Toronto Blue Jays all-time roster: Catcher – Ernie Whitt (1977-1989)
Ernie Whitt was not a regular in the lineup until he was already 28 years old. However, even with that late start, he was easily the greatest catcher in Toronto Blue Jays history.
An All-Star during the Blue Jays first run to the postseason in 1985, Whitt had eight consecutive seasons with double-digit homers, topping out with 19 home runs twice. A good contact hitter with a bit of pop, Whitt posted a .253/.327/.420 batting line in Toronto, drawing 403 walks against 450 strikeouts. He had 131 home runs and 164 doubles, giving the Blue Jays another solid bat towards the bottom of their lineup.
While he was about league average with the bat, Whitt shined defensively. Even on a team with a history of having strong defensive backstops, he easily outpaces the next best catcher, posting a 79.3 DEF score. Possessing a strong arm and excellent instincts behind the plate, Whitt was an above-average presence, helping cultivate the young Blue Jays pitching staff.
It may be fair to say that the Blue Jays are still looking to find a catcher to replace Whitt to this day. Only one other catcher, Pat Borders, has made even half the appearances Whitt did behind the plate, as the catcher position has been a revolving door over the years. Even top catching prospects have flamed out or moved elsewhere, leaving Whitt to cast a long shadow over the position almost 30 years after his final game in Toronto.
Ernie Whitt may seem to be the Blue Jays top catcher by default, but he was a solid contributor on both sides of the game. The long-time catcher, and one of the original Blue Jays, he certainly deserves his spot on the roster.
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