MLB: Finding the best catcher in the divisional era
By Bill Felber
Five-season peak performance
This criteria is simply the catcher’s best average OPS+ over five consecutive MLB seasons at which his predominant position was catcher.
Here are the 10 best peak averages among the 30 candidates.
Rank Catcher Seasons Avg OPS+
1 Mike Piazza 1995-1999 168.4
2 Joe Mauer 2006-2010 141.4
3 Buster Posey 2010-2014 139.6
4 Ted Simmons 1975-1979 137.2
5 Carlton Fisk 1972-1976 136.8
6 Johnny Bench 1972-1976 135.4
7 Ivan Rodriguez 1999-2003 133.4
8 Jorge Posada 2003-2007 131.8
9 Gary Carter 1982-1986 131.6
10 Javy Lopez 1992-1996 129.2
Right away Bench’s status as the consensus top pick is called into question. Much of his reputation is built on his offensive numbers, yet five catchers since 1969 emerge with stronger peak values than Bench in this decidedly offensive category.
This is not really a knock on Bench. Between 1968 and 1980 he failed to record at least a 120 OPS+ only four times, and two of those were a 117 in 1968 and a 119 in 1973. It’s more a statement about the quality of the competition, much of it perhaps under-appreciated.
The leader, Piazza, does not wear the ‘under-appreciated’ label. A Hall of Famer who got in on his bat, he never fell below a 150 OPS+ between 1995 and 1999.
Mauer was also known as a hitter, but in all-time discussions may not have gotten the credit he deserves. His 141.4 peak average was built on a 171 OPS+ in 2009 when he won the AL batting title (.365), the slash line triple crown (.365/444/.587), was the Most Valuable Player, and took home the Gold Glove.
Fisk, who caught for more than two decades, is often thought of as an accumulator. Yet he three times topped 150 in OPS+, including back-to-back 1974 and 1975 seasons.
Posey is the only catcher on this list who can claim to have backstopped three World Series champions. His strength was offense, including a 2012 batting title when he produced a 171 OPS+ that powers his five-season peak average.