Benito Santiago Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played for 20 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1986 to 2005,most prominently as a member of the San Diego Padres where he was a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner as well as a three-time Gold Glove Award winner. The five-time All-Star was considered the premier catcher in the National League (NL) during his tenure with the Padres. In 2015,Santiago was inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame.
Dale Bryan Murphy is an American former professional baseball player. During an 18-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1976 to 1993,he played as an outfielder,catcher,and first baseman for the Atlanta Braves,Philadelphia Phillies,and Colorado Rockies;Murphy is best noted for his many years with the Braves. His entire MLB career was spent in the National League (NL),during which time he won consecutive Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards (1982–1983),the Silver Slugger Award for four straight years (1982–1985),and the Gold Glove Award for five straight years (1982–1986). Murphy is a member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame,Georgia Sports Hall of Fame,and World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.
Baudilio JoséDíaz Seijas was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1977 to 1989,most prominently with the Cleveland Indians where he rose to prominence as an American League (AL) All-Star player in 1981 and,later with the Philadelphia Phillies where he was a member of the 1983 National League pennant winning team. He earned his second All-Star game berth with the Cincinnati Reds in 1987. Diaz began his career with the Boston Red Sox. He was the first Venezuelan to play regularly as a catcher in Major League Baseball. In 2006,Díaz was posthumously inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame.
Richard Benjamin Ferrell was an American professional baseball player,coach,scout,and executive. He played for 18 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1929 through 1947 for the St. Louis Browns,Boston Red Sox,and Washington Senators. His brother,Wes Ferrell,was a major league pitcher for 15 seasons,and they were teammates from 1933 through part of 1938 on the Red Sox and Senators. Following his three seasons in minor league baseball,he appealed to the Commissioner of Baseball to become a free agent,claiming that he was being held in the minors though he deserved promotion. The Commissioner agreed,and he was granted free agency;he signed with the St. Louis Browns.
Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett,also nicknamed "Old Tomato Face",was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher with the Chicago Cubs,from 1922 to 1940. He spent the final season of his career as a player-coach with the New York Giants in 1941. After his playing career,Hartnett continued his involvement in baseball as a coach and as a minor league manager.
Henry Ramón Blanco is a Venezuelan professional baseball coach and former player. He is currently the catching and strategy coach for the Washington Nationals. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2013,appearing for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Colorado Rockies,Milwaukee Brewers,Atlanta Braves,Minnesota Twins,Chicago Cubs,San Diego Padres,New York Mets,Arizona Diamondbacks,Toronto Blue Jays,and Seattle Mariners. He later served as quality assurance coach for the Cubs. Although a light-hitting player,he was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player,manager,scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career,he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1932),New York Giants (1933–1935),Philadelphia Athletics (1935) and Detroit Tigers (1943–1946). After retiring,he became the manager of the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles (1955–1961). He also served as the general manager for the Orioles,the Houston Colt .45s / Astros and the Atlanta Braves.
George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player,manager,scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers,Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from 1936 to 1952. Tebbetts was regarded as the best catcher in the American League in the late 1940s.
Jody Richard Davis is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. He was a catcher in Major League Baseball with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves from 1981 to 1990. A two-time National League All-Star,Davis won the 1986 National League Gold Glove Award.
Ted Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter,Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the St. Louis Cardinals (1968–1980),the Milwaukee Brewers (1981–1985) and the Atlanta Braves (1986–1988). Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporary,Johnny Bench,Simmons is considered one of the best hitting catchers in MLB history. While his power numbers paled in comparison to Bench,Simmons still managed to hit for a higher batting average despite playing home games in a notoriously tough hitter's park.
Wesley Noreen Westrum was an American professional baseball player,coach,manager,and scout. He played for 11 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants from 1947 to 1957 and was known as a superb defensive catcher. He served as the second manager in the history of the New York Mets,replacing Casey Stengel in 1965 after the latter fractured his hip and was forced to retire.
Alejandro Treviño Castro is a Mexican former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets,Cincinnati Reds,Atlanta Braves,San Francisco Giants,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Houston Astros from 1978 to 1990. Since 1996,Treviño has been a broadcaster for Astros games. He is the younger brother of MLB outfielder Bobby Treviño.
Delbert Rice Jr. was an American professional baseball player,coach and manager. He played for 17 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1961,most notably for the St. Louis Cardinals. Although Rice was a relatively weak hitter,he sustained a lengthy career in the major leagues due to his valuable defensive abilities.
William Lavier Killefer,nicknamed "Reindeer Bill",was an American professional baseball player,coach,and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1909 to 1921 for the St. Louis Browns,Philadelphia Phillies,and Chicago Cubs. Killefer,who was nicknamed "Reindeer Bill" due to his speed afoot,is notable for being the favorite catcher of Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander and,for being one of the top defensive catchers of his era. After his playing career,he continued to work as a coach and a manager for a Major League Baseball career that spanned a total of 48 years.
James Wren "Zack" Taylor was an American professional baseball player,coach,scout,and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher with the Brooklyn Robins,Boston Braves,New York Giants,Chicago Cubs,New York Yankees,and again with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Although Taylor was not a powerful hitter,he sustained a lengthy career in the major leagues due to his valuable defensive abilities as a catcher. After his playing career,he became better known as the manager for the St. Louis Browns owned by Bill Veeck. His baseball career spanned 58 years.
Harold Delano "Butch" Wynegar Jr. is an American former professional baseball catcher who played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Minnesota Twins,New York Yankees and California Angels,and was a two-time All Star.
Barry Clifton Foote is an American former professional baseball player,scout,coach,and minor league manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos (1973–1977),Philadelphia Phillies (1977–1978),Chicago Cubs (1979–1981),and New York Yankees (1981–1982). Although he was highly regarded as a younger player,he suffered numerous injuries and played most of his baseball career as a reserve player.
Biff Benedict Pocoroba was an American baseball catcher who played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played his entire career for the Atlanta Braves from 1975 to 1984. Although his primary position was catcher,Pocoroba played at third base as well.
Jerry Lee May was an American professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1964 through 1973 for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Kansas City Royals,and New York Mets. May was notable for his defensive skills and ability to handle a pitching staff.
Antonio Francisco Peña Padilla is a Dominican former professional baseball player,manager and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates,St. Louis Cardinals,Boston Red Sox,Cleveland Indians,Chicago White Sox,and Houston Astros. After his playing career,Peña was the manager of the Kansas City Royals between 2002 and 2005. He was most recently the first base coach for the New York Yankees. A four-time Gold Glove Award winner,Peña was known for his defensive abilities as well as his unorthodox squat behind home plate.
