2007-07-22 17:07:21 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Josh Gibson was THE greatest catcher EVER. Nobody could hit like him, no one could knock the ball loose, and he caught some NASTY pitches in his day.
If he was the best offensive and the best defensive... that would make him number one!
(BUT... he never played in MLB, he was relegated to the ***** League.)
Second would be Johnny Bench
and Third would be Yogi!
2007-07-22 18:31:22 · answer #1 · answered by baseballfan 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Josh Gibson is one of the greatest players of all time, let alone catcher. Like the guy above me said, he was only ever allowed to play in the ***** Leagues, and he died an early death due to a brain tumor, but he was pure amazing.
Mickey Cochrane is the greatest MLB catcher ever. He has the highest batting average for a catcher at .320. He was revered by all in his time, and unfortunately also had his career ended too soon, by a bean ball, when he was 34.
Johnny Bench was rather good as well, like many of the others have said. A catcher batting cleanup on a team as good as the Big Red Machine speaks for itself.
2007-07-22 19:42:19 · answer #2 · answered by Sam N 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd Say:
Ivan Rodriguez: The modern age's best defensive catcher, and the best offensive catcher not named Mike.
Johnny Bench: The best catcher from the last great age of baseball, the man has more honor, accolades, awards and achievements than I could mention. He had the third highest percentage of hall of fame ballots at the time of his induction.
Yogi Berra: The most bejeweled catcher of all time, a three time MVP (the most until some guy named Bonds shattered that mark), a cavalcade of offensive stats (he had a Vlad Guererro-type talent for hitting bad pitches), and oh, yeah, he had a 1.000 fielding percentage over an entire year.
I can't stand seeing:
Carlton Fisk: His claim to fame is hitting a home-run that didn't clinch a series; a series that his Red Sox ultimately lost. His sole honors are 1 Rookie of the Year, and 1 Gold Glove. His career stats stem more from being uninjured for
30+ years rather than from being a particularly potent hitter.
2007-07-22 19:42:09 · answer #3 · answered by jigokusabre 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Berra, Bench, Campanella
Gibson was indeed the greatest catcher ever, but you asked about MLB history.
Mike Piazza is probably the best hitting catcher in MLB history.
2007-07-22 23:46:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yogi Berra
Johnny Bench
Ivan Rodriguez
2007-07-22 17:47:44 · answer #5 · answered by Double L Loser 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mickey Cochrane, Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk
2007-07-23 07:27:50 · answer #6 · answered by Maindrian Pace 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Josh Gibson" >You must be kidding, he wasn't even the top catcher in the ***** league. Roy Campanella was the best catcher for 5 straight seasons before being signed by the Dodgers. Then Campanella spent 2 years in the minors.
#1 - Mike Piazza
#2 - Yogi Berra
#3 - Ivan Rodriguez
2007-07-23 08:51:49 · answer #7 · answered by C_F_45 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jonny Bench
Carlton Fisk
Yogi Berra
2007-07-22 17:59:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1.) Ivan Rodriguez
2.) Yogi Berra
3.) Roy Campanella
Johnny Bench # 4. Ended playing 3rd base.
2007-07-23 02:53:54 · answer #9 · answered by Sarrafzedehkhoee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Johnny Bench,Pudge Rodriguez and Carlton Fisk.Although Gary Carter and Thurman Munson(his career was tragically cut short) should be in that area
2007-07-22 17:13:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋