All-Time Sox Catchers
This is but a continuation!
Second basemen by Jimmy
Shortstops by Jimmy
First basemen by Jeff
5. Wally Schang
Schang is probably one of the best players not in the Hall of Fame. To that end, he’s probably the best offensive catcher of the Deadball era. He was only a Red Sox for three seasons (really less in terms of actual playing time…he only had 1100 plate appearences), but he was the single greatest offensive force the Sox have ever had behind the plate. His all-time adjusted runs created per 27 outs is 7.7, which is almost two runs per 27 outs better than #2 on the Sox list…Carlton Fisk.
As a catcher, he hit .291/.412/.383…the slugging look low until you realize that this was 1918-1920. When the lively ball was introduced, Schang slugged .450. During the offseason, Schang was a blacksmith, so his lack of power really is probably an era thing rather than a lack of pop. The only thing (and I mean the only thing) keeping him from being rated higher is playing time with the Sox. Its hard to justify someone with less than two seasons worth of PA’s ranking higher than guys that were almost as good, but played for Boston for a longer time.
4. Rick Ferrell
Ferrell has a similar profile to Schang, but he played longer for the Red Sox. Rick is actually in the Hall of Fame, despite having a career that is less than some of the guys that aren’t in (like Schang) and being the second best Ferrell baseball player in the 1930’s (his brother Wes). He got into the Hall as a Veteran’s Committee vote, from what I would guess would be a mix of cronyism, his reputation as being a great teammate and a tremendous defensive catcher.
Ferrell had a line of .302/.394/.410. Schang, as I said, had one of .291/.412/.383. The difference is that Schang did it in the deadball era, when on base percentages, and sluggings were both in the low .300 range. Ferrell line was within 2-3% of league average. Remember that ‘adjustment’ in this context is a misnomer. The value in park affects isn’t in saying what a guy would hit, it’s creating a numerical context to try and better show what he did it. Schang’s value gets a boost from this in context, and Ferrell doesn’t.
3. Jason Varitek
Varitek is another player that annoys me sometimes. There are two definate, fool-proof ways to get Jason Varitek out…slider in the dirt, letter high fastball. The pitchers in his employ rarely get better. And for all the talk about him being the heart and soul of the Red Sox, the last two years they’ve looked pretty soul-less. But my problems are as much with the Jason Varitek Propaganda Machine that follows him around as they are with his flaws as a player. And that is, of course, not his fault.
His troubles breaking in have been well documented, mostly because he was one of the first Boras guys to hold out for the money. His situation has been used as an argument against Boras’ tactics, saying that the holdout cost Varitek precious development time, possibly derailing his career in the process. Logically, I don’t think that passes muster. Tek played in the independent leagues while his draft mates were in single A. When he did sign with the Mariners, he was slotted for AA. Which is where he would have been through natural promotion anyway. He spent two years in AA, but I don’t see much evidence that he wouldn’t have done that if he had signed right away…he just wasn’t ready to go to AAA those two years, no matter when he signed. For all the negatives against Boras, his handling of the Varitek negotiations as it pertains to what was good for the player really shouldn’t be considered one of them.
2. Bill “Rough” Carrigan
Another Deadball Catcher, but this one needs an explanation.
Carrigan wasn’t actually a full-time catcher with the Red Sox. He played more than say, Doug Mirabelli did, but he was never really more than the short arm of a platoon. So why does he rank above guys like Varitek?
1. He was like Tek on steriods…thought of as a brillient baseball mind, who would gladly help along younger, talent players, even at the expense of his playing carrer.
2. He got on base a lot, in a time when it was very hard to get on base. His adjusted RC/27 is 5.1, which is the 4th highest in Red Sox catcher history.
3. While he was playing, he was managing, back in a time when the manager usually served as the GM too. It was then that the Red Sox won the 1915 and 1916 World Series and signed Babe Ruth.
I cheated a little, but he’s someone that is usually lost in history, despite his importance to the Red Sox.
1. Carlton Fisk
Fisk likely had the best career in baseball history that was defined by one moment.
You forgot Sammy White. He was probably the best catcher from the 50’s and before Fisks came on the scence. I think contract differences with Sox management led to his decision to retire early.
After White and throughout the 60’s the Bosox had some terrible catchers -Sullivan included.