Best-Fielding Catcher of All Time?

[Valadius]

Dan Wilson, catcher for the Mariners, is retiring. Surprisingly, in reading up on him, he owns the best fielding percentage of any catcher in history, with .995. I never would have thunk it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I never would've thunk anything.

If you asked me who I thought had the best fielding percentage among catchers, I would probably answer, "Some guy."

It's not a very meaningful stat for catchers.

[Frayed Knot]

According to Tim McCarver - who played the position from '59 thru '81 and has been following closely ever since - the best defensive catcher he ever saw was ....














Jerry Grote

[Theoldmole]

Grote generally makes the upper echelons of most lists.

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

Edgy DC wrote: I never would've thunk anything. If you asked me who I thought had the best fielding percentage among catchers, I would probably answer, "Some guy." It's not a very meaningful stat for catchers.

Hence why people who call Piazza the worst defensive catcher are just plain Anti-Piazza (or anti Met as the case could be)

Only reason the thought of moving him was entertained was because of the daily grind taking its toll on his hitting and health, not because he is a liability back there.

Sure he's never been confused with Pudge or Bench, or even Carter defensivly but to call him the worse just because he has a bad runners thrown percentage is just as stupid thinking as tabbing Dan Wilson the greatest defensive backstop of all time because of his fielding percentage. Is he a damn fine backstop? Well I would have to say he probably deserves mention, all-time legend category though, not even close

Steve

[soupcan]

I think I read a while back that Wilson and Todd Hundley were rival high school catchers.

Not that it contributes anything to the conversation but its a Dan Wilson tidbit for you.

P.S. Johnny Bench won 10 freakin' gold gloves.

[Guest Spacemans Bong]

Piazza has a shit arm, but can catch the ball. Truly bad defensive catchers can't even do that.

Joe Torre was by all accounts a hellaciously bad defensive catcher. Brian Harper sucked too.

[Zvon]

nuff said.
drawing & graphics by me

[Guest Spacemans Bong]

Think Gibson or Berra might argue.

[Theoldmole]

Or Campy.