Baseball Reference Blog
The 10 Greatest Catchers
Posted by sradmin on December 1, 2022
There are 19 catchers in the Hall of Fame. That total is the second-fewest by position players behind only third baseman (17). However, some of baseball’s most iconic defensive players and hitters have played behind the plate. We are going to break down the best catchers of all time, using statistics. Specifically, we will be looking at the leaders in Position Player WAR. This measurement considers baserunning, grounding into double plays (when in DP situations), and fielding. Additionally, WAR is adjusted by position. Catchers, for instance, generally have the lowest batting averages of all position players. Finally, replacement level runs (based on playing time) round out the considerations of WAR, which determines who is among the best catchers of all time. Here are the top 10 greatest catchers, in alphabetical order, according to WAR.
Johnny Bench
Positions: Catcher, Third Baseman and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 197lb (185cm, 89kg)
Born:
December 7, 1947
Draft: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 1965 MLB June Amateur Draft from Binger HS (Binger, OK).
High School: Binger HS (Binger, OK)
Debut:
August 28, 1967
(Age 19-264d,
12,619th in major league history)
vs. PHI 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 29, 1983
(Age 35-296d)
vs. SFG 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1989.
(Voted by BBWAA on 431/447 ballots)
View Johnny Bench’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1968 season
Full Name: Johnny Lee Bench
Nicknames: Little General
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
75.1
7658
2048
389
.267
1091
1376
68
.342
.476
.817
126
14 All-Star selections and two National League MVP Awards highlight the legendary career of Johnny Bench, who is the greatest catcher of all time (75.1 career WAR). Bench ended his 17-year career with 367 home runs as a catcher, a then-record. The “Little General” led the Majors in home runs in 1970, becoming the first catcher to ever do so. That campaign was the first of two MVP award-winning seasons (also 1972). Bench played his entire career with the Reds, winning 10 Gold Gloves and two World Series Championships.
Yogi Berra
Positions: Catcher and Outfielder
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
5-7, 185lb (170cm, 83kg)
Born: May 12, 1925 in St. Louis, MO us
Died:
September 22, 2015
Buried: Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ
Debut:
September 22, 1946
(Age 21-133d,
10,201st in major league history)
vs. PHA 4 AB, 2 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
May 9, 1965
(Age 39-362d)
vs. MLN 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1972.
(Voted by BBWAA on 339/396 ballots)
View Yogi Berra’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1947 season
Full Name: Lawrence Peter Berra
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Father of Dale Berra
Career
59.4
7555
2150
358
.285
1175
1430
30
.348
.482
.830
125
Yogi Berra is one of the greatest catchers of all time and will forever live in Yankees lore. Between the years of 1947 and 1962, Berra was named American League MVP three times and played in 18 All-Star games and 14 World Series. Having won 10 of the 14, he leads baseball history in most World Series-winning teams played on, and probably always will.
Gary Carter
Positions: Catcher and Rightfielder
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-2, 205lb (188cm, 92kg)
Born: April 8, 1954 in Culver City, CA us
Died:
February 16, 2012
Buried: Riverside Memorial Park, Tequesta, FL
Draft: Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 3rd round of the 1972 MLB June Amateur Draft from Sunny Hills HS (Fullerton, CA).
High School: Sunny Hills HS (Fullerton, CA)
Debut:
September 16, 1974
(Age 20-161d,
13,595th in major league history)
vs. NYM 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 27, 1992
(Age 38-172d)
vs. CHC 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2003.
(Voted by BBWAA on 387/496 ballots)
View Gary Carter’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1975 season
Agents: Dick Moss, Jerry Petrie
Full Name: Gary Edmund Carter
Nicknames: Kid
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
70.2
7971
2092
324
.262
1025
1225
39
.335
.439
.773
115
Gary Carter is perhaps most well-known for his clutch hits during the 1986 postseason which saw the New York Mets win their second and most recent championship. From his walk-off RBI single in Game 5 of the NLCS to the rally-starting single in Game 6 of the World Series, this catcher played a huge part in baseball history. “The Kid” played for 19 seasons and was an 11-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove recipient, and five-time Silver Slugger winner. Carter’s number 8 is one of five numbers retired by the Montreal Expos.
Bill Dickey
Position: Catcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-1, 185lb (185cm, 83kg)
Born: June 6, 1907 in Bastrop, LA us
Died:
November 12, 1993
Buried: Roselawn Memorial Park, Little Rock, AR
High School: Searcy HS (Searcy, AR)
Debut:
August 15, 1928
(Age 21-070d,
6,767th in major league history)
vs. CHW 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 8, 1946
(Age 39-094d)
vs. WSH 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1954.
(Voted by BBWAA on 202/252 ballots)
View Bill Dickey’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1929 season
Full Name: William Malcolm Dickey
Nicknames: The Man Nobody Knows
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of George Dickey
Career
56.4
6300
1969
202
.313
930
1209
36
.382
.486
.868
127
Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey’s influence as the 1946 Yankees manager is thought to be a huge reason for Yogi Berra’s success at the position. Before he was a manager, Dickey was named an All-Star 11 times in 12 seasons, a stretch that was paused by two years of service in the United States Navy. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954 after nine years on the ballot.
Carlton Fisk
Position: Catcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-3, 200lb (190cm, 90kg)
Born:
December 26, 1947
Draft: Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1st round (4th) of the 1967 MLB January Draft-Regular Phase.
High School: Charlestown HS (Charlestown, NH)
Schools: Keene State College (Keene, NH), University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH)
Debut:
September 18, 1969
(Age 21-266d,
12,941st in major league history)
vs. BAL 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
June 22, 1993
(Age 45-178d)
vs. TEX 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2000.
(Voted by BBWAA on 397/499 ballots)
View Carlton Fisk’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1972 season
Agents: Jack Sands • Previously: Bob Teaff, Jerry Kapstein
Full Name: Carlton Ernest Fisk
Nicknames: Pudge
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
68.5
8756
2356
376
.269
1276
1330
128
.341
.457
.797
117
Opposing Johnny Bench at catcher in the 1975 World Series was Carlton Fisk, whose Game Six walk-off home run stands as one of the most iconic moments in baseball history. Fisk at the time was three years removed from winning American League Rookie of the Year and a Gold Glove and still had eight of his 11 All-Star selections ahead of him. “Pudge” played 2,226 games at catcher, the most ever until Iván Rodríguez, who is also nicknamed Pudge, passed the mark (more on the other Pudge below).
Gabby Hartnett
Position: Catcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 195lb (185cm, 88kg)
Born: December 20, 1900 in Woonsocket, RI us
Died:
December 20, 1972
Buried: All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, IL
High School: Dean Academy (Franklin, MA)
School: Dean College (Franklin, MA)
Debut:
April 12, 1922
(Age 21-113d,
5,404th in major league history)
vs. CIN 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 24, 1941
(Age 40-278d)
vs. PHI 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1955.
(Voted by BBWAA on 195/251 ballots)
View Gabby Hartnett’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1923 season
Full Name: Charles Leo Hartnett
Nicknames: Old Tomato Face
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
55.9
6432
1912
236
.297
867
1179
28
.370
.489
.858
126
Babe Ruth ‘calling his shot’ in game 3 of the 1932 World Series is the stuff of legends. The man closest to him? Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett. Although he was on the wrong side of history at that moment, Hartnett responded by starting a stretch of six All-Star seasons, that included one MVP nod in 1935. That season did not see him lead in any major offensive statistical categories. However, he did lead the National League in caught stealing percentage in six seasons. His career percentage of 56.11 is the second-best of all time among catchers facing 200 or more stolen base attempts, making him one of the best defensive catchers in MLB history.
Joe Mauer
Positions: Catcher and First Baseman
Bats: Left • Throws: Right
6-5, 225lb (196cm, 102kg)
Born:
April 19, 1983
Draft: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (1st) of the 2001 MLB June Amateur Draft from Cretin HS (St. Paul, MN).
High Schools: Cretin HS (St. Paul, MN), Cretin-Derham Hall HS (St. Paul, MN)
Debut:
April 5, 2004
(Age 20-352d,
18,401st in major league history)
vs. CLE 3 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 30, 2018
(Age 35-164d)
vs. CHW 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2004 season
Agents: Shapiro, Robinson, & Associates
National Team: us USA (WBC,Pro,18U)
Full Name: Joseph Patrick Mauer
Pronunciation: \MAW-er\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
Career
55.2
6930
2123
143
.306
1018
923
52
.388
.439
.827
124
Although Joe Mauer played about half of his career at first base and designated hitter, the other half was spent behind the plate during his prime. Mauer was born and raised in Minnesota and spent his entire 15-season career with the Twins. In 2006, he became the first catcher to win the AL Batting Title. He went on to replicate the feat three times, the last of which happened during his MVP season of 2009. That season included one of each of his six All-Star appearances, three Gold Gloves, and five Silver Slugger awards.
Mike Piazza
Positions: Catcher and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-3, 200lb (190cm, 90kg)
Born:
September 4, 1968
Draft: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62nd round of the 1988 MLB June Amateur Draft from Miami Dade College (Miami, FL).
High School: Phoenixville HS (Phoenixville, PA)
Schools: University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL), Miami Dade College (Miami, FL)
Debut:
September 1, 1992
(Age 23-363d,
16,211th in major league history)
vs. CHC 3 AB, 3 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 30, 2007
(Age 39-026d)
vs. LAA 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2016.
(Voted by BBWAA on 365/440 ballots)
View Mike Piazza’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1993 season
Agents: Dan Lozano, Dennis Gilbert
Full Name: Michael Joseph Piazza
Pronunciation: \Pee-AH-za\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
59.5
6911
2127
427
.308
1048
1335
17
.377
.545
.922
143
During seasons in which he played more than 84 games, Mike Piazza was never not an All-Star. This streak included two stints with the Dodgers and Mets of seven and eight seasons respectively. Between the two, he was traded twice in a single week in 1998 and played five games with the Florida Marlins. Despite the changes of scenery, that season still managed to yield one of his ten Silver Slugger awards. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Ken Griffy Jr. in 2016.
Iván Rodríguez
Position: Catcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-9, 205lb (175cm, 92kg)
Born:
November 27, 1971
High School: Lino Padron Rivera (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico)
Debut:
June 20, 1991
(Age 19-205d,
15,966th in major league history)
vs. CHW 4 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
September 28, 2011
(Age 39-305d)
vs. FLA 3 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2017.
(Voted by BBWAA on 336/442 ballots)
View Iván Rodríguez’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1991 season
Agents: Boras Corporation • Previously: Jeff Moorad
Full Name: Ivan Rodriguez
Nicknames: Pudge or I-Rod
Pronunciation: \ee-VAHN Rod-RI-gez\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Father of Dereck Rodriguez
Career
68.7
9592
2844
311
.296
1354
1332
127
.334
.464
.798
106
Iván Rodríguez led the American League in caught stealing percentage in nine different seasons from 1992 to 2006. Pudge’s 2,427 games as a catcher are the most ever. This total spans over 21 seasons, 13 of them spent with the Rangers, with smaller stints elsewhere. In 2003, at age 31, I-Rod was finally a member of a playoff series-winning team. He went on to win NLCS MVP with the Flordia Marlins as they won the franchises’ most recent championship (they have not won a postseason game since). Rodríguez was a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 2017.
Ted Simmons
Positions: Catcher and First Baseman
Bats: Both • Throws: Right
5-11, 193lb (180cm, 87kg)
Born:
August 9, 1949
Draft: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round (10th) of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft from Southfield HS (Southfield, MI).
High School: Southfield HS (Southfield, MI)
Schools: University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI), Wayne State University (Detroit, MI)
Debut:
September 21, 1968
(Age 19-043d,
12,768th in major league history)
vs. LAD 2 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game:
October 2, 1988
(Age 39-054d)
vs. CIN 4 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2020. (Voted by Veteran’s Committee)
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1970 season
Agents: Himself • Previously: LaRue Harcourt
Full Name: Ted Lyle Simmons
Nicknames: Simba
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
50.3
8680
2472
248
.285
1074
1389
21
.348
.437
.785
118
Ted Simmons had an uphill battle stacking up against his aforementioned catcher counterpart Johnny Bench while their careers overlapped from 1968 to 1983. However, the switch hitter still managed to spend six seasons in the top 10 National League batting averages, leading to eight All-Star appearances. In 2020, Simmons was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee, their first inductee in over 10 years.
These ten players account for some of the hitters and defensive players to ever play the game. There are no catchers up for Hall of Fame voting in 2023 (besides longshot early-career catcher Mike Napoli). However, Joe Mauer will likely get the nod in the class of 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yadier Molina’s 42.3 career WAR would be the best of active catchers, but his recent retirement leaves Salvador Perez (32.3) in the top spot as he enters his 12th season with the Royals.
J.T. Realmuto led MLB catchers in WAR for position players in 2022 (6.5). He also led his team in that category, which went on to win the National League pennant.
Iván Rodríguez’s 13 Gold Gloves at catcher are the most ever – three more than the next closest, Johnny Bench. Among active catchers, 31-year-old Salvador Perez has won five, but none since 2018.
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