One of the most important positions on the baseball diamond is the catcher position. From being involved in every pitch, to helping call pitches to also their role within the lineup.

Over this history of baseball, many great MLB players have played the position. When you start to look at the Top 10 MLB Catchers All-Time Rankings, the debate over which players are deserving of a spot and which player should be the greatest of All-time can be argued.

When debating over which catchers should land on the top catcher’s all-time rankings list should you consider hitting first or their defensive contributions?

Luckily for many of the greatest catchers of All-Time, the ability to be a great defensive catcher was there as well as the ability to hit.

From the likes of one of the greatest hitting catchers of Johnny Bench or Mike Piazza to a defensive phenom such as Ivan Rodriguez. The list of the best catchers in baseball is loaded with a ton of talent. With that said, here is our Top 10 MLB Catchers All-Time Rankings list.

Honorable Mention

Joe Mauer

Team(s): Minnesota Twins

Landing just outside of the Top 10 MLB Catchers All-Time rankings list is the former Minnesota Twins All-Star Joe Mauer.

Mauer who was selected by the Twins with the 1st pick of the 2001 MLB Draft was one of the best pure hitting catchers to play the game over the past 20-30 MLB seasons.

Mauer who played his entire career with the Twins racked up a career .306 batting average to go along with 2,123 hits, 143 home runs and 923 runs batted in.

In addition, Mauer was a solid defensive catcher winning three gold glove awards to go along with being named to six MLB All-Star teams and leading the AL in batting three different seasons.

Accolades:

• 6× All-Star (2006, 2008–2010, 2012, 2013)

• AL MVP (2009)

• 3× Gold Glove Award (2008–2010)

• 5× Silver Slugger Award (2006, 2008–2010, 2013)

• 3× AL batting champion (2006, 2008, 2009)

• Minnesota Twins No. 7 retired

Jorge Posada

Team(s): New York Yankees

The former New York Yankees All-Star catcher was a key piece of the team’s dynasty that would win four different World Series with him behind the plate.

Over his career the Yankees star racked up 1,664 career hits including 379 doubles, 275 home runs while driving in 1,065 runs across 1829 career games played all with the Yankees.

In addition to those numbers, Posada posted a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) mark of at least five in three different MLB seasons.

Accolades:

• 5× All-Star (2000–2003, 2007)

• 4× World Series champion (1998–2000, 2009)

• 5× Silver Slugger Award (2000–2003, 2007)

• New York Yankees No. 20 retired

Top 10 MLB Catchers

10. Yadier Molina

Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 MLB Catchers All-Time rankings list is the long time St. Louis Cardinals great Yadier Molina.

Molina, who is set to end his career after the 2022 MLB schedule, is currently rehabbing his way back to the Cardinals.

The Cardinal’s catcher is as good of a defensive catcher as any to play the position while winning nine Gold Glove Awards over his career to go along with 10 MLB All-Star team selections.

In addition, Molina has won four Platinum Glove Awards, one time Silver Slugger Award winner, and has helped the Cardinals to two World Series championships.

Accolades:

• 10× All-Star (2009–2015, 2017, 2018, 2021)

• 2× World Series champion (2006, 2011)

• 9× Gold Glove Award (2008–2015, 2018)

• 4x Platinum Glove Award (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015)

• Silver Slugger Award (2013)

• Roberto Clemente Award (2018)

• 6× Fielding Bible Award (2007–2010, 2012, 2013)

• 2× All-World Baseball Classic Team (2013, 2017)

9. Gary Carter

Team(s): Montreal Expos, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Kid was as dynamic as any player during his playing career while ranking near the top among all offensive statistics among all MLB catchers.

After being selected by the Montreal Expos in the third round of the 1972 MLB Draft, Carter would get his callup just a few seasons later after the team elected to convert him to catcher. 

After the move, Carter never looked back, winning three Gold Gloves, five Silver Slugger Awards while being named to 11 MLB All-Star teams.

Carter finished his career with a .262 career batting average mark to go along with 324 home runs and 1,225 runs batted in before being named to the MLB Hall of Fame in 2003.

Accolades:

• 11× All-Star (1975, 1979–1988)

• World Series champion (1986)

• 3× Gold Glove Award (1980–1982)

• 5× Silver Slugger Award (1981, 1982, 1984–1986)

• Roberto Clemente Award (1989)

• NL RBI leader (1984)

• Montreal Expos No. 8 retired

• New York Mets Hall of Fame

8. Buster Posey

Team(s): San Francisco Giants

One thing you will notice with a few of these great MLB catchers is that they all were spent with one team. This shows you how important the catcher position is in baseball.

Joining that list is the former San Francisco Giants All-Star catcher Buster Posey who spent his entire 12-year MLB career in the Bay Area. Posey was a dual threat catcher that could hit as well as play the position defensively.

The Giants catcher earned two Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards and one Gold Glove Award.

Other accolades include the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year Award, seven NL All-Star team selections, and a three time World Series Champion. Posey finished his career as a .302 hitter with 1,500 hits and 729 runs batted in.

Accolades:

• 7× All-Star (2012, 2013, 2015–2018, 2021)

• 3× World Series champion (2010, 2012, 2014)

• NL MVP (2012)

• NL Rookie of the Year (2010)

• Gold Glove Award (2016)

• 5× Silver Slugger Award (2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021)

• 2× Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award (2015, 2016)

• 2× Fielding Bible Award (2015, 2016)

• NL Hank Aaron Award (2012)

• 2× NL Comeback Player of the Year (2012, 2021)

• NL batting champion (2012)

• All-MLB Second Team (2021)

7. Mickey Cochrane

Team(s): Philadelphia Athletics, Detroit Tigers

Well before the catcher position transitioned to the hitting catchers of modern baseball, catcher around baseball were known for their ability to call a baseball game and to pick up hits.

This is exactly what Mickey Cochrane of the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers was known for over his career.

Over his career, Cochrane posted a career .320 batting average mark to go along with two AL MVP Awards and two All-Star team selections.

In addition, Cochrane was a key contributor to his Athletics and Tigers team that won a combined three World Series titles.

Accolades:

• 2× All-Star (1934, 1935)

• 3× World Series champion (1929, 1930, 1935)

• 2× AL MVP (1928, 1934)

6. Mike Piazza

Team(s): Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Oakland A’s

One of the greatest power hitting catchers of All-Time if not the best is the former MLB Hall of Famer Mike Piazza.

Piazza, who was drafted in the 62nd round of the 1988 MLB draft, did not disappoint Godfather Tommy Lasorda who was the manager of the Dodgers at the time of being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After his playing career was over, Piazza finished with 427 career home runs to go along with 2,127 career hits, 1,335 runs batted in to go along with 12 All-Star selections and 10 Silver Slugger Awards.

Accolades:

• 12× All-Star (1993–2002, 2004, 2005)

• NL Rookie of the Year (1993)

• 10× Silver Slugger Award (1993–2002)

• New York Mets No. 31 retired

• New York Mets Hall of Fame

5. Carlton Fisk

Team(s): Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox

Coming in at number five on the Top 10 MLB Catchers All-Time rankings is the great Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk.

Fisk, who could rank as high as number three on this list, spent time with both the Red Sox and White Sox while putting together a Hall of Fame Career.

A career that includes his famous home run during the 1975 World Series. Upon his retirement, Fisk was the All-Time leader in home runs among catchers with 351.

Fisk would finish his career as an 11-time MLB All-Star, Gold Glove winner, three time Silver Slugger Award winner and 1972 AL Rookie of the Year.

Accolades:

• 11× All-Star (1972–1974, 1976–1978, 1980–1982, 1985, 1991)

• AL Rookie of the Year (1972)

• Gold Glove Award (1972)

• 3× Silver Slugger Award (1981, 1985, 1988)

• Boston Red Sox No. 27 retired

• Chicago White Sox No. 72 retired

• Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame

4. Ivan Rodriguez

Team(s): Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Washington Nationals

It is hard to look past Ivan Rodriguez or aka Pudge as one of the best catchers of All-Time as well as one of the best defensive catchers of All-Time.

Pudge posted a career 4.4 WAR including five different seasons with at least a WAR of 5.0. Behind the plate, Rodriguez was as difficult to steal against, leading all of MLB six different times in caught stealing percentage helping him earn 13 Gold Glove Awards.

In addition to his defense, Pudge racked up 311 career home runs, won one AL MVP Award, made 14 MLB All-Star teams and won seven Silver Slugger Awards before being inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Accolades:

• 14× All-Star (1992–2001, 2004–2007)

• World Series champion (2003)

• AL MVP (1999)

• NLCS MVP (2003)

• 13× Gold Glove Award (1992–2001, 2004, 2006, 2007)

• 7× Silver Slugger Award (1994–1999, 2004)

• Texas Rangers No. 7 retired

• Texas Rangers Hall of Fame

• Washington Nationals Ring of Honor

3. Roy Campanella

Team(s): Brooklyn Dodgers

While Roy Campanella lands on the list due to his production he put together at the MLB level, other great Negro catchers were also well deserving such as Josh Gibson.

Nonetheless, the Brooklyn Dodgers great lands at number three as one of the greatest catchers of All-Time.

Campanella who spent from 1948 to 1957 with the Brooklyn Dodgers led the NL in runs batted in during the 1953 season while winning NL MVP Awards in 1951, 1953 and 1955.

Over his 10 seasons with the Dodgers, Campanella picked up 1,161 career hits to go along with 242 home runs and 856 runs batted in.

Accolades:

• 3x NgL All-Star (1941, 1944–1945)

• 8× All-Star (1949–1956)

• World Series champion (1955)

• 3× NL MVP (1951, 1953, 1955)

• Negro National League batting champion (1945)

• NL RBI leader (1953)

• Los Angeles Dodgers No. 39 retired

2. Yogi Berra

Team(s): New York Yankees, New York Mets

When it comes to the top two catchers of All-Time Yogi Berra and Johnny Bench could be flipped flopped based on how you view their accolades.

Berra was a key staple among the New York Yankees dynasty of the late 1940’s through the early 1960’s. Over that stretch, Berra helped the Yankees win 10 World Series Championships.

In his career, Berra posted a career batting average mark of .285 while making 18 All-Star teams and winning three AL MVP Awards. His success on the field helped earn Berra a slot in the MLB Hall of Fame in 1972.

Accolades:

• 18× All-Star (1948–1961, 1962)

• 13× World Series champion (1947, 1949–1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1969, 1977, 1978)

• 3× AL MVP (1951, 1954, 1955)

• New York Yankees No. 8 retired

• Monument Park honoree

• Major League Baseball All-Century Team

1. Johnny Bench

Team(s): Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Bench is considered by many to be one of if not the best hitting catchers of All-Time.

Bench finished his career with 2,048 hits to go along with 389 home runs and 1,376 runs batted in. His success behind the plate helped guide the Reds to two World Series Championships in 1975 and 1976.

As a member of the Big Red Machine, Bench was just one dominant piece as he won the 1968 NL Rookie of the Year Award, won two NL MVP Awards, was selected to 14 NL All-Star Teams and was a 10-time Gold Glove Award Winner.

Accolades:

• 14× All-Star (1968–1980, 1983)

• 2× World Series champion (1975, 1976)

• 2× NL MVP (1970, 1972)

• World Series MVP (1976)

• NL Rookie of the Year (1968)

• 10× Gold Glove Award (1968–1977)

• 2× NL home run leader (1970, 1972)

• 3× NL RBI leader (1970, 1972, 1974)

• Cincinnati Reds No. 5 retired

• Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame

• Major League Baseball All-Century Team

• Major League Baseball All-Time Team

How would you rank these great Major League Baseball catchers? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings.

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