Catchers pose an interesting challenge to the Hall of Fame: how many should be inducted? There are 17 MLB catchers in Cooperstown (all those listed in boldface), fewer than any other position excepting third basemen (and designated hitters). This doesn’t seem right considering that catchers have by far the toughest responsibility and physically demanding job of any fielder. The job required of a catcher before 1908 is practically inhumane, as he didn’t even have the use of shin guards.
Since catchers are relied on for their defense, they often don’t hit as much as, say, outfielders. As a result, a good hitting catcher will often play other positions so as not to tire himself out by catching every day. For example, Buck Ewing is in the Hall of Fame as a catcher, but he only caught in 636 of 1,315 career games. Mike Piazza, a genuinely lousy defender behind the dish, played 70 games at first base, 113 as a pinch hitter, and 122 as a DH, despite playing only one season in the American League. A catcher who actually catches almost every day, a truly durable athlete, should be expected to hit less, but provides at least as much value to the team. Hence, Ivan Rodriguez is widely considered to be the greatest catcher of all time, and guys like Bob Boone, A.J. Pierzynski, and Yadier Molina should be considered very seriously by the Hall of Fame for eventual induction.
Statistics for active players include totals through 2021.
Pre-1900
GC Slash Line H R RBI HR SB F% CS%
Buck Ewing 636 .303/.351/.456 1,625 1,129 883 71 354* .931 .379
Wilbert Robinson** 1,316 .273/.316/.346 1,388 637 722 18 196 .941 .357
Jack Clements*** 1,076 .287/.348/.421 1,231 619 687 77 55 .937 .333
Duke Farrell 1,004 .277/.338/.385 1,572 829 916 52 150 .938 .441
Deacon McGuire 1,614 .278/.341/.372 1,750 770 840 45 118 .938 .364
*most before modern stolen base rule was established in 1898
**inducted as manager
***lefthanded catcher
1900-1920
GC Slash Line H R RBI HR SB F% CS%
Roger Bresnahan* 974 .279/.386/.377 1,252 682 530 26 212 .971 .467
Ray Schalk** 1,727 .253/.340/.316 1,345 579 593 11 177 .981 .516
Johnny Kling 1,169 .272/.319/.357 1,154 475 514 20 124 .971 .480
*inducted in part for his invention of modern shin guards in 1908
**inducted in part for standing up to the Black Sox scandal
1920-1940
GC Slash Line H R RBI HR SB F% CS%
Mickey Cochrane 1,451 .320/.419/.478 1,652 1,041 830 119 64 .985 .394
Bill Dickey 1,708 .313/.382/.486 1,969 930 1,209 202 36 .988 .466
Gabby Hartnett 1,787 .297/.370/.489 1,912 867 1,179 236 28 .984 .561
Rick Ferrell 1,807 .281/.378/.363 1,692 687 734 28 29 .984 .445
Ernie Lombardi 1,543 .306/.358/.460 1,792 601 990 190 8 .979 .476
Al Lopez* 1,918 .261/.326/.337 1,547 613 652 51 46 .985 .541
Wally Schang 1,435 .284/.393/.401 1,506 769 705 59 121 .967 .458
Spud Davis 1,282 .308/.369/.430 1,312 388 647 77 6 .984 .418
*inducted as manager
1940-1960
GC Slash Line H R RBI HR SB F% CS%
Yogi Berra 1,699 .285/.348/.482 2,150 1,175 1,430 358 30 .989 .486
Roy Campanella* 1,349 .283/.364/.498 1,403 771 1,015 259 35 .988 .556
Walker Cooper 1,224 .285/.332/.464 1,341 573 812 173 18 .977 .450
Sherm Lollar 1,573 .264/.357/.402 1,415 623 808 155 20 .992 .468
*includes incomplete Negro League statistics
1960-1980
GC Slash Line H R RBI HR SB F% CS%
Johnny Bench 1,743 .267/.342/.476 2,048 1,091 1,376 389 68 .990 .435
Ted Simmons 1,771 .285/.348/.437 2,472 1,074 1,389 248 21 .987 .340
Joe Torre* 903 .297/.365/.452 2,342 996 1,185 252 23 .990 .406
Bill Freehan 1,581 .262/.340/.412 1,591 706 758 200 24 .993 .369
Thurman Munson 1,278 .292/.346/.410 1,558 696 701 113 48 .982 .445
Tim McCarver 1,387 .271/.337/.388 1,501 590 645 97 61 .990 .344
*inducted as manager and played 1,304 games at other defensive positions
1980-2000
GC Slash Line H R RBI HR SB F% CS%
Carlton Fisk 2,226 .269/.341/.457 2,356 1,276 1,330 376 128 .988 .338
Gary Carter 2,056 .262/.335/.439 2,092 1,025 1,225 324 39 .991 .351
Lance Parrish 1,818 .252/.313/.440 1,782 856 1,070 324 28 .991 .386
Bob Boone 2,225 .254/.315/.346 1,838 679 826 105 38 .986 .397
2000-present
GC Slash Line H R RBI HR SB F% CS%
Ivan Rodriguez 2,427 .296/.334/.464 2,844 1,354 1,332 311 127 .991 .457
Mike Piazza 1,630 .308/.377/.545 2,127 1,048 1,335 427 17 .989 .232
Jason Kendall 2,025 .288/.366/.378 2,195 1,030 744 75 189 .990 .288
Jorge Posada 1,574 .273/.374/.474 1,664 900 1,065 275 20 .992 .282
A.J. Pierzynski 1,936 .280/.319/.420 2,043 807 909 188 15 .995 .245
Joe Mauer* 921 .306/.388/.439 2,123 1,018 923 143 52 .995 .338
Victor Martinez** 858 .295/.360/.455 2,153 914 1,178 246 7 .993 .235
Buster Posey 1,093 .302/.372/.460 1,500 663 729 158 23 .995 .329
Yadier Molina 2,107 .280/.331/.402 2,112 758 998 171 69 .995 .403
Salvador Perez 1,032 .270/.302/.463 1,161 491 656 200 6 .995 .354
*played 310 games as a DH and 605 at other defensive positions
**played 869 games as a DH and 214 at first base
small discrepancy between games caught (appearances vs standard fielding) - fix for book
add pb, total games, wp
