Best Ever Offensive Catchers: Unblurring History

The catcher position is the most important defensive spot on the field, other than the pitcher. But let us focus on that position offensively.

There have been 215 catchers in the history of MLB that have played in at least 800 games, and we will letter grade each and every one of them. At a later date, we will rate each of them defensively in another article.

My formula for rating players is very complicated, as most are. It is NOT merely an OPS+ rating

—if you want that, watch the MLB Network. Though OBP and SLG are important in rating a player, there is much more to look at when finding the big picture. 

If you're satisfied with Bill James' ratings, don't bother reading this. He'll tell you that Ernie Lombardi was a better Cincinnati catcher than Bubbles Hargrave. But he rates Hargrave a "B" defensively and Lombardie a "D+" in his Win Shares book.

So, we know he thinks Hargrave was a better defensive catcher than Lombardi. I agree, most do. Here's the problem: Hargrave was also a better offensive player than Lombardi. Hargrave is an A+ and Lombardi is an A-. Someone could pretend that they are both an "A," but you still have the defense that puts Hargrave over Lombardi—yet still Bill James ranks Lombardi higher—obviously because of his long career.

Not what we wanted to know, Bill. We wanted to know who the best catcher was.

I've got news for you, Bill James: The catcher that was better offensively AND defensively was better; no matter how long the worst player of the two played. Don't get me wrong, Lombardi was a heck of a player over the length of his career, and Bill James is one of the best historians, but he just irks me. But we'll get to defense in a separate article later. I got ahead of myself.

So here we go. Unblurring history. The way it really is.

The best offensive catchers ever:

A+

1. Mike Piazza (2000s)   2. Mickey Cochrane (1930s)   3. Buck Ewing (1880s)   4. Roy Campanella (1950s)   5. Yogi Berra (1950s)   6. Bill Dickey (1930s)   7. Johnny Bench (1970s)   8. Carlton Fisk (1970s)   9. Jorge Posada (2000s)   10. Gary Carter (1980s)   11. Ivan Rodriguez (1990s)   12. Gabby Hartnett (1930s)   13. Mike Grady (1900s)   14. Chris Hoiles (1990s)   15. Ted Simmons (1970s)   16. Bubbles Hargrave (1920s)

A

17. Joe Torre (1960s)   18. Roger Bresnahan (1900s)   19. Mike Stanley (1990s)   20. Wally Schang (1920s)   21. Darren Daulton (1990s)   22. Gene Tenace (1970s)   23. Dave Nilsson (1990s)   24. Walker Cooper (1940s)   25. Johnny Romano (1960s)   26. Darrell Porter (1970s)   27. Mickey Tettleton (1990s)   28. Stan Lopata (1950s)   29. Joe Ferguson (1970s)   30. Lance Parrish (1980s)   31. Javy Lopez (1990s)   32. Smoky Burgess (1950s)   33. Jason Varitek (1980s)

A-

34. Ernie Lombardi (1930s)   35. Ed Bailey (1950s)   36. Thurman Munson (1970s)   37. Duke Farrell (1890s)   38. Jim Leyritz (1990s)   39. Chief Meyers (1910s)   40. Sherm Lollar (1950s)   41. Jack Clements (1890s)   42. John Stearns (1970s)   43. Andy Seminick (1950s)   44. Mike Lieberthal (2000s)   45. Matt Nokes (1990s)   46. Tom Haller (1960s)   47. Earl Williams (1970s)   48. Jim Pagliaroni (1960s)   49. Ed McFarland (1900s)

B+

50. Bill Freehan (1960s)   51. Elston Howard (1960s)   52. Jason Kendall (2000s)   53. Earl Smith (1920s)   54. Johnny Bassler (1920s)   55. Billy Sullivan (1930s)   56. Spud Davis (1930s)   57. Johnny Kling (1900s)   58. Mike MacFarlane (1990s)   59. Chief Zimmer (1890s)   60. Todd Hundley (1990s)   61. Ernie Whitt (1980s)   62. Bob O'Farrell (1920s)   63. Bob Brenly (1980s)   64. Frankie Hayes (1940s)   65. Ken O'Dea (1940s)   66. John Wathan (1980s)

B

67. Earl Battey (1960s)   68. Terry Steinbach (1990s)   69. Art Wilson (1910s)   70. Harry Danning (1930s)   71. Eddie Taubensee (1990s)   72. Brian Harper (1980s)   73. Paul LoDuca (2000s)   74. A.J. Piernski (2000s)   75. Ramon Hernandez (2000s)   76. Glenn Myatt (1920s)   77. Ron Hassey (1980s)   78. Duke Sims (1960s)   79. Charles Johnson (2000s)   80. Heinie Peitz (1900s)   81. Gus Triandos (1950s)   82. Manny Sanguillen (1970s)   83. Tim McCarver (1960s)

B-

84. Rick Ferrell (1930s)   85. Jack O'Connor (1890s)   86. Butch Wynegar (1980s)   87. Deacon McGuire (1890s)   88. Del Crandall (1950s)   89. Hank Severeid (1910s)   90. Wes Westrum (1950s)   91. Benito Santiago (1990s)   92. Doggie Miller (1890s)   93. Jimmie Wilson (1930s)   94. Wilbert Robinson (1890s)   95. Hank Gowdy (1910s)   96. Jody Davis (1980s)   97. Darrin Fletcher (1990s)   98. Bo Diaz (1980s)   99. Shanty Hogan (1930s)

C+

100. Sandy Alomar (1990s)   101. Phil Masi (1940s)   102. Johnny Roseboro (1960s)   103. Michael Barrett (2000s)   104. Muddy Ruel (1920s)   105. Don Slaught (1980s)   106. Ray Schalk (1920s)   107. Tony Pena (1980s)   108. Bengie Molina (2000s)   109. Gregg Zaun (2000s)   110. Charlie Bennett (1880s)   111. Dave Valle (1990s)   112. Hal Smith (1950s)   113. Al Todd (1930s)   114. Farmer Vaughn (1890s)   115. Jack Boyle (1890s)   116. Pop Schriver (1890s)

C

117. Greg Myers (1990s)   118. Birdie Tebbetts (1940s)   119. Charlie Moore (1980s)   120. Luke Sewell (1930s)   121. Ed Kirkpatrick (1960s)   122. Ron Karkovice (1990s)   123. Terry Kennedy (1980s)   124. Damian Miller (2000s)   125. Mike Heath (1980s)   126. Ivey Wingo (1920s)   127. Alan Ashby (1980s)   128.Les Moss (1950s)   129. Clint Courtney (1950s)   130. Joe Oliver (1990s)   131. Geno Petralli (1980s)   132. Ray Fosse (1970s)   133. Mike Fitzgerald (1980s)

C-

134. Rich Gedman (1980s)   135. Milt May (1970s)   136. Bob Boone (1980s)   137. Dan Wilson (1990s)   138. Boileryard Clarke (1890s)   139. Chad Kreuter (1990s)   140. Johnny Edwards (1960s)   141. Steve O'Neill (1910s)   142. Frank Snyder (1910s)   143. Jim Sundberg (1980s)   144. Clyde McCullough (1940s)   145. Eddie Ainsmith (1910s)   146. Scott Servais (1990s)   147. Ed Herrmann (1970s)   148. Brad Ausmus (2000s)   149. Dave Rader (1970s)

D+

150. Russ Nixon (1960s)   151. Rick Dempsey (1970s)   152. Ossee Schreckengost (1900s)   153. Al Lopez (1930s)   154. Johnny Gooch (1920s)   155. Buddy Rosar (1940s)   156. Mike Scioscia (1980s)   157. Steve Yeager (1970s)   158. George Mitterwald (1970s)   159. Jeff Reed (1990s)   160. Sammy White (1950s)   161. Mike LaVallere (1980s)   162. Rollie Hemsley (1930s)   163. Ray Mueller (1940s)   164. Randy Hundley (1970s)   165. Jimmy Archer (1910s)

D

166. Frank Bowerman (1900s)   167. Alex Trevino (1980s)   168. Andy Etchebarren (1970s)   169. Jim Hegan (1950s)   170. Brent Mayne (1990s)   171. Val Picinich (1920s)   172. Joe Girardi (1990s)   173. Cy Perkins (1920s)   174. Charlie O'Brien (1990s)   175. Mike Gonzalez (1920s)   176. Gus Mancuso (1930s)   177. John Flaherty (1990s)   178. Buck Martinez (1970s)   179. Joe Azcue (1960s)   180. Clay Dalrymple (1960s)   181. Joe Sugden (1900s)   182. Mickey Owen (1940s)

D-

183. Del Rice (1950s)   184. Rick Cerone (1980s)   185. Ed FitzGerald (1950s)   186. Dave Duncan (1970s)   187. Bill Rariden (1910s)   188. Jerry Grote (1970s)   189. J.C. Martin (1960s)   190. Billy Sullivan (1900s)   191. Larry McLean (1900s)   192. Tom Pagnozzi (1990s)   193. Lou Criger (1900s)   194. John Bateman (1960s)   195. Red Dooin (1900s)   196. Jamie Quirk (1980s)   197. Buck Rodgers (1960s)   198. Phil Roof (1960s)

F

199. Pat Moran (1900s)   200. Pat Borders (1990s)   201. Mike Tresh (1940s)   202. George Gibson (1910s)   203. John Warner (1900s)   204. Otto Miller (1910s)   205. Mike Matheny (2000s)   206. Zack Taylor (1920s)   207. Kirt Manwaring (1990s)   208. Bruce Benedict (1980s)   209. Paul Casanova (1960s)   210. Oscar Stanage (1910s)   211. Bob Swift (1940s)   212. Malachi Kittridge (1890s)   213. Fred Kendall (1970s)   214. Bill Killefer (1910s)   215. Bill Bergen (1900s)

There it is. History unblurred. The way it really was. Easy enough.

I'd love to hear your comments on who you think the best catchers were, offensively speaking.