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Best-Fielding Catcher of All Time?

Valadius Oct 01 2005 11:46 AM

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.

Edgy DC Oct 01 2005 02:45 PM

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 Oct 01 2005 03:38 PM

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 Oct 01 2005 03:41 PM

Grote generally makes the upper echelons of most lists.

mlbaseballtalk Oct 01 2005 04:45 PM

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 Oct 01 2005 07:19 PM

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.

Spacemans Bong Oct 01 2005 10:34 PM

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 Oct 02 2005 01:58 AM

nuff said. drawing & graphics by me

Spacemans Bong Oct 02 2005 07:57 PM

Think Gibson or Berra might argue.

TheOldMole Oct 02 2005 09:58 PM

Or Campy.