Top 6 Best MLB Catchers of All Time

Catchers are one of the most important defensive positions in baseball. So much so that, throughout the history of the MLB, teams have often sacrificed offensive production at the position in favor of defensive prowess. However, some catchers have excelled at both fielding and batting, solidifying themselves as legends of the game. Read on to learn about the six greatest catchers in Major League Baseball history.

Who Are the Best MLB Catchers of All Time?

1. Johnny Bench
2. Yogi Berra
3. Carlton Fisk
4. Mike Piazza
5. Ivan Rodriguez
6. Josh Gibson

1. Johnny Bench

• 389 home runs, 1,376 RBIs, 1,091 runs scored
• 14-time All-Star selection (1968-1980, 1983)
• 10-time Gold Glove winner (1968-1977)
• Two-time NL MVP winner (1970, 1972)
• National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (1989)

Johnny Bench made his MLB debut in 1967 with the Cincinnati Reds. It didn’t take long for Bench to break out, as he won the National League’s Rookie of the Year award in 1968, along with his first Gold Glove. He went on to play his entire 17-season career with the Reds, where he would change how the catcher position was perceived forever. His defensive skills were unparalleled, and the strength of his arm would have base runners think twice about attempting a steal. He can back this sentiment up with the 10 Gold Gloves he won throughout his career. Bench paired his extraordinary defense with elite offensive production as a batter. He set the Reds’ franchise records for home runs (389) and RBIs (1,376), which still stand today.               

2. Yogi Berra

• 358 home runs, 1,430 RBIs, 1,175 runs scored
• 18-time All-Star selection (1948-1962)
• 10-time World Series champion (1947,1949-1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962)
• Three-time AL MVP winner (1951, 1954, 1955)
• National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (1972)

Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra made his MLB debut in 1946 with the New York Yankees. During his 18-season tenure with the Yankees, Berra helped the club win an astounding 10 World Series championships. This set an MLB record for most World Series won by an individual player. This record still stands today and is unlikely to ever be broken. Berra’s contributions to the team’s success were reflected through his 11 All-Star Game selections and three MVP awards won. Berra was known as a defensive workhorse at the position, leading the American League in games caught eight seasons in a row (1950-1957). In 1965, he ended his career on a four-game stint with the crosstown New York Mets.

3. Carlton Fisk

• 376 home runs, 2,356 hits, 1,330 RBIs, 1,276 runs scored
• 11-time All-Star selection (1972-1974, 1976-1978, 1980-1982, 1985, 1991)
• Three-time Silver Slugger winner (1981, 1985, 1988)
• 1972 AL Rookie of the Year winner
• National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (2000)

Carlton Fisk made his MLB debut in 1969 with the Boston Red Sox. He is considered one of the most consistent and durable catchers ever to play the position and wasted no time letting his presence be known. In 1972, in his first full season, he became the first player from the American League to win the Rookie of the Year award unanimously. He went on to have a twenty-four-season career playing for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. Fisk’s durability was proven when he set an MLB career record of playing 2,226 games at catcher. Even with all of his career accolades, Fisk is best remembered for hitting one of the most iconic home runs of all time. In Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, the Red Sox were down 3-2 in the series versus the Reds. The game was tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the 12th inning when Fisk came up to bat. He launched a dramatic walk-off home run into left field to win the game for the Red Sox and force the World Series to a winner-take-all Game 7.

4. Mike Piazza

• 427 home runs, 1,335 RBIs, 1,048 runs scored, .308 batting average
• 12-time All-Star selection (1993-1998, 1999-2002, 2004-2005)
• 10-time Silver Slugger winner (1993-1998, 1999-2002)
• 1993 NL Rookie of the Year winner
• National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (2016)

Mike Piazza made his MLB debut in 1992 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Over the course of his 16-season career, Piazza also played for the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and Oakland Athletics. His best seasons came in Los Angeles and New York. Piazza is often considered one of the best offensive catchers in MLB history and excelled in hitting for both power and average. He hit 30 home runs in nine different seasons and finished his career with 427 (399 while playing catcher), a record amongst all catchers. Piazza coupled his power with a career .308 batting average. He is one of just nine catchers in MLB history to have a career batting average of .300 or higher. Piazza will go down as one of the ultimate underdog stories in MLB history, having gone from being a 62nd round draft pick selected 1,390 overall to being immortalized in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. 

5. Iván Rodríguez

• .296 batting average, 2,844 hits, 1,332 RBIs, 311 home runs, 1,354 runs scored
• 14-time All-Star selection (1992-2001, 2004-2007)
• 2003 World Series champion
• 1999 AL MVP winner
• National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (2017)

Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez made his MLB debut in 1991 with the Texas Rangers. The long-time Ranger also spent time playing for the Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Washington Nationals. Throughout his twenty-one-season career, Rodríguez built a nearly immaculate resume. His offensive abilities were backed by winning seven Silver Slugger awards and the 1999 American League MVP. In his 1999 MVP season, Rodríguez batted .332 while hitting 35 home runs and racking up 113 RBIs. Rodríguez was also one of the best defensive catchers ever and famous for his elite arm strength. Rodríguez led all catchers in caught-stealing percentage nine times, and in eight seasons, he caught more than half of the base runners who tried to steal against him. This helped him to collect an astounding 13 Gold Glove awards, which is the most ever won at the catcher position. Rodríguez was also the most reliable catcher to ever play in the MLB. He surpassed Carlton Fisk’s record of career games played at catcher, with a total of 2,543 behind home plate. Rodríguez’s ability to dominate as both a batter and fielder over a long career makes him one of the most well-balanced catchers in MLB history.      

6. Josh Gibson

• .374 batting average, 165 home runs, 725 RBIs, 611 runs scored
• 12-time All-Star selection (1933-1936, 1939, 1942-1944, 1946)
• Two-time World Series champion (1943, 1944)
• Two-time Triple Crown winner (1936, 1937)
• National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (1972)

Josh Gibson made his professional baseball debut in 1930, playing in one game for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro National League. Gibson resumed his professional career in 1933 with the Pittsburgh Crawfords of the Negro National League. Gibson is regarded as one of the best offensive catchers to ever play baseball. He led the Negro National League in home runs 11 times and RBIs seven times. Gibson paired his legendary power with an astounding .374 career batting average. His dominance across all hitting categories helped him to win the Triple Crown twice. Gibson was also credited with being a solid defensive catcher. He had natural skills such as a powerful arm and quick release, which made him highly effective at throwing out base runners. Gibson was acknowledged for his impressive career statistics and achievements in 1972 when he became the second player from the Negro leagues to ever be voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mentions

Roy Campanella

• Three-time Negro leagues All-Star; Eight-time MLB All-Star
• 1955 World Series champion
• Three-time NL MVP
• National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (1969)

One of the greatest catchers ever, Roy Campanella was initially excluded from MLB because he was Black. He played in the Negro leagues and Mexican League for nine years before finally being picked up by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948. Jackie Robinson, the first African American in MLB, had joined the Dodgers in 1947, and Campanella became his catcher. He helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 1955, was named NL MVP three times, and was selected as an All-Star eight times.He spent his entire 11-year MLB career with the Dodgers, until he was tragically paralyzed in a car crash in 1957. Campanella continued on with the Dodgers after his retirement as a player, holding positions in scouting and community relations.

Gary Carter

• 11-time All-Star (1975, '79-88)
• Three-time Gold Glove Winner ('80-82)
• World Series Champion (1986)
• Five-time Silver Slugger Winner ('81-82, '84-86)
• National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee (2003)

Gary Carter played most of his career for the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, achieving success with both teams, and his only World Series championship with the latter. Managing a .262 batting average, he hit 324 career home runs, batted in 1,225 RBIs, and topped the league in defensive games, putouts, assists, and double plays turned as a catcher multiple times. These feats earned Carter 11 All-Star selections, three Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers, and a well-earned spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2003.

FAQ