Top Offensive Catchers - Since 1900

[Wolf Hopper]

According to my SBE, there are 43 catchers with 5000+ career PA.

I ran the leader boards for these 43 catchers, in Total Avg, BPA, OPS and RC/G - all v. League Avg.

Then, I averaged out the rankings for each backstop, across the 4 stats, and this is the overall ratings that came out:


Mike Piazza 1
Mickey Cochrane 2.25
Johnny Bench 3.5
Gabby Hartnett 4
Bill Dickey 5
Yogi Berra 6.25
Carlton Fisk 7.25
Wally Schang 8.75
Ted Simmons 9.25
Ernie Lombardi 10.25
Darrell Porter 10.75
Gary Carter 13
Bill Freehan 13.25
Ivan Rodriguez 13.25
Walker Cooper 13.25
Thurman Munson 16
Sherm Lollar 17.25
Lance Parrish 18
Tim McCarver 18
Frankie Hayes 21.5
Rick Ferrell 22.75
Mike Scioscia 23
Man. Sanguillen 23.25
John Roseboro 23.75
Terry Steinbach 23.75
Butch Wynegar 24.5
Steve O'Neill 27.5
Terry Kennedy 28.25
Del Crandall 30
Benito Santiago 30.75
Johnny Edwards 31.25
Jim Sundberg 31.75
Rick Dempsey 32
Ray Schalk 33.5
Jimmie Wilson 34
Gus Mancuso 36
Muddy Ruel 37.5
Tony Pena 38
Bob Boone 38.25
Al Lopez 39
Jim Hegan 40.75
Rollie Hemsley 41.75
Luke Sewell 43

Any thoughts, comments on these rankings, for Top Offensive Catchers?

[Craig S.]

The top few panned out how I would have expected them to. Pretty impressive average from Piazza.

[KCBOOMER]

Certainly, no big surprise in Piazza leading the way as an offensive catcher. It also shows that we usually undervalue Mickey Cochrane.

[Wolf Hopper]

I see Darrell Porter and begin to wonder if he has a borderline claim for Cooperstown.

[Skip]

I'm a fan of sweaver (err ... Bench) but am slightly suprised he came in that high on a purely offensive list.

[Elmo]

Take a gander at Simmons - another strong credential for him (Porter's countables are just not there).....glad to see that Uecker is in the front row on this one.....

[Wolf Hopper]

Take a gander at Simmons - another strong credential for him (Porter's countables are just not there).....glad to see that Uecker is in the front row on this one.....

But, of all the guys in the Top 20, who are not in Cooperstown, there always seems to be someone making a case for Simba - we've had many here - - but, not so much for the other guys.

[SmedIndy]

Porter won't get serious HOF consideration until these stats move more into the mainstream. Bill Freehan needed to get some HOF love.

[sweaver]

Piazza as the best-hitting catcher of all time is no shock.

[Elmo]

But, of all the guys in the Top 20, who are not in Cooperstown, there always seems to be someone making a case for Simba - we've had many here - - but, not so much for the other guys.

I guess looking at the guys near the top who aren't in (excluding guys like Piazza who are pretty sure to go)....I just don't see a tremedously compelling case for guys like Schang, Freehan and Walker Cooper.....Freehan was better than I thought. Schang didn't get that much of a boost going into lively ball.

[WiredTiger]

Porter only had 6570 Plate Appearances. Freehan is another guy who just didn't play long enough. he had only 6899 PAs. Simmons has a better arguement because he had over 9600 PAs.

[Elmo]

Porter only had 6570 Plate Appearances. Freehan is another guy who just didn't play long enough. he had only 6899 PAs. Simmons has a better arguement because he had over 9600 PAs.


I think that one of the things that goes on here...as with other threads is how to make the ratios/averages interact with the countables. A guy like Porter who played well in the context of his Era - but just not long enough - how to we put everything into context? Understanding that in the real world the countables will still rule HOF induction by and large, but for our purposes, who was a better player really - because countables do count....just how much?

[Iron Horse]

Simmons is another one of those more hit than field catchers like Piazza.
Ivan is just the opposite of Simmons and Piazza although he does hit for good average. In the context of the 90's he just does not hit good enough. It looks like the hitting catchers are more valuable in the 90's than the fielding catchers.

[Elmo]

Simmons is another one of those more hit than field catchers like Piazza.
Ivan is just the opposite of Simmons and Piazza although he does hit for good average. In the context of the 90's he just does not hit good enough. It looks like the hitting catchers are more valuable in the 90's than the fielding catchers.

Ivan rodriguez is the second best hitting catcher (although Posada is close) of the past 20 years or so.....I think it's not accurate to label him a fileding catcher only, or to say that there are hitting catcherS without putting him in there. I would at least have to think about it before saying Piazza was more valuable - and one could say that in 1998 and 99 he was better offensively.

[manny tortolero]

Campanella didn't make the list by 184 PA. Where he would be there?.
Too, I am surprised not see Smoky Burgess in the list. He was an awfull catcher but had a respectable bat that put him in six all star games.

[huskerdru]

Campanella didn't make the list by 184 PA. Where he would be there?.
Too, I am surprised not see Smoky Burgess in the list. He was an awfull catcher but had a respectable bat that put him in six all star games.

Campy's absence was my first thought as well (and figured it was too few PAs). He is always an interesting fly in the ointment of great catcher debates, given his enigmatic career.

I can't disagree with how these rankings rate the catchers offensively. A VERY persuasive case can be made for Black Mike as both the best offensive and all-around catcher of all time. If I ever find some spare time here :rolleyes: , I'll do a study and thread on that.

[Crash Course]

Rough estimate, Campy would have ranked around # 4 on the list that I used to start this thread, FWIW. Joe Torre would have also made the list around # 6.

[chainlink]

Very much off the subject here, but, from what I have read, Josh Gibson was possibly better than them all.

[Shotgun35]

That isn't way off of the subject. Josh Gibson is believed to be one of the greatest home run hitters EVER. It is beleived that he hit over 900 home runs but there is no way of proving the fact because of the inconsistent records kept in the Negro Leagues.

[rc3000]

Surprised to see Freehan ahead of Munson. By the time I really started following the American League I guess it was a case of Freehan reaching the end and Munson starting to rise. I always thought of Freehan as good field no-hit. I guess I better purchase Lee's encyclopedia!