Mickey Cochran caught behind the plate in the late 1920's through the 1930's for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers.
Yogi Berra caught behind the plate during the so-called "push-button" team of the 1950's-60's, the N.Y. Yankees.
Carlton Fisk...Baseball's most durable catcher with 24 years behind the plate, Carlton "Pudge" Fisk caught more games (2,226) than any player in history. Fisk played for the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox 1968-1993.
Could you make an arguement to have any one, or none, capable of stepping into the shoes of the other two?
Who would be the most fluid of the three?...
Or would Johnny Bench (Cincinnati Reds 1967-83) out catch-be able to move the players around and call the pitchers better than any of the mentioned three?
Your choice...If possible?
2007-03-10 23:05:22 · 9 answers · asked by marnefirstinfantry 5 in Sports ➔ Baseball
As a Lifetime long Yankee fan it would be easy for me to pick Yogi. He has more hardware than all of the other combined, but that is a product of him being a member of a powerful and talent latent team. He was a very sound and intelligent catcher. I would list him second.
Mickey Cochran I have no opinion on. I never saw him play and only know that Mickey Mantle's dad thought so highly of him that he named his son after him.
Carlton Fisk was a joy to watch growing up. He was an outstanding catcher and game caller that seemed to get the hit when it counted the most unless it was to win it all only to prolong the agony that was the RED SOX. He gave them hope so that it could be snatched back away the next day. I would vote him #3.
Johnny Bench. What else is there to say he was the best that I have seen. He was also surrounded by a very talented team that we all refer to as the BIG RED MACHINE. They were exciting to watch and with the like of Pete( The Gambler) Rose and Joe Morgan and host of other they to were a little dynasty. I just wish that Thurman Munson would not have been killed in the accident. He and Johnny had a little thing going and Thurman had a lot of skill, we will just never know how much. Bench is #1 on this list.
John
2007-03-16 21:42:42 · answer #1 · answered by skisram 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I definitely think Johnny Bench was the best catcher ever. He was the first catcher to consistently put his right hand behind his back so he wouldn't get hit by foul balls. It got to the point that hardly anyone would attempt to steal on him he was so good at throwing runners out. My second choice would be Yogi Berra because he caught a great game and was a great clutch hitter. Winning 10 World Series Championships didn't hurt either. I would then pick Mickey Cochran third on this list simply because he wasn't as good a defensive catcher. I really feel Bill Dickey was a much better catcher in this era and very underrated. He was just as good offensively as Mickey and a much better defensive catcher. Next on my list is Carlton Fisk. Yes he was a durable catcher and a great one at that but not quite as good as the rest. He was the only one in this bunch not to win a championship.
2007-03-15 12:03:01 · answer #2 · answered by G.W. loves winter! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Johnny Bench is the best ever. Fisk was very good, but doesn't even belong in the same catagory as the other 2. By all accounts, Cochran was the perfect catcher...tough, caught a good game, good team player, and good hitter. He would be ahead of Berra for me. I'd rank them: Bench, Cochran, Berra, Piazza (yes, ahead of Fisk), Fisk
2007-03-11 00:35:39 · answer #3 · answered by Paul H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, the most fluid is Bench followed by Fisk when speaking of playing, but Yogi is the master for WS achievement.
Basically you have successive giants standing on the shoulders of previous giants. It would be impossible to say that any one was best, however Mickey Cochran's notorious moods would put him at a slight disadvantage.
As to the future, who's next? Pudge? Piazza? Your thoughts on this.
2007-03-11 11:03:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tough choice. Comparing players from different eras is always difficult. I would have to go with Johnny Bench. He had the best arm, called a great game and hit with power. They are all great in their own right. Even though I prefer Bench, any of the other three would be a more than adequate choice also.
2007-03-16 04:43:46 · answer #5 · answered by Larry 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yogi and Cochran (whom Mickey Mantle was named for incidenally) were arguably the best catchers of their error.
Pudge, not so much, but that was because he was up against
Bench who up until that time at least was probably the greatest catcher the game had yet to see.
2007-03-10 23:10:57 · answer #6 · answered by ligoneskiing 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Johnny Bench was the best ever.
Out of the three you mentioned I would take Berra.
2007-03-14 19:09:39 · answer #7 · answered by Lefty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
-I THINK YOU SHOULD ADD ROY CAMPANELLA TO THE LIST.
-IVAN RODRIGUEZ IS ALSO AS DURABLE AS CARLTON FISK
-ID HAVE TO SAY THAT THE GREATEST CATCHER OF ALL TIME IN MY OPINION IS YOGI BERRA
2007-03-18 16:07:45 · answer #8 · answered by irwin4202003 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
albert pujols
2007-03-15 12:52:50 · answer #9 · answered by CAMERON B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋