Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers - Catchers Of The Decades (Golden Mask Award)

Catcher Of The Decade
(Golden Mask Award)

Since 1900 there have been over 1,700 players who have caught in at least one game. Of this number there have been 1,450 players whose career position was that of catcher, having played the majority of games at this position. Each decade (1900 through 2009) has averaged 191 different catchers, many of whom caught in more than one decade and sometimes in 3 decades. For this Catcher of the Decade project career accomplishments were not considered, just what was accomplished in each decade unto itself. Within each decade the Top 25 Catchers were selected and from this grouping the Number One Backstop of the Decade was chosen. Below are these elite eleven catchers along with a few of their credentials. To view each decade Top 25, just click on the link where indicated.

CATCHER OF THE 1900s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Roger Bresnahan

Enshrined in Baseball's Hall Of Fame
Most Homeruns by a catcher in the decade - 20
Most Triples by a catcher in the decade - 51
Most Doubles by a catcher in the decade - 156
Highest Average by a catcher in the decade - .285
Most Win Shares by a catcher in the decade - 169
Most Runs Created by a catcher in the decade - 591
Most Runs Created per Game by a catcher in the decade - 5.55

CATCHER OF THE 1910s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Chief Meyers

Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 333
Most Win Shares by a catcher in the decade - 119
Most Runs Created by a catcher in the decade - 400
Highest Average by a catcher in the decade - .293
Fourth Most Triples by a catcher in the decade - 36
2nd Most Doubles by a catcher in the decade - 110
847 Games Caught in the decade

CATCHER OF THE 1920s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Muddy Ruel

Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 433
Most Innings Caught in the decade - 5,698
Most Putouts by a catcher in the decade - 4,273
Most Assists by a catcher in the decade - 911
Most Runners Caught Stealing in the decade - 454
Most Games Caught in the decade - 1,115

CATCHER OF THE 1930s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Bill Dickey

Inducted Into Baseball's Hall Of Fame
Most Homeruns by a catcher in the decade - 168
Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 937
SIX All Star selections (1933-34, 36-39)
Most Triples by a catcher in the decade - 56
Most Doubles by a catcher in the decade - 247
2nd Highest Batting Average by a catcher in the decade - .320
Most Putouts by a catcher in the decade - 5,791
1,179 Games Caught in the decade

CATCHER OF THE 1940s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Walker Cooper

Most Homeruns by a catcher in the decade - 109
Most Triples by a catcher in the decade - 30
Most Doubles by a catcher in the decade - 156
Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 546
Seven All Star selections (1942-44, 46-49)
3rd Highest Average by a catcher in the decade - .288
798 Games Caught in the decade

CATCHER OF THE 1950s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Yogi Berra

Inducted Into Baseball's Hall Of Fame
Most Homeruns by a catcher in the decade - 256
Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 997
TEN All Star selections (1950-1959)
Most Triples by a catcher in the decade - 33
Most Doubles by a catcher in the decade - 222
2nd Highest Average by a catcher in the decade - .287
1,316 Games Caught in the decade

CATCHER OF THE 1960s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Joe Torre

Most Homeruns by a catcher in the decade - 160
Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 653
Gold Glove Award 1965
Five All Star selections (1963-1967)
2nd highest average by a catcher in the decade - .293
813 Games Caught in the decade

CATCHER OF THE 1970s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Johnny Bench

Inducted Into Baseball's Hall Of Fame
Most Homeruns by a catcher in the decade - 290
Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 1,013
Gold Glove Awards 1970-1977
Ten All Star selections (1970-1979)
2nd Most Doubles by a catcher in the decade - 264
1,297 Games Caught in the decade

CATCHER OF THE 1980s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Gary Carter

Inducted Into Baseball's Hall Of Fame
NINE All Star selections (1981-1989)
Five Silver Slugger Awards (1981-82, 84-86)
Three Gold Glove Awards (1980-1982)
Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 800
Most Doubles by a catcher in the decade - 219
Most Games Caught in the decade (1,255)
Most Putouts (7,666) and Assist (726) in the decade
Most Runners Caught Stealing in the decade (495)

CATCHER OF THE 1990s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Mike Piazza

Most Homeruns by a catcher in the decade - 240
Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 768
Seven All Star selections (1993-1999)
Seven Silver Slugger Awards in the decade (1993-99)
Most Win Shares by a catcher in the decade - 206
Most Runs Created by a catcher in the decade - 752
Highest Average by a catcher in the decade - .329
940 Games Caught in the decade

CATCHER OF THE 2000s DECADE

(Click to see the Top 25 Candidates)

Jorge Posada

Most Homeruns by a catcher in the decade - 208
Most RBIs by a catcher in the decade - 819
Five All Star selections (2000-03, 07)
Five Silver Slugger awards (2000-03, 07)
Most Win Shares by a catcher in the decade - 214
Most Runs Created by a catcher in the decade - 827
Most Doubles by a catcher in the decade - 288
Most Base Stealers Caught in the decade - 302
1,217 Games Caught in the decade

CATCHER OF THE 2010s DECADE

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