Ranking the best catchers of all time in MLB history based on skill and stats
The best catchers of all time in Major League Baseball (MLB) history include Yogi Berra, Gary Carter, Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Piazza and Yadier Molina. They exemplified great game intelligence, superior defensive and offensive skills, and toughness, in a position regarded as the toughest in the game.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- The best catchers of all time in MLB are Mike Piazza, Yogi Berra, Ivan Rodriguez and Josh Gibson.
- Johnny Bench was the first rookie catcher to win the Golden Glove.
- Gibson holds the record for the highest single-season batting average of .466, slugging percentage of .974 and a 1.474 single-season OPS.
- Molina ranked first all-time among catchers in putouts and second all-time among catchers with 130 defensive runs saved.
- In 1979, Thurman Munson died in a plane crash when he was practising landing his private jet near his home.
Best catchers of all time in MLB history
| Player | Statistics |
| Yogi Berra | .285, 358 home runs, 1175 runs scored, 2,150 hits, and 1430 runs |
| Johnny Bench | 389 home runs, 1,376 runs batted in, 2048 hits and a .267 batting average |
| Ivan Rodriguez | .296 batting average, 2,844 hits, completed 1,354 runs, and 1,332 runs batted in |
| Carlton Fisk | .296 batting average, 376 home runs, 2356 hits, 1276 runs, and 1330 runs batted in |
| Josh Gibson | .371 batting average, 831 hits, 171 home runs and 746 runs batted in |
| Gary Carter | .262, 324 home runs, 2092 hits, 1025 runs and 1225 runs batted in |
| Mike Piazza | .308 batting average, 2,127 hits, 427 home runs, and 1,335 runs batted in |
| Yadier Molina | .277 batting average, 2,168 hits, 176 home runs, and 1,022 runs batted in |
| Buster Posey | .302 batting average, 158 home runs, and 729 runs batted in. |
| Thurman Munson | .292 batting average, 113 home runs, and 701 runs batted in |
We compiled this list of the best catchers of all time after assessing factors such as career offensive stats, like home runs, batting average and runs batted in, defensive prowess, like caught stealing percentage and passed balls and longevity. We relied on the MLB website, Baseball Reference and Bleacher Report to provide the most accurate information.
1. Yogi Berra
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- Full name: Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra
- Teams: New York Yankees, New York Mets
- Nationality: American
- Date of birth: 12 May 1925
- Place of birth: The Hill, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Yogi Berra is among the best-hitting catchers of all time. In 1972, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame after an illustrious career. Berra had a batting average of .285, 358 home runs, 1175 runs scored, 2,150 hits, and 1430 runs batted in. Berra retired with 13 World Series Championships, three American League MVPs, and an 18-time All-Star.
2. Johnny Bench
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- Full name: Johnny Lee Bench
- Teams: Cincinnati Reds
- Nationality: American
- Date of birth: 7 December 1947
- Place of birth: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Johnny Bench is among the greatest catchers of all time. He played for the Cincinnati Reds between 1967 and 1983, making 389 home runs, 1,376 runs batted in, 2048 hits and a .267 batting average.
Regarding individual recognition, Bench was a 14-time All-Star, won two World Series Championships, was the 1968 National League Rookie of the Year and was the 1976 World Series Most Valuable Player. Moreover, Bench was the first rookie catcher to win the Golden Glove.
3. Ivan Rodriguez
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- Full name: Iván Rodríguez Torres
- Teams: Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, New York Rangers
- Nationality: Puerto Rican
- Date of birth: 27 November 1971
- Place of birth: Manatí, Puerto Rico
Ivan Rodriguez was active between 1991 and 2011. He won the World Series in 2003 with the Florida Marlins and gained individual recognition as a 14-time All-Star, American League MVP (1999), a 13-time Golden Glove winner and seven Silver Slugger Awards. Statistically, Rodriguez had a .296 batting average, made 2,844 hits, completed 1,354 runs, and achieved 1,332 runs batted in.
4. Carlton Fisk
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- Full name: Carlton Ernest Fisk
- Teams: Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox
- Nationality: American
- Date of birth: 26 December 1947
- Place of birth: Bellows Falls, Town of Rockingham, Vermont
Carlton Fisk is among the best MLB catchers of all time. He played his first game in 1969 and his last in 1993. Although he did not win the World Series, Fisk was an 11-time All-Star, American League Rookie of the Year (1972), Golden Glove (1972) and three Silver Slugger Awards. Throughout his career, Fisk recorded a .296 batting average, 376 home runs, 2356 hits, 1276 runs, and 1330 runs batted in.
5. Josh Gibson
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- Full name: Joshua Gibson
- Teams: Memphis Red Sox, Homestead Greys, Pittsburgh Crawfords
- Nationality: American
- Date of birth: 21 December 1911
- Place of birth: Buena Vista, Georgia
Josh Gibson was considered the best player in the Black League's history. His career average includes a .371 batting average, 831 hits, 171 home runs and 746 runs batted in. He won two World Series, was a 12 All-Star, won two Triple Crowns, and three N. National League batting championships. Gibson holds the record for the highest single-season batting average of .466, slugging percentage of .974 and a 1.474 single-season OPS.
6. Gary Carter
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- Full name: Gary Edmund Carter
- Teams: Montreal Expos, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants
- Nationality: American
- Date of birth: 8 April 1954
- Place of birth: Culver City, California, United States
Gary Carter is one of the Hall of Fame catchers who entertained fans during his heyday (1974 and 1992). Carter won a World Series in 1986, was an 11 All-Star, a three-time Golden Glove Award and received five Silver Slugger Awards. Carter finished his career with a batting average of .262, 324 home runs, 2092 hits, 1025 runs and 1225 runs batted in.
7. Mike Piazza
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- Full name: Michael Joseph Piazza
- Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets
- Nationality: American
- Date of birth: 4 September 1968
- Place of birth: Norristown, Pennsylvania
Mike Piazza is one of the famous baseball catchers who played in the 1990s to the mid-2000s. In 2016, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame after a stunning career that included 12 All-Star selections, 10 Silver Slugger Awards and was the NL Rookie of the Year. Piazza scored a .308 batting average, 2,127 hits, 427 home runs, and 1,335 runs batted in.
8. Yadier Molina
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- Full name: Yadier Benjamín Molina
- Teams: St. Louis Cardinals
- Nationality: Puerto Rican
- Date of birth: July 13, 1982
- Place of birth: Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Yadier Molina began his professional career in 2004 and retired in 2022, having only represented the St. Louis Cardinals. He won the World Series twice, was a 10-time All-Star, a nine-time Golden Glove Award winner, a Silver Slugger Award and a Roberto Clemente Award.
His numbers were impressive with a .277 batting average, 2,168 hits, 176 home runs, and 1,022 runs batted in. Molina represented Puerto Rico in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classic.
By the time he retired, Molina ranked first all-time among catchers in putouts and second all-time among catchers with 130 defensive runs saved. Furthermore, he holds the record for the most games started as a battery.
9. Buster Posey
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- Full name: Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III
- Teams: San Francisco Giants
- Nationality: American
- Date of birth: March 27, 1987
- Place of birth: Leesburg, Georgia
Buster Posey spent his entire career with the San Francisco Giants. He won three World Series (2010, 2012, 2014), was a seven-time All-Star, a 2012 NL MVP, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year, the 2016 Golden Glove Award, five Silver Slugger Awards, Golden Spikes Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.
As for his numbers, he has a career average of .302, 158 home runs, and 729 runs batted in. He has an award named after him, the Buster Posey Award, which honours college baseball’s top NCAA Division I catcher.
10. Thurman Munson
Source: Getty Images
- Full name: Thurman Lee Munson
- Teams: New York Rangers
- Nationality: American
- Date of birth: June 7, 1947
- Place of birth: Akron, Ohio
Thurman Manson’s ten-year career was spent in the New York Rangers. He was a fourth pick of the 1968 MLB draft and was in the 1968 College Baseball All-American Team. The following year, he became the Yankees' first-team catcher, and after his 1970 season, Manson won the NL Rookie of the Year.
By 1976, his impact on the team was so obvious that he was named the team’s captain and held the position until his retirement and unfortunate death in 1979. He won two World Series, was a seven-time All-Star and won three Golden Glove Awards.
Final word
These are the best catchers of all time. They were influential in their teams, which is demonstrated by their team and individual awards. Additionally, their grit, competitiveness, and strategic leaders on the pitch kept fans entertained and their teams winning.
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