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OPS Leaders by Age (19-43) |
The table below lists the catcher leaders for Production (On-Base Percentage Plus Slugging Average - OPS) for each age group from 19 to 43. On-Base Percentage is computed as [(H+BB+HBP) / (AB+BB+HBP+SF)] and Slugging Average is computed as (TB/AB). The OPS is the best offensive performance indicator that can be easily computed by the average fan. Mike Piazza holds 5 of the age marks. Two catchers hold three marks each (Hartnett and Fisk). Gabby Hartnett's three span 14 years (ages 23, 34 and 36).
| Age | Catcher | Year | Team | Lg | PA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 19 | Doggie Miller | 1884 | Pit | AA | 362 | 0.257 | 0.265 | 0.522 |
| 20 | Joe Torre | 1961 | Mil | NL | 441 | 0.330 | 0.424 | 0.754 |
| 21 | Johnny Bench | 1969 | Cin | NL | 592 | 0.353 | 0.487 | 0.840 |
| 22 | Johnny Bench | 1970 | Cin | NL | 671 | 0.345 | 0.587 | 0.932 |
| 23 | Gabby Hartnett | 1924 | Chi | NL | 407 | 0.377 | 0.523 | 0.900 |
| 24 | Fred Carroll | 1889 | Pit | NL | 414 | 0.486 | 0.484 | 0.970 |
| 25 | Joe Torre | 1966 | Atl | NL | 614 | 0.382 | 0.560 | 0.943 |
| 26 | Mike Piazza | 1995 | LA | NL | 475 | 0.400 | 0.606 | 1.006 |
| 27 | Mike Piazza | 1996 | LA | NL | 631 | 0.422 | 0.563 | 0.985 |
| 28 | Mike Piazza | 1997 | LA | NL | 633 | 0.431 | 0.638 | 1.070 |
| 29 | Bill Dickey | 1936 | NY | AL | 472 | 0.428 | 0.617 | 1.045 |
| 30 | Jack Clements | 1895 | Phi | NL | 355 | 0.446 | 0.612 | 1.058 |
| 31 | Mike Piazza | 2000 | NY | NL | 545 | 0.398 | 0.614 | 1.012 |
| 32 | Mike Piazza | 2001 | NY | NL | 726 | 0.384 | 0.573 | 0.957 |
| 33 | Javy Lopez | 2003 | Atl | NL | 495 | 0.378 | 0.687 | 1.065 |
| 34 | Gabby Hartnett | 1935 | Chi | NL | 461 | 0.404 | 0.545 | 0.949 |
| 35 | Smoky Burgess | 1962 | Pit | NL | 399 | 0.375 | 0.500 | 0.875 |
| 36 | Gabby Hartnett | 1937 | Chi | NL | 405 | 0.424 | 0.548 | 0.971 |
| 37 | Ernie Lombardi | 1945 | NY | NL | 417 | 0.387 | 0.486 | 0.873 |
| 38 | Wally Schang | 1928 | Stl | AL | 325 | 0.448 | 0.404 | 0.852 |
| 39 | Wally Schang | 1929 | Stl | AL | 334 | 0.424 | 0.378 | 0.802 |
| 40 | Bob Boone | 1988 | Cal | AL | 392 | 0.352 | 0.386 | 0.738 |
| 41 | Carlton Fisk | 1989 | Chi | AL | 419 | 0.356 | 0.475 | 0.830 |
| 42 | Carlton Fisk | 1990 | Chi | AL | 521 | 0.378 | 0.451 | 0.829 |
| 43 | Carlton Fisk | 1991 | Chi | AL | 501 | 0.299 | 0.413 | 0.712 |