My Top 5 All Time Catchers

[tinselwolverine]

1 Roy Campanella
2 Yogi Berra
3 Johnny Bench
4 Mickey Cochrane
5 Ivan Rodriguez

The recent retirement of Ivan Rodriguez has made this a little bit of a topic of discussion, and I posted this on the Tiger board instead of the MLB general board because 2 of the 5 on my list played for the Tigers and were part of World Series and/or AL Championship winning teams (that's not why they're on my list though).

So everyone feel free to comment or add your own list.

Edit: Oh, that's right...it's Yogi Berra's 87th birthday today...that's another reason I thought of it.

 

[kalinecountry]

I like each of them, but want to add Bill Freehan...

in order of my favorites, not as best 1-5/6.
Yogi - Happy 87th Birthday.
Freehan
Cochrane
Bench
Campy
Pudge

 

[Thumb]

I like those lists, but,

Mike Piazza and Carlton Fisk should get HM at least IMHO.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Yeah, Freehan is one of my all time favorite Tigers, maybe my favorite, and under rated historically I think, with his 5 Gold Gloves and 11 All Star Game selections...top 10 in MVP voting 3 times, and recieved MVP votes a total of 6 times...

I guess people remember the offense more...Freehan was OK to pretty good, but not often really good with the stick....

 

[tinselwolverine]

I like those lists, but,

Mike Piazza and Carlton Fisk should get HM at least IMHO.

Piazza shouldn't have stayed a catcher as long as he did.

He wasn't terrible defensively - he was adequate - but why put the wear and tear on that bat that catching puts on for a catcher who is only adequate?

He might have been the greatest right handed hitter of all time if he had been moved to first base earlier in his career.

 

[tinselwolverine]

I like those lists, but,

Mike Piazza and Carlton Fisk should get HM at least IMHO.

I would add the untimely late Thurman Munson to the HM list as well. Also Ernie "The Schnozz" Lombardi.

As long as we're at it...let's see...Gary Carter...(and not because he just died)...?

 

[Mitchrapp]

Gotta have Freehan. Wasn't easy playing in a pitchers era..But he was awesome.

 

[byco42]

Bench is #1. So much so that it doesn't matter the order of 2-5.

 

[tinselwolverine]

Bench is #1. So much so that it doesn't matter the order of 2-5.

Maybe.

Campy's daughter is a friend of mine though.

 

[hellifino]

Berra
Pudge
Freehan
Fisk
Parrish

I hate Bench

 

[byco42]

Berra
Pudge
Freehan
Fisk
Parrish

I hate Bench

I'm talking "best" not "best liked."

 

[Thumb]

I'm talking "best" not "best liked."

Agreed.

 

[hellifino]

well those are my top 5.

 

[gotime909]

1. Bench-Just an all around monster

2. Berra-Those Yankee teams in that era were loaded which obviously helped his numbers.

3. Cochrane-too bad for the plunking in the head that ended his career. A few more seasons and he may have pushed the top 2.

4. Campanella-only 10 seasons because negro leagues/car accident or he could have been number 1.

5. Piazza-His offensive numbers can't be over looked. That 97 season of .362 40 hr's and 124 rbi was unreal.

My 1 and 2 as well as my 3 and 4 could have went either way. 5 is where it's a bit tricky. Probably as many as 10 guys you could make an argument for if you include the old school guys. I just don't know enough about them to put them ahead of Piazza.

 

[byco42]

well those are my top 5.

Okay: Why omit Bench? Other than you don't like him.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Today's game, Freehan is a .320 hitter with 45 home runs and a slew of ribbies.

 

[hellifino]

Okay: Why omit Bench? Other than you don't like him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r48ZVXXEdmQ&feature=player_detailpage#t=23s

 

[mjsb2]

So you have no valid and logical reason?

Was to be expected.

 

[hellifino]

So you have no valid and logical reason?

Was to be expected.

Johnny played with Pete and was good friends, but when he stabbed Rose in the back with his statements about Rose not getting into the HOF,that pissed me off, didn't he ever hear the statement if you haven't anything nice to say about somebody, then don't say it. and these guys were supposed to be friends, all Bench is a prick,not saying he isn't one of the best catchers, just saying he's a prick.

 

[mjsb2]

Johnny played with Pete and was good friends, but when he stabbed Rose in the back with his statements about Rose not getting into the HOF,that pissed me off, didn't he ever hear the statement if you haven't anything nice to say about somebody, then don't say it. and these guys were supposed to be friends, all Bench is a prick,not saying he isn't one of the best catchers, just saying he's a prick.

So no reason other than you don't like him?