20 Comments
User's avatar
Drew Scott's avatar

Yadi Molina was way better than Buster Posey and Joe Mauer. I’m willing to die on that hill.

Scientist at the bench's avatar

And, Mike Piazza was not a catcher of even average prowess. Yadi is probably the 2nd or 3rd best defensive catcher of the last 50 years...which likely means all time best.

If you focus only on offense, Josh Gibson would like a word.

kMp's avatar

Yogi Berra visited my hometown back in 1975, when I was just seven years old, and had dinner at my Nana & Pop-Pop’s house. I have a few pics of Yogi’s visit somewhere, which I really should find~

Ben Johnson's avatar

Dude come on, this was an absolutely perfect list before you boneheadely (yes I made a new word) put Berra ahead of Bench. Seriously. Zero effort to back this up.

Dean Ciriaco's avatar

I actually think I laid out why I did it. The stats are not that far off. Take playoffs into account and Berra gets huge leg up.

Ben Johnson's avatar

Bench’s defense far outweighs Berra. Not even close.

Bench also led a dynasty for a decade and was the best player and leader on those teams at least half the decade. Berra was never the best player on those teams.

Bench pioneered one handed catching.

Mickey's avatar

Rewrite that last line. Berra was never the best player on his team, yet he won 3 league MVP awards while the Yanks were winning 5 consecutive WS titles. Dimaggio was at the end of his career. Mantle was just starting and not the force he would become after '55. One handed catching is your argument??

Leslie Deak's avatar

No one has more World Series rings than Berra! No question its Berra over Bench!

John Taylor's avatar

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think catcher's gloves were hinged when Berra played. Either way, I'd argue the hinged gloves offered a lot of advantages over the big pillow.

John Fielding Walsh's avatar

10 world championship rings + 3 MVPs. Only Bill Russell ever won more team championships than Berra. There were no Gold Gloves back then.

David Toth and Fran Newton's avatar

I saw Yogi play many times at the old Yankee Stadium. As we watched him from the cheap seats, I told my grandfather that he was much smaller in person.

Howard Wasserman's avatar

Campy’s “eh” years were all injury-related — hands, fingers. He still played.

Geo's avatar

Bill Dickey?

Kurt Young's avatar

No idea how this algorithm works, but it seems I'm not the only one served this year-old post. Maybe you've explained your thinking on the Negro League players in another list, but it's insane to not even mention Josh Gibson.

Scott Boley's avatar

You’ll be adding Cal Raleigh’s name before he’s done

Leslie Deak's avatar

I know Salvy Perez isn't done yet, but he should be on that list!! World Series MVP and I think his HR totals are very high up in the catchers' rankings!

Matt Batballo ⚾️'s avatar

Where is tomas nido!?!?

John M's avatar

Buster Posey caught Matt Cain’s perfect game and two no hitters. I can’t find that Cochrane caught any. Ask a pitcher who threw one if it makes a difference.

Charlie J's avatar

Bill Dickey?

Just asking. I married into a Yankee family. My father in law saw Dickey play and eventually got around to telling Yogi “I always thought Dickey was the best but I have to say you were”. He said Yogi smiled when he said that.