Greatest Catcher in Baseball History

I guess I meant by the casual fan, casty. Baseball people know Musial, of course, and they know the Yogi that actually played the game.

But I think Yogi to the casual fan is the charming old nitwit on TV, not the lethal competitor and World Series monster he was. He's not nearly as mythological a figure as he might be. His personality plays against it. On the other hand, it's interesting to me how much their "seclusion" played a role in creating the legends of Dimaggio and Williams.

 

I think 56 and .400 had something to do with that as well.

 

I think it's close to equal on Yogi vs. Musial underratedness.

Yogi's Q rating is high mostly because of his quotes (even all the ones he said he didn't say 8)), not his baseball. Musial's actually remembered more for his hitting than he is for anything else (harmonica?). Hard to say, really.

 

Of course, but how many World Series rings does Yogi have, and how often do you think about them? He's the Bill Russell of baseball, but is never of spoken of with the same reverence.

 

Casty,

I'm 26. The best catcher I've seen in my lifetime is Pudge Rodriguez or Gary Carter. But I also know that they're not the greatest catchers in baseball history. I've never seen Babe Ruth play, but I still think he's the greatest player of all time. Does that make sense?

 

Casty, I'm not sure why you're denigrating SABR on this one. They've done more research into the Negro Leagues than anybody thought possible even 20 years ago -- while the exact numbers aren't verifiable, I think there's plenty of evidence on which you can form a pretty clear opinion on the greatness of some of those players (Gibson, Paige, Dihigo, etc.)

I mean, do you not have an opinion on Babe Ruth, because you didn't see him play? Seems a little limited to base your opinions only on first-hand observations, no? Just wondering.

 

Berra - 15 All-Star Games

Clemente - 22 and counting

Berra was able to play with both Joe and Mickey in their primes. Berra was great, but I think Roberto might fit this a little better.

 

The Dodger shortstop? Sorry, I could not resist.

 

But who underrates Clemente?

Nobody.

 

How does Clemente "fit" a discussion of great catchers?

 

Roberto Clemente was a catcher? Who knew?

 

Sorry jg, I just assumed that outside of Pittsburgh, he is not known as one of the greats.

Spnited, Clemente is referring to the most underrated baseball player of the modern era.