Greatest Catcher in Baseball History

Geez, Mikey, nobody included Roberto Clemente.
There was a mini-jack about underrated players and 93devil for some reason thought Clemente was overlooked outside of Pittsburgh -- we have since convinced him of the error of his ways.

And I'm a big Piazza fan as an offensive player. His inability to throw was a huge liability.
He also, in my mind, got the biggest free pass of any player in the steroid era.

 

I guess I showed up pretty late, then. I thought that was the original list.

How would Clemente be overlooked anywhere? For years, I've said if I -- a kid from New York, who grew up in the '90s -- could go back in time and see any three baseball players, they'd be Mays, Clemente and Williams. I know I'm not alone, and that's just in my age bracket.

 

Growing up in Pittsburgh (born in 1969) Willie Stargell was placed on a higher than Roberto, or at least it seemed that way to me.

Pittsburgh was not exactly teaming with Latin Americans in the 1970s and 1980s. Hell, Bob Prince called him Bobby on his 3,000th hit.

Willie was always "Chicken on the Hill" and much more beloved.

Honestly, I am very glad he is respected around the country as one of the all time greats.

I am with Spnited on doubting anyone in the steroid era.

 

In my opinion, Stargell is the underrated one of those two. I'll guarantee if you survey 100 casual baseball fans and ask them who's more familiar to them, at least 90 of them tell you Roberto Clemente.

 

So you're OK with Mini Ditka but it's Clemente you took issue with?

 

No love for Mindy Mcready?

 

Agreed. Clemente is not underrated at all, especially somewhere with a large Spanish-speaking population like New York. His legacy has held up over time better than Stargell's, at least outside of Pittsburgh.

 

Generation gap, there.

Poll a representive group of Pittsburghers over 50, re Roberto/Stargell.

Clemente was GOD.

 

Well, I knew the Mini Ditka was a joke. I honestly thought Clemente was on the list when the pole began. I read through the thread, then posted. I found no other reasonable explanation as to why Clemente's name was even on this thread if not for the list.

 

There are many from the Negro Leagues who say Josh Gibson wasn't the best catcher in the history of that league (not even second best). [from Blackball Stars by John Holway]

 

Biz Mackey, Bruce Petway, and Campy are the other contenders. None of them could hit like Gibson, though.

 

Make Mine Yogi.