The best catchers in baseball history

A quality catcher is always in demand in baseball, and these five were the crème de la crème. Here’s our countdown of the five greatest backstops in MLB history.

5. Gary Carter

When Carter was in his prime, there were few players better, regardless of position. He made 10 straight All-Star Games from 1979-1988 and tallied an OPS+ of no less than 112 in each instance. Carter also garnered Silver Slugger honors five times and a Gold Glove three times during that span, while he split time between the Expos and Mets.

Without his heroic exploits in the 1986 postseason (a game-winning hit in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, a rally-starting single in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, and a go-ahead home run in Game 7), the Mets might only have one championship, instead of two.

4. Yogi Berra

Far more than just a player with witticisms to spare, Berra was an all-time great catcher over 18 years with the Yankees. He had 15 All-Star seasons in the Bronx and captured three AL MVPs. Berra was also a 10-time World Series champion. He and Joe DiMaggio are the only players in baseball history with at least 300 home runs (Berra had 358) and fewer than 500 strikeouts.

3. Roy Campanella

Campanella was arguably better in his prime than Berra, but a tragic accident robbed him of his chance to become baseball’s all-time greatest catcher.

The Brooklyn Dodgers legend averaged 32 home runs and 114 RBIs per 162 game season. He was an All-Star eight times over his 10 years in the majors and won three MVPs.

But Campanella was involved in a car accident in 1958, which permanently confined him to a wheelchair and ended his career at age 36.

2. Mike Piazza

Piazza was quite simply the greatest offensive catcher to ever don “the tools of ignorance.” His 162-game averages are imposing — a .308 batting average, with 36 home runs and 113 RBIs. Piazza’s 427 home runs are the most by a catcher.

The 1993 Rookie of the Year never won an MVP Award but finished in the top three thrice, including the 1997 campaign, in which he led the majors in OPS+ (185).

Piazza, perhaps the best value pick in any sports draft (he went in the 62nd round in 1988), was a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Silver Slugger.

1. Johnny Bench

Bench is a confident choice for the greatest catcher in MLB history. The 1968 Rookie of the Year led the majors in both homers and RBIs in 1970 and 1972, and earned MVP honors each time.

The 14-time All-Star won two World Series titles over his 17-year career and took home the 1976 World Series MVP. Cementing Bench’s status as the greatest all-around backstop in MLB history are his 10 Gold Gloves.

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