MLB: Finding the best catcher in the divisional era

Cumulative career OPS+

This category, which is simply the sum of each catcher’s seasonal OPS+ values over the course of his career, is designed to reward longevity. It is essentially a counter-balance to the first, peak-performance oriented, category. It is not the same as career OPS+

Durability is a rare trait among catchers, but the importance of the position – especially with respect to leadership – makes it a highly valuable commodity. The top of this list is dominated by two players who performed the demanding and debilitating catcher’s role for more than two decades each.

In reviewing this list, note that only seasons in which the catcher’s predominant position was catcher are used. This is important since many catchers at some point in their career move out from behind the plate.

Here is the top 10:

Rank      Catcher               Career OPS+

1              Carlton Fisk           2,549

2              Ivan Rodriguez     2,178

3              Mike Piazza          2,135

4              Gary Carter           2,132

5              Ted Simmons       2,124

6              Lance Parrish       1,835

7              Jorge Posada        1,777

8              Benito Santiago   1,743

9              Darrell Porter       1,709

10           Johnny Bench       1,705

It should be no surprise that this list closely mirrors the list of all-time games played behind the plate. Rodriguez (2,427) and Fisk (2,226) lead that list with Carter (2,056) fourth behind Bob Boone (2,225).

This category, too, hurts Bench’s status as the presumed overall front-runner. The problem is that as great as the Reds catcher was, he had a relatively short stint behind the plate by the standards of all-time excellence. Bench played 1,742 games at catcher, about 700 fewer than Rodriguez. He spent most of his final three seasons in various other infield roles, fundamentally leaving the plate for good at age 32.

Rodriguez was predominantly a catcher for seven seasons beyond age 32, Fisk for 13 more, and the difference shows in their career totals.

Probably the surprise on this list is Lance Parrish. The catcher for some very good Tigers teams in the 1980s, Parrish continued behind the plate into the mid 1990s, averaging 100 games behind the plate over his career. Although not a great slugger, his lifetime 106 OPS+ demonstrates that he was a quality bat.