Greatest Catcher in Baseball History

Sorry - I couldn't resist

 

Sorry, but that still doesn't seem consistent to me. How many old-timers are around to tell us how good Rogers Hornsby was, or Honus Wagner, for example? Yet most people still consider them among the greatest, if not the greatest players of all time at their positions without ever having seen them play. I don't see why the same principle shouldn't work for Josh Gibson or anyone else.

 

Benito Santiago wept.

And based on what I've seen here, I would have to vote for Berra. I had no idea about his strikeout ratio. That's incredible.

Since we've agreed on the top 2 or 3, let's see a top 10. I'll take a stab, though my baseball knowledge is inferior. But pick it apart as you please. These threads are always a learning experience for me.

1. Berra
2. Bench
3. Josh Gibson/Roy Campanella - and all the other HOFers I've never seen.
4. Ivan Rodriguez
5. Gary Carter
6. Mickey Cochrane
7. Carlton Fisk
8. Mike Piazza
9. Tony Pena
10. Bob Boone
11. Benito Santiago/Sandy Alomar Jr.

 

Campanella is definitely not getting as many votes as he should in this poll. Contemporary of Berra, had 3 MVPs while playing, like Berra, for team loaded with talent (Reese, Robinson, Snider, all HOF, plus Hodges, Furillo, etc.).
As far as Musial goes, compare his stats with Ted Williams'. Very close, and the homer differential could be partially due to park difference. Plus, Musial won three World Series, including the only one Williams was in, although they were both pretty invisible.
Proof that things don't change much. Loud people have always gotten more attention than quiet ones.

 

What? No Mini Ditka?

 

Mickey Cochrane is the 3rd best player ever from Massachusetts. Behind Pie Trainor and Tim Keefe.

 

FWIW - Berra is also the best player ever from Missouri. Ahead of Pud Galvin and Carl Hubbell.

I'd consider Bench the best player ever from Oklahoma. Ahead of Mickey Mantle and Willie Stargell.

 

And NOW we're off.
(I agree. I predict some folks won't. Call me Kreskin.)
No love for Jesse Burkett?

 

No love for Mike Remlinger?

You suck again, Chris.

 

Not this ingrate sonofabitch, that's for sure.

 

Burkett is the 2nd best player ever from West Virginia. Behind George Brett but ahead of Bill Mazeroski.

Burkett does have the greatest Little League named after him though.

 

Cochrane is quite similar to Clemente in that a tragic accident (in Cochrane's case, being beaned by Bump Hadley) cut off the final 2-3 years off of what was already a HOF career.