MLB.
Also in the best category, from my standpoint, Campanella, Cochrane, Pudge, and from an offensive standpoint Simmons and Piazza. Torre was a pretty good catcher as well, but hit much better when he switched to 3B and 1B.
However, from all accounts Gibson would have been in there had he been allowed to play in MLB.
Also in the best category, from my standpoint, Campanella, Cochrane, Pudge, and from an offensive standpoint Simmons and Piazza. Torre was a pretty good catcher as well, but hit much better when he switched to 3B and 1B.
Best all-around catcher has to be Bench--hit for power, shut down the running game, tremendous backstop, batted cleanup on World Series teams, hit for decent average for the times, Rookie of the Year, two MVP's, MVP of WS.
Gibson- known great power and hitting for average although in a time when Batting Averages were higher and much of it achieved against inferior competition. Have read that he was a great defensive catcher but no numbers to tell the true story. He would have definitely been one of the top four catchers of 30's and 40's with Dickey, Cochrane, and Hartnet.
Berra--3 MVP's, consistent performance over a very long career, good power setting American League HR record for catcher with 30, solid batting average for the times, Leader on the club, smarter than people give credit for according to Stengel, good defensively. The only minus I have for him is that the fifties had very little basestealing so great arms were not a necessity for the position.
Pudge--Tremendous arm--shut down running game in his prime. Above average batting average even for his time. Power numbers almost certainly inflated by PED use. No longer looks like a "Pudge"--all of it disappeared in the winter testing was announced.
Campanella--Rather short career due to Black Ban and career ending injury. Three MVP's say a lot although he had two or three off seasons in there too. Drove in a lot of runs with high of 141 in 1953. Again--baserunning not a big factor in 1950's so arms may not match up with best of all time.
Other greats:
Hartnett 37 Hrs and 122 RBI's in 1930, Hit pennant winning HR in the dark second to last day of 1938.
Cochrane won one MVP and was playing manager on back to back pennant winning clubs. .320 lifetime average in good hitting period.
Dickey hit .313 lifetime with four consecutive high twenty HR and 100+ RBI seasons. Started on seven pennant winning clubs. Hit career high .362 in 1936.
Piazza--great hitting catcher, arguably best overall hitting catcher of all time. Below average defensively.
Munson--High average hitting catcher with middling power. Good defensively but arm far from the greatest. Probably had another good season or two cut off by untimely death, but also did not have decline phase on batting average.
Defensive catchers--Jim Hegen of 40's and 50's, Wes Westrum of Giants in 50's, John Roseboro of 60's mostly Dodgers, Molina of Cardinals.
Offensive catchers:
Ted Simmons, Elston Howard, Joe Torre, Posada, Fisk
Gibson- known great power and hitting for average although in a time when Batting Averages were higher and much of it achieved against inferior competition. Have read that he was a great defensive catcher but no numbers to tell the true story. He would have definitely been one of the top four catchers of 30's and 40's with Dickey, Cochrane, and Hartnet.
Berra--3 MVP's, consistent performance over a very long career, good power setting American League HR record for catcher with 30, solid batting average for the times, Leader on the club, smarter than people give credit for according to Stengel, good defensively. The only minus I have for him is that the fifties had very little basestealing so great arms were not a necessity for the position.
Pudge--Tremendous arm--shut down running game in his prime. Above average batting average even for his time. Power numbers almost certainly inflated by PED use. No longer looks like a "Pudge"--all of it disappeared in the winter testing was announced.
Campanella--Rather short career due to Black Ban and career ending injury. Three MVP's say a lot although he had two or three off seasons in there too. Drove in a lot of runs with high of 141 in 1953. Again--baserunning not a big factor in 1950's so arms may not match up with best of all time.
Other greats:
Hartnett 37 Hrs and 122 RBI's in 1930, Hit pennant winning HR in the dark second to last day of 1938.
Cochrane won one MVP and was playing manager on back to back pennant winning clubs. .320 lifetime average in good hitting period.
Dickey hit .313 lifetime with four consecutive high twenty HR and 100+ RBI seasons. Started on seven pennant winning clubs. Hit career high .362 in 1936.
Piazza--great hitting catcher, arguably best overall hitting catcher of all time. Below average defensively.
Munson--High average hitting catcher with middling power. Good defensively but arm far from the greatest. Probably had another good season or two cut off by untimely death, but also did not have decline phase on batting average.
Defensive catchers--Jim Hegen of 40's and 50's, Wes Westrum of Giants in 50's, John Roseboro of 60's mostly Dodgers, Molina of Cardinals.
Offensive catchers:
Ted Simmons, Elston Howard, Joe Torre, Posada, Fisk
No votes for Bryce Harper, LOL.....
Bench, Pudge (with or withour PED), Berra
Bench, Pudge (with or withour PED), Berra
I think we can also include Tim McCarver as one of the best behind the plate--just ask Bob Gibson and Steve Carlton
You're all forgetting about Russ Gibson! 
Bob Boone is worth a mention. Not the greatest hitting catcher (.254 career), but the fact that he had a 19 year MLB career with several Gold Glove awards is pretty impressive...and the bloodlines in his family isn't too shabby either.
TR- You can ask McCarver also, he'd tell you the same thing
quote:Originally posted by J H:
TR- You can ask McCarver also, he'd tell you the same thing
That's funny
Seriously, I don't think Tim McCarver is a self-promoter. His issue is he talks too much sometimes.
quote:Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
I grew up in the Bench era. I was not a Reds fan per se but loved Bench and Pete Rose.
If you held a gun to my head Bench. Yogi Berra deserves much more love than he gets however. He also caught the only perfect game in World Series history.
you and me Cleve......its Bench......(and my fav Manny Sanguillen)......but I'd have to throw out some respect to Josh Gibson
Bench defaintly
Johnny Bench
Bench. The guy was a stud. Behind the plate at the plate he was an absolute stud. The best I have ever seen. Are there some other guys worthy of consideration? Of course. But for me its Bench.
I'm really surprised that Mauer isn't getting more love from this group especially from MN-Mom. Maybe he is too early in his career to sway the panel?
Bench was a stud and had a long career. No disagreement there.
Bench was a stud and had a long career. No disagreement there.
Mauer will certainly be in the picture but I did't count him simply because he is too early in his career. Something could happen injurywise and greatly lower that lifetime batting average. I think you have to have at least 10 years to really even be considered at this point.
Three Bagger
I agree with you---at this point in time Mauer and Posey have not done enough to be considered for Best Catcher of All Time
I agree with you---at this point in time Mauer and Posey have not done enough to be considered for Best Catcher of All Time
I think that in ten years or so, Mauer could very easily be considered the greatest to ever live. But at the same time, you can never predict the future and what's going to happen. He is the best right now by far, in my opinion, and I don't really think anyone can argue against that.