All Time Top 9 Catchers ... Part 1

Coming up with the all time top 9 catchers in order was much tougher than I thought it would be. It is  extremely hard to compare the greatest catchers from the different era's, let alone not having seen some of the greats play. Based on stats, video clips, articles, other's input, & intangibles here are my : All Time Top 9 Catchers ... Part 1

Honorable Mention:

12  Joe Torre: As we all know Joe Torre has become much more than a very good ballplayer. While there are other catchers that could slide into the # 12 slot, he is my choice. He is a Gold Glove winner & twice led National League catchers in fielding percentage; his lifetime fielding percentage as a catcher was .990.  His accreditation's include 9 All Star appearances, a NL MVP, a NL batting championship, NL RBI crown, and the 1971 Hutch Award. He hit over .300 five times, had over 100 RBI five times, and hit 20 plus home runs 6 times. His lifetime stats include a .297 BA, .365 OBP, .452 SLG., 252 HR, and 1185 RBI ...

11  Gary Carter: The ''Kid'' is in the HOF and certainly deservedly so. He is an eleven time All Star and winner of 3 Gold Glove Awards & 5 Silver Slugger Awards. # 8 was a MLB All Star Game MVP twice & a World Series Champion in 1986. Gary Carter was also the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award in 1989. He hit 20 plus home runs 9 times & knocked in 100 or more four times.  His lifetime stats include a .262 BA, .335 OBP, 439 SLG, 324 HR, and 1225 RBI. Even towards the end of his career, his teammates still called him the ''Kid.'' Montreal retired his # 8 in 1993. Gary Carter is presently very sick. I wish for him & his family the very best through this tough time ...

10  Mickey Cochrane: It qualifies as amazing to me that I don't have this HOF'er ranked higher. There are though 9 other great ones to come. The three time World Series champion is also a two time All Star &  two time AL MVP. Cochrane led American League catchers six times in putouts and twice in fielding percentage. His lifetime fielding percentage was .985. His lifetime .419 OBP is the highest all time for catchers. He hit .300 eight times & had an OBP OF .400 or better eight times. His lifetime stats include a .320 BA, .419 OBP, .478 SLG., 119 HR, AND 832 RBI. Cochrane's career was cut short at age 34 when he was hit in the head by a pitch that nearly killed him. He truly was one of the best ...

All Time Top 9 Catchers:

9  Bill Dickey: This eleven time All Star played 19 years for the New York Yankees. He was renowned for his handling of pitchers and for his great competitive nature - after a collision at home plate, he broke the jaw of Carl Reynolds with one punch. He was Lou Gehrig's best friend, and, played himself in the film The Pride of the Yankees. # 8 had a lifetime fielding percentage of .988. He hit better than .300 his first 11 seasons and during his playing career he went to 9 World Series; he & the Yankees won eight of them. Bill Dickey's lifetime stats include a .313BA, .382 OBP, .486 SLG., 202 HR, and 1209 RBI. He was credited with helping Yogi Berra behind the plate. Yogi, in his trademark way of talking said, ''Bill Dickey is learning me all of his experiences.'' # 8 IS # 9 on my list. He was a great one! ...

8  Roy Campanella: Nicknamed ''Campy,'' he began playing Negro League baseball at the age of sixteen in 1937. He began his Major League career in 1948 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, following the great Jackie Robinson's Major League debut in 1947. In his shortened 10 year career, # 39 made 8 All Star appearances, was a World Series champion, and won 3 NL MVP Awards. Campy threw out 57 %  of would be base stealers in his career, the highest of any catcher in history. He had a lifetime fielding percentage of .988. His lifetime stats include a .276 BA, .360 OBP, .500 SLG., 242 HR, and 856 RBI in just 10 Major League seasons. One can only imagine what his lifetime stats could have been, had he not had to wait until 1948 to begin his Major League career and had his career not additionally been shortened by his tragic accident. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the creation of the Roy Campanella Award in 2006, an award given to a Dodger who best exemplifies ''Campy's'' spirit & leadership. Roy Campanella was a great ballplayer, and, a great man ...

Well, there you have it. This is my All Time Top 9 Catchers ... Part 1   /   Part 2 is coming soon, possibly tomorrow ...

Until next time, so long everybody ...

Lee [ Cowboy ]