The Top Ten List: Third Basemen

By Will-he-M


Compiling this list taught me something important. Before now, I had no idea that the average third baseman had such a short MLB career. I always knew it was the most demanding position in baseball because I have played third base myself, for the past three years. When looking at the Catchers, and the First Basemen, and the Second Basemen, I noticed that they generally all had very long and careers and were still effective in the latter stages. The exact opposite seems to happen to the elite Third Basemen. They usually start their careers slowly, have tremendous success through their prime years, then just drop completely off during their final three to five seasons. I can honestly say that I have new found respect for these guys and I can finally sympathize with Chipper Jones for never having been able to stay healthy.

Before anyone has the chance to question the obvious, let me head them off at the pass. I have A-Rod ranked 8th for the simple reason that he has played just 752 of his 2024 career games at Third Base. I firmly believe that had A-Rod stayed at shortstop, that he'd be by far the greatest shortstop in MLB history. I just have a hard time trying to justify A-Rod's placement among the greatest when he's played just 37% of his career at a certain position. That said, tell me what you think of the order, in the Comments section.

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10. Frank "Home Run" Baker (Philadelphia Athletics, New York Yankees 1908-1922)
1575 GP, 5984 AB, 887 R, 1838 H, 315 D, 103 T, 96 HR, 987 RBI, 235 SB, .307 AVG, .943 FPCT

4x AL Home Run Crown Winner (1911-1914)
2x AL RBI Crown Winner (1912, 1913)
3x World Series Champion (1910, 1911, 1913)
Hall of Fame 1955

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9. John "Mugsy" McGraw (Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals. New York Giants 1891-1906)
1099 GP, 3924 AB, 1024 R, 1309 H, 121 D, 70 T, 13 HR, 462 RBI, 436 SB, .334 AVG, .898 FPCT

3x World Series Champion (1905, 1921, 1922)
Hall of Fame 1937

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8. Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees 1994-present)
2042 GP, 7860 AB, 1605 R, 2404 H, 428 D, 26 T, 553 HR, 1606 RBI, 283 SB, .306 AVG, .962 FPCT

3x AL MVP (2003, 2005, 2007)
2x Gold Glove Award Winner (2002, 2003)
10x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1996, 1998-2003, 2005, 2007, 2008)
12x All-Star (1996-1998, 2000-2008)

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7. Scott Rolen (Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds 1996-present)
1630 GP, 5945 AB, 1021 R, 1679 H, 412 D, 35 T, 274 HR, 1067 RBI, 109 SB, .282 AVG, .966 FPCT

1997 Rookie of the Year Award Winner
7x Gold Glove Award Winner (1998, 2000-2004, 2006)
Silver Slugger Award Winner (2002)
World Series Champion (2006)
5x All-Star (2002-2006)

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6. Larry "Chipper" Jones (Atlanta Braves 1993-present)
2029 GP, 7361 AB, 1382 R, 2285 H, 451 D, 35 T, 409 HR, 1378 RBI, 138 SB, .310 AVG, .954 FPCT

1999 NL MVP
2x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1999, 2000)
World Series Champion (1995)
6x All-Star (1996-1998, 2000, 2001, 2008)

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5. Eddie Mathews (Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves, Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers 1952-1968)
2391 GP, 8537 AB, 1509 R, 2315 H, 354 D, 72 T, 512 HR, 1453 RBI, 68 SB, .271 AVG, .956 FPCT

2x NL Home Run Crown Winner (1953, 1959)
2x World Series Champion (1957, 1968)
9x All-Star (1953, 1955-1962)
Hall of Fame 1978

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4. Wade Boggs (Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1982-1999)
2439 GP, 9180 AB, 1513 R, 3010 H, 578 D, 61 T, 118 HR, 1014 RBI, 24 SB, .328 AVG, .962 FPCT

2x Gold Glove Award Winner (1994, 1995)
8x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1983, 1986-1989, 1993, 1994)
World Series Champion (1996)
12x All-Star (1985-1996)
Hall of Fame 2005

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3. Michael "Mike" Schmidt (Philadelphia Phillies 1972-1989)
2404 GP, 8352 AB, 1506 R, 2234 H, 408 D, 59 T, 548 HR, 1595 RBI, 174 SB, .267 AVG, .955 FPCT

3x NL MVP (1980, 1981, 1986)
10x Gold Glove Award Winner (1976-1986)
6x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1980-1984, 1986) *won the first five handed out
World Series Champion (1980)
12x All-Star (1974, 1976, 1977, 1979-1984, 1986, 1987, 1989)
Hall of Fame 1995

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2. George "Mullet" Brett (Kansas City Royals 1973-1993)
2707 GP, 10349 AB, 1583 R, 3154 H, 665 D, 137 T, 317 HR, 1595 RBI, 201 SB, .305 AVG, .951 FPCT

1980 AL MVP
Gold Glove Award Winner (1985)
3x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1980, 1985, 1988) *won the inaugural award
World Series Champion (1985)
13x All-Star (1976-1988)
Hall of Fame 1999

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1. Brooks "Vacuum Cleaner" Robinson (Baltimore Orioles 1955-1977)
2896 GP, 10654 AB, 1232 R, 2848 H, 482 D, 68 T, 268 HR, 1357 RBI, 28 SB, .267 AVG, .971 FPCT

1964 AL MVP
16x Gold Glove Award Winner (1960-1975)
15x All-Star (1960-1974)
Hall of Fame 1983




[Editor's Note: This list was originally published on April 30th, 2009].

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The Top Ten List: Second Basemen

Tom Cruise proves to his 11-year old son, Connor, that he is "all man" by getting to second base with his girlfriend at a 2006 baseball game.


By Will-he-M


After doing the list of First Basemen, I figured that no list could prove tougher to make. Holy Hell was I wrong. Doing this one made doing the first basemen seem like doing the Catchers List.

Of the eighteen obvious candidates for history's greatest Second Baseman, only two failed to score 1000 Runs (Tony Lazzeri and Jackie Robinson); only two failed to get 1000 RBI (Nellie Fox and Jackie Robinson); only three failed to steal 100 Bases (Bobby Doerr, Nellie Fox and Jeff Kent); and only five failed to hit 400 Doubles (Bobby Doerr, Nellie Fox, Tony Lazzeri, Bid McPhee and Jackie Robinson).

Additionally, eight candidates scored over 1500 Runs, seven had over 200 Home Runs, six had over 500 Doubles, six had over 400 Stolen Bases, four had over 3000 Hits, and three had over 1500 RBI. It wasn't easy, but here is my Top Ten List for Second Basemen.

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10. Craig Biggio (Houston Astros 1988-2007)
2850 GP, 10876 AB, 1844 R, 3060 H, 668 D, 55 T, 291 RBI, 1175 RBI, 414 SB, .281 AVG, .984 FPCT

4x Gold Glove Award Winner (1994-1997)
5x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998)
7x All-Star (1991, 1992, 1994-1998)

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9. Jeff Kent (Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers 1992-2008)
2298 GP, 8498 AB, 1320 R, 2401 H, 560 D, 47 T, 377 HR, 1518 RBI, 94 SB, .290 AVG, .980 FPCT

2000 NL MVP
4x Silver Slugger Award Winner (2000-2002, 2005)
5x All-Star (1999-2001, 2004, 2005)

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8. Eddie "Cocky" Collins (Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago White Sox 1906-1930)
2826 GP, 9949 AB, 1821 R, 3315 H, 438 R, 187 T, 47 HR, 1300 RBI, 744 SB, .333 AVG, .970 FPCT

1914 AL MVP
Hall of Fame 1939

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7. Rodney "Rod" Carew (Minnesota Twins, California Angels 1967-1985)
2469 GP, 9315 AB, 1424 R, 3053 H, 445 D, 112 T, 92 T, 1015 RBI, 353 SB, .358 AVG, .973 FPCT

1967 Rookie of the Year Award Winner
1977 AL MVP
18x All-Star (1967-1984)
Hall of Fame 1991

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6. Joe Morgan (Houston Colt .45's, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Oakland Athletics 1963-1984)
2649 GP, 9277 AB, 1650 R, 2517 H, 449 D, 96 T, 268 HR, 1133 RBI, 689 SB, .271 AVG, .981 FPCT

2x NL MVP (1975, 1976)
2x World Series Champion (1975, 1976)
10x All-Star (1966, 1970, 1972-1979)
Hall of Fame 1990

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5. Ryne "Ryno" Sandberg (Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs 1981-1997)
2164 GP, 8385 AB, 1318 R, 2386 H, 403 D, 76 T, 282 HR, 1061 RBI, 344 SB, .285 AVG, .989 FPCT

1984 NL MVP
9x Gold Glove Award Winner (1983-1991)
7x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1984, 1985, 1988-1992)
10x All-Star (1984-1993)
Hall of Fame 2005

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4. Jack "Jackie" Robinson (Brooklyn Dodgers 1947-1956)
1382 GP, 4877 AB, 947 R, 1518 R, 273 D, 54 T, 137 HR, 734 RBI, 197 SB, .311 AVG, .983 FPCT

1947 MLB Rookie of the Year Award Winner
1949 NL MVP
World Series Champion (1955)
6x All-Star (1949-1954)
Hall of Fame 1962

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3. Roberto Alomar (San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks 1988-2004)
2329 GP, 9073 AB, 1508 R, 2724 H, 504 D, 80 T, 210 HR, 1134 RBI, 474 SB, .300 AVG, .984 FPCT

10x Gold Glove Award Winner (1991-1996, 1998-2001)
4x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1992, 1996, 1999, 2000)
2x World Series Champion (1992, 1993)
12x All-Star (1990-2001)

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2. Napoleon "Nap" Lajoie (Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Bronchos, Cleveland Naps 1896-1916)
2480 GP, 9589 AB, 1504 R, 3242 H, 657 D, 163 T, 83 HR, 1599 RBI, 380 SB, .338 AVG, .963 FPCT

Triple Crown Winner (1901)
Hall of Fame 1937

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1. Rogers "Rajah" Hornsby (St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns 1915-1937)
2259 GP, 8173 AB, 1579 R, 2930 H, 541 D, 169 T, 301 HR, 1584 RBI, 135 SB, .358 AVG, .965 FPCT

2x Triple Crown Winner (1922, 1925)
2x NL MVP (1925, 1929)
World Series Champion (1926)
Hall of Fame 1942




[Editor's Note: This list was originally published on April 28th, 2009]

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The Top Ten List: First Basemen

by Will-he-M


[Editor's Note: This list was updated on August 8, after deciding to switch Stan Musial to left field]


Unlike catchers, where you can easily pick and choose a Top Ten that nobody would have too many problems with, First Base is a tough position to judge because that's where the worst defender on the team is supposed to play. Yet, while looking up my Top Ten candidates, I found some things quite surprising. For instance, I hadn't realized just how good a defender Mark McGwire really was.

Now, a lot of the guys I researched came from the early days of baseball and I fully understand that their defensive numbers might be skewed. They faced many more ground balls then the guys of the last 75 years, which would cause them to have more errors then a guy like McGwire or Todd Helton.

This list was very hard to put together with so many factors involved. I couldn't go by the offensive numbers alone as there have been many great offensive first basemen in history. And since nobody alive today has actually seen someone like Cap Anson play I have to go by the numbers alone in certain cases, but I am factoring the era into my process.

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10. Johnny "The Big Cat" Mize (St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, New York Yankees 1930-1953)
1884 GP, 6443 AB, 1118 R, 2011 H, 367 D, 83 T, 359 HR, 1337 RBI, 28 SB, .312 AVG, .992 FPCT

NL Batting Crown Winner (1939)
5x World Series Champion (1949-1953)
10x All-Star (1937, 1939-1942, 1946-1949, 1953)
Hall of Fame 1981

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9. Harry Stovey (Worcester Ruby Legs, Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Reds, Boston Beaneaters, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Grooms 1880-1893)
1486 GP, 6138 AB, 1492 R, 1771 H, 347 D, 174 T, 122 HR, 908 RBI, 509 SB, .289 AVG, .961 FPCT

2x NL Home Run Crown Winner (1880, 1891)
3x AA Home Run Crown Winner (1883, 1885, 1889)
AA RBI Crown Winner (1889)

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8. "Hammerin" Hank Greenberg (Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates 1930-1947)
1394 GP, 5193 AB, 1051 R, 1628 H, 379 D, 71 T, 331 HR, 1296 RBI, 58 SB, .313 AVG, .991 FPCT

2x AL MVP (1935, 1940)
2x World Series Champion (1935, 1945)
5x All-Star (1937-1940, 1945)
Hall of Fame 1956

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7. "Prince" Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals 2001-present)
1246 GP, 4602 AB, 954 R, 1540 H, 343 D, 13 T, 322 HR, 986 RBI, 45 SB, .335 AVG, .994 FPCT

2001 NL Rookie of the Year
2x NL MVP (2005, 2008)
Gold Glove Award Winner (2006)
4x Silver Slugger Award Winner (2001, 2003, 2004, 2008)
World Series Champion (2008)
8x All-Star (2001, 2003-2009)

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6. Jeff "BagPipes" Bagwell (Houston Astros 1991-2005)
2150 GP, 7797 AB, 1517 R, 2314 H, 488 D, 32 T, 449 HR, 1529 RBI, 202 SB, .297 AVG, .993 PFCT

1991 NL Rookie of the Year
1994 NL MVP
Gold Glove Award Winner (1994)
3x Silver Slugger Award winner (1994, 1997, 1999)
4x All-Star (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999)

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5. Mark "Big Mac" McGwire (Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals 1986-2001)
1874 GP, 6187 AB, 1167 R, 1626 H, 252 D, 6 T, 583 HR, 1414 RBI, 12 SB, .263 AVG, .993 FPCT

1987 Rookie of the Year
1998 Broke single season HR record
Gold Glove Award Winner (1990)
3x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1992, 1996, 1998)
World Series Champion (1989)
12x All-Star (1987-1992, 1995-2000)

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4. "Big" Dan Brouthers (Troy Trojans, Buffalo Bisons, Detroit Wolverines, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Reds, Brooklyn Grooms, Baltimore Orioles, Louisville Colonels, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants 1879-1904)
1673 GP, 6711 AB, 2296 H, 460 D, 205 T, 106 HR, 1296 RBI, 256 SB, .342 AVG, .971 FPCT

5x NL Batting Crown Winner (1882, 1883, 1889, 1891, 1892)
2x NL Home Run Crown Winner (1881, 1886)
2x NL RBI Crown Winner (1883, 1892)
Hall of Fame 1945

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3. Jimmie "Beast" Foxx (Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies 1925-1945)
2317 GP, 8134 AB, 1751 R, 2646 H, 458 D, 125 T, 534 HR, 1922 RBI, 87 SB, .325 AVG, .992 FPCT

3x AL MVP (1932, 1933, 1938)
2x World Series Champion (1929, 1930)
9x All-Star (1933-1941)
Hall of Fame 1951

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2. Cap "Pop" Anson (Rockford Forest Citys, Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago Cubs 1871-1897)
2523 GP, 10277 AB, 1996 R, 3418 H, 581 D, 142 T, 97 HR, 2076 RBI, 276 SB, .333 AVG, .972 FPCT

2x NL Batting Crown Winner (1881, 1888)
8x NL RBI Crown Winner (1880-1882, 1884-1886, 1888, 1891)
Hall of Fame 1939

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1. Lou "The Iron Horse" Gehrig (New York Yankees 1923-1939)
2164 GP, 8001 AB, 1888 R, 2721 H, 534 D, 163 T, 493 HR, 1995 RBI, 102 SB, .340 AVG, .991 FPCT

2x AL MVP (1927, 1936)
6x World Series Champion (1927, 1928, 1932, 1936-1938)
7x All-Star (1933-1939)
Hall of Fame 1939




[Editor's Note: This list was originally published on April 26th, 2009 with Stan Musial listed as the second-ranked first baseman. It has since come to the author's attention that Musial was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a left fielder, prompting his removal from this list]

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The Top Ten List: Catchers

by Will-he-M


I'm going to begin doing a regular Top Ten List, starting with the All-Time Top 10 baseball players at each position. I'm hoping to do this over the next couple weeks and hopefully I can come up with more lists so I can carry it over throughout the year and into the play-offs. I originally wanted to do this in the fantasy hockey league, but whenever I'd try I'd either get side tracked, or else my post would be too long and Yahoo would erase it on me. So here it goes, starting with the Top 10 Catchers of all time.

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10. Thurman "Tugboat" Munson (New York Yankees 1969-1979)
1423 GP, 5344 AB, 696 R, 1558 H, 229 D, 32 T, 113 HR, 701 RBI, 48 SB, .292 AVG, .982 FPCT

1970 AL Rookie of the Year Award Winner
AL MVP (1976)
3x Gold Glove Award Winner (1973-1975)
2x World Series Champion (1977, 1978)
7x All-Star (1971, 1973-1979)

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9. William "Bill" Dickey (New York Yankees 1928-1946)
1789 GP, 6300 AB, 930 R, 1969 H, 343 D, 72 T, 202 HR, 1209 RBI, 37 SB, .313 AVG, .988 FPCT

8x World Series Champion (1928, 1932, 1936-1939, 1941, 1943)
11x All-Star (1933, 1934, 1936-1943, 1946)
Hall of Fame 1954

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8. Charles "Gabby" Hartnett (Chicago Cubs, New York Giants 1922-1941)
1990 GP, 6432 AB, 867 R, 1912 H, 396 D, 64 T, 236 HR, 1179 RBI, 28 SB, .297 AVG, .984 FPCT

NL MVP (1935)
6x All-Star (1933-1938)
Hall of Fame 1955

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7. Mickey "Black Mike" Cochrane (Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers 1925-1937)

1482 GP, 5169 AB, 1041 R, 1652 H, 333 D, 64 T, 119 HR, 832 RBI, 64 SB, .320 AVG, .985 FPCT

2x AL MVP (1928, 1934)
3x World Series Champion (1929, 1930, 1935)
2x All-Star (1934, 1935)
Hall of Fame 1947

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6. Michael "Mike" Piazza (Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics 1992-2007)
1912 GP, 6911 AB, 1048 R, 2127 H, 344 D, 8 T, 427 HR, 1335 RBI, 17 SB, .308 AVG, .989 FPCT

1993 NL Rookie of the Year Award Winner
10x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1993-2002)
12x All-Star (1993-2002, 2004, 2005)

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5. Carlton "Pudge" Fisk (Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox 1969-1993)
2499 GP, 8756 AB, 1276 R, 2356 H, 421 D, 47 T, 376 HR, 1330 RBI, 128 SB, .269 AVG, .988 FPCT

1972 AL Rookie of the Year Award Winner
Gold Glove Award Winner (1972)
3x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1981, 1985, 1988)
11x All-Star (1972-1974, 1976-1978, 1980-1982, 1985, 1991)
Hall of Fame 2000

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4. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez (Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros 1991-present)
2272 GP, 8664 AB, 1255 R, 2610 H, 525 D, 48 T, 296 HR, 1219 RBI, 124 SB, .301 AVG, .991 FPCT

AL MVP (1999)
13x Gold Glove Award Winner (1992-2001, 2004, 2006, 2007)
7x Silver Slugger Award Winner (1994-1999, 2004)
World Series Champion (2003)
14x All-Star (1992-2001, 2004-2007)

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3. Roy "Campy" Campanella (Brooklyn Dodgers 1948-1957)
1215 GP, 4205 AB, 677 R, 1161 H, 178 D, 18 T, 242 HR, 856 RBI, 25 SB, .276 AVG, .988 FPCT

3x NL MVP (1951, 1953, 1955)
World Series Champion (1955)
8x All-Star (1949-1956)
Hall of Fame 1969

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2. Lawrence "Yogi" Berra (New York Yankees, New York Mets 1946-1965)
2120 GP, 7555 AB, 1175 R, 2150 H, 321 D, 49 T, 358 HR, 1430 RBI, 50 SB, .285 AVG, .989 FPCT

3x AL MVP (1951, 1954, 1955)
10x World Series Champion (1947, 1949-1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962)
15x All-Star (1948-1962)
All around nice guy
Hall of Fame 1972

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1. Johnny "Little General" Bench (Cincinnati Reds 1967-1983)
2158 GP, 7658 AB, 1091 R, 2048 H, 381 D, 24 T, 389 HR, 1376 RBI, 68 SB, .267 AVG, .990 FPCT

1968 NL Rookie of the Year Award Winner
2x NL MVP (1970, 1972)
10x Gold Glove Award Winner (1968-1977)
2x World Series Champion (1975, 1976)
14x All-Star (1968-1980, 1983)
Hall of Fame 1989




Other Notable Catchers: Jorge Posada, Joe Torre, Gary Carter, Ernie Lombardi, Ted Simmons, Elston Howard


[Editor's Note: This list was originally published on April 19th, 2009]

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