who is the greatest catcher of all-time?

Question

defense, arm, hitting, power, and leadership.
people to keep in mind
1.Roy campenella
2.yogi Berra
3.Johnny Bench
4.carlton Fisk
5.Josh Gibson-although i wouldn't trust the ***** leagues stats he was still great
6.anyone i could of overlook

best overall catcher thats why I didn't include Mike Piazza hes defense wasn't great.

Answer 1

He was my favorite player but I still have to go with Bench. He once was arguing with a veteran pitcher when he was a rookie that the pitcher's fastball was losing it's zip. The veteran was annoyed at being talked down to by a rookie and yelled at him to shut up and go back behind the plate. The veteran threw a fast ball the next pitch and Johnny caught it with his bare hand. They were playing the Dodgers and the Dodger bench broke out in laughter. The vet didn't question Bench anymore. I have a picture of him holding nine regulation baseballs in one hand, a trick he used to do for reporters, the guy was literally born to catch.

Answer 2

I say there is a top 5 list of the all-time best catchers, and Fisk and (unfortunately, as I'm also a Dodger fan) Campanella are not on it.

5. Piazza - Amazing bat, but couldn't really throw guys out.
4. Gibson - Wow. 900 HR?! Can't be real, right?
3. Berra. Good bat, okay D, all-around swell guy.
2. Rodriguez. Good bat, stellar defense, and always improving, even today.
1. Has to be Bench. No other catcher has that kind of offense and the defensive acumen that he had.

Answer 3

The word "greatest" takes in a lot of territory. Many were "great" in many ways. Some were "great" in only a couple ways.

There are a bunch you've overlooked. Bill Dickey, Mickey Cochran, Ted Simmons, Ernie Lombardi, Al Lopez...

You have also overlooked the most obvious... Mike Piazza. And he began his career as a Dodger, brought up by Tommy Lasorda. According to the record books, as we speak, Mike's stats are as good or better than all catchers in the Hall of Fame. He will go into the Hall his first year of eligibility.

Answer 4

Its got be Johnny Bench. I-Rod might rival him defensively but Bench was a much better hitter. Rodriguez has inproved his hitting throughout his careeer, but Bench was always a feared hitter in the Cincinatti lineup. Yogi is a good choice too, but he wasn't in the same league as these two definsively. Outside of Piazza though he might be the best offensive catcher. Piazza was so bad behind the plate most of his career that I wouldn't put him in the conversation with the other three.

Answer 5

Bench.... by far. A combination of Offense and defense that was simply unbelievable.

Just to clear up the Josh Gibson thing, he hit nowhere near 900 HR's. ***** Leagues didnt keep complete statistics, and studies done on the boxscores that appeared in the papers during his time peg him at 300-400 range (mostly in exhibition play against collage and university teams. They also claim that winter ball/post season stats are used). The "900" myth is just that, a myth. Official Statistics have him hitting 146 of them. You will never find anything to back it up.

Answer 6

The blogbaba saw Johnny Bench hit a line shot that the pitcher actually ticked with his glove and almost caught. It still cleared the center field fence almost 500 feet to dead center for a home run. Never seen anything like it before or since. Unbelievable power in his arms. Absolute cannon from home to 2nd, toughest catcher to steal on in history.

Off the field and talking to reporters or sportswriters, Yogi Berra was the original Jedi Master, I heard Spielberg patterned the Starwars character master Yoda after Yogi. A lot of guys got candy bars named after them, but Yogi got an actual cartoon bear named after him. Great guy, great catcher.

Skill wise I gotta go with Bench.

Answer 7

Johnny Bench

Answer 8

Johnny Bench

Answer 9

Johnny Bench.

Answer 10

Johnny Bench.