Why are baseball catchers never left-handed?

Question

I understand why the 4 5 and 6 positions can't be lefty (difficult throw to first) but why not a catcher? If anything, it would make picking a runner off of first easier.

Answer 1

I think there are a few reasons why lefties aren't more often used at the catcher position:

1) Most hitters are right-handed, which creates a disadvantage for a lefty throwing out runners stealing second base. Having a lefty catcher with a righty batting means that the catcher would have to slide to his right before even having a chance to make the throw.

2) While it's an advantage in picking runners off first, it's tough to make the throw to third.

3) On a play at home, a left-handed catcher would have to reach across his body to make the tag.

4) Tradition - It's just one of baseball's accepted prejudices that you can't have a lefty catching. To change that now would throw off many pitchers who are used to throwing to a right-hander.

Answer 2

I tried catching in Junior High as a lefty and finding a glove was a major obsticle. When I was able to finally get one, I did not find throwing to third to be a problem nor did I find tagging out at home a problem either. The problem I did find was in the pitchers; they seem to have trouble throwing to a lefty. It was something of a help with some umps though, they were a bit more lenient with a lefty with the calls, possibly threw them off on the strike zone--I'm not sure but they called some strikes that would probably have been balls for a right-handed catcher.

I think it is an area that needs to be checked by some coaches and pro teams. A left-handed catcher could definitely throw some batters and teams off a little and some umps are more likely to call strikes with a lefty (own experience).

I switched to pitching and finished High School as a pitcher; played some outfield also.

Hey Rorya, my knees are fine--LOL--your theory doesn't hold water, bud.

Answer 3

Most batters bat righty, meaning that statistically, a catcher that throws from the left is going to have the batter in his way when trying to throw out a runner more often than a catcher that throws from his right. Plus, on a play at the plate, the catcher has to block the plate and go for the tag. For a lefty to do this, he has to catch the ball in his right hand and bring it across his body, towards the third base line, whereas a righty catches the ball on his left, meaning he's already getting it on the third base line (which is where the runner is coming from). Not only will the ball get across the catcher's body to a righties mitt faster than the lefty can catch and move his mitt across his body (making the tag quicker for a righty), the lefty is opened up to the runner for a longer period, making it more dangerous in terms of injury.

It's actually the same deal with the 4 and 6 positions. Now, the 5 position (third base) is almost NEVER going to have an easier throw lefthanded (throwing to first and second are easiest for a righty, and home is just as easy for either), but for the 4 and 6 guys (2B and SS), sometimes they are throwing to third, which would be better accomplished by a lefty. A 2B sometimes is also going to dive for a ball towards first and have to throw to second, rather than just flip it, which again is better done by a left, meaning throwing to 2B and 3B are better done by a lefty, and only throwing to first is better done by a righty (which is why you here more about the oddness of a lefty SS than a lefty 2B).

Now, of course, an infielder throws to first way more often than anywhere else, so a natural throw to first is the most important throw. It isn't that you can't have situations where throwing lefty is better, it's just that statistically a right is better suited. Same deal with the catcher, statistically.

Answer 4

Left Handed Catcher

Answer 5

Most of the batters are right-handed, which means that there would be more impedment for the catcher on a play to second or third. It is true that a lefty would have an easier throw to first, but a righty behind the plate actually compensates for this by snap throwing to first. This is especially effective when a lefty is batting - the catcher throws behind the batter.

Answer 6

One thing about left handed catchers that hasn't been mentioned is when people throw the ball normally the ball has a natural "screw ball" break to it. So on steals a left hander's throw would be tailing away from the sliding runner where as a right hander's throw would be tailing into the sliding runner. Actually a left handed catcher would have an advantage on pickoff throws to first and on bunts. There has been some left handed catchers in the majors, Benny Distefano (1989-3 games), Mike Squires (1980-2 games), and Dale Long (1958-2 games). Squires actually played 14 games at 3rd base as well. As previousily mentioned, a left handed SS or 3B would have to turn his body to make a throw to first.

Answer 7

In the history of major league baseball, there have been 33 left handed catchers. The last time this occurred was back in 1989.

The most common reason cited for this is the disadvantage a left handed catcher has in throwing to third base on a steal attempt. However, right handed catchers have little to no problem in throwing "behind" a runner on first base in an attempt to pick them off, and this is the equivalent of a left handed catcher throwing to third base.

Additionally, on a play at the plate, the left handed catcher has to bring their glove across their body to apply the tag, which exposes their head and creates a greater risk of injury to their upper body during a collision.

Many baseball minds will argue that it's nothing more than "tradition", and that a left handed catcher is no more of a liability than a right handed first baseman.

Answer 8

Lefty Catchers

Answer 9

But at the same time, it would make the throw to second harder. Most batters are right-handed so if someone is stealing, a right-handed catcher should have a pretty clean throw to second base. The catcher doesn't have to worry about throwing over someone.

Answer 10

A lot easier to pick off a runner on 1st (and more frequent) than it is on 3rd as a right hander. Just watch Pudge's motion, it's one of the league's best (sadly...)