Pyle of List

Ah, the ‘ol backstop. Nothing like showing up to a day of work knowing that a 200 lb professional athlete on ‘roids (allegedly!) will try to knock you out in order to touch a little white piece of rubber.

Let’s review the “rules”:

• Must have been in their prime (we’ll use making the All-Star team as a measure) when I was intently following baseball (1993-present)
• Must have played 100 games at said position in 3 seasons
• Each position will have two categories, Best Hitters and Best Fielders (except for pitchers, which will be Best Starters and Best Relievers)
• Looking for top 5 in each category

Check out my other rankings: 2B, SS, 3B, 1B

On to the catchers!
Best Hitters

Mike Piazza - LA Dodgers/Florida Marlins/New York Mets/San Diego Padres/Oakland A’s -  Bacne or not, Piazza might be the best hitting catcher ever, let alone our generation. He holds the record for most career HR by a catcher. He was a hitting machine, despite the fact that he could never hit one out during the Home Run Derby. Best season (1997) - .362/.431/.638, 40 HR, 124 RBI, 104 R, 5 SB

Todd Hundley - New York Mets/LA Dodgers/ Chicago Cubs - Probably not the first guy you think of, but Hundley hit really well for many years. Don’t feel bad if you didn’t think of him, considering he only made two All-Star teams in his career, you’re apparently not alone. Best season (1996) - .259/.356/.550, 41 HR, 112 RBI, 85 R, 1 SB

Ivan Rodriguez - Texas Rangers/Florida Marlins/Detroit Tigers/New York Yankees/Houston Astros - I know he’s a shell of his former self at this point, but earlier in his career Pudge defined excellence behind the plate. Perhaps known more for his penchant to throw out runners, the dude also swung a mean stick. Best season (1999) - .332/.356/.558, 35 HR, 113 RBI, 116 R, 25 SB, 1 MVP Award

Jorge Posada - New York Yankees - Posada is still swinging some lumber even though Father Time is starting to catch up to him and slow him down with injuries. He was an integral part of all those Yankee teams that kept winning and made everyone hate them. Best season (2007) - .328/.426/.543, 20 HR, 90 RBI, 91 R, 2 SB

Joe Mauer - Minnesota Twins - Only catcher on the list to win a batting title, and could win many more since he’s still so young. And if he keeps hitting for power like he currently is (12th of the season last night) then Piazza had better watch his back. And wash his back. Seriously, Mike, that’s just nasty. Best season (2006) - .347/.429/.507, 13 HR, 84 RBI, 86 R, 8 SB

Runners up: Sandy Alomar Jr., Jason Kendall, Javy Lopez

Best Fielders

Ivan Rodriguez - 10 Gold Gloves in a row, and 13 out of 16 years. Yeah, I’d say he’s pretty good.

Sandy Alomar Jr. - San Diego Padres/Cleveland Indians/Chicago White Sox/Colorado Rockies/LA Dodgers/Texas Rangers - I actually don’t have any proof for this one, I just have it in my head that Sandy Alomar JR.

Benito Santiago - San Diego Padres/Florida Marlins/Cincinatti Reds/Philadelphia Phillies/Toronto Blue Jays/Chicago Cubs/San Francisco Giants/Kansas City Royals/Pitsburgh Pirates - Hmm, might have been easier to list teams the didn’t play for. But cmon, the dude threw runners out from his knees. His knees! He’s gotta make the list for that.

Charles Johnson - Florida Marlins/LA Dodgers/Baltimore Orioles/Chicago White Sox/Colorado Rockies/Tampa Bay Devil Rays - While Piazza was busy dazzling everyone with his bat, Johnson quietly won 4 straight NL Gold Gloves in the mid 90’s. Ho hum.

Jason Varitek - Boston Red Sox - See, I don’t hate the Sox THAT much. Makes the list for being able to handle Wakefield so deftly.

Runners up: none.

Disagree? Got someone I totally didn’t think of? Go ahead and let me know if the comments.