Dodgers: Who is the best catcher in franchise history?

Ranking the top five catchers in Los Angeles Dodgers history.

There are certain positions in Dodger history that carry more significance than others. You think of pitching. You think of the middle of the infield. And you think of behind home plate. The Dodgers have had some great catchers over the years, dating back to their time in Brooklyn, as well as in more recent memory in Los Angeles.

This was a tough list to put together, most in terms of deciding how to rank everyone. I tried to consider longevity, consistency, along with superlative performances. I didn’t want to exclude players who weren’t long-standing catchers with the team, but a player needed to serve enough time to make an impact beyond just a few seasons. I also didn’t want to discount catchers who never rose to the top of their profession, but proved reliable for a multitude of seasons.

Before we get into the list, let’s run through a few honorable mentions.

: A strong case could be made for the Dodger catcher who squatted behind the plate for most of the seventies and early eighties. The 1981 World Series MVP appeared in four World Series with the Dodgers in 1974, 1977, 1978, and 1981. From 1974-1977, he was at his best, hitting double digit home runs, adding power to make up for a low batting average. While he was a consistent force behind the plate for the Dodgers, his performance doesn’t quite measure up to the players ranked on this list.

Yasmani Grandal: Grandal’s time with the Dodgers was a bit short, only four seasons, but he proved to be the most powerful catcher since Mike Piazza. He smacked 89 home runs for the Dodgers in those four years he was in Los Angeles. Had he served a little more time with the team, he might have cracked the top five.

Paul Lo Duca: Lo Duca is another case of a modern catcher who had some strong seasons with the Dodgers, but just didn’t play long enough, only three full seasons with the team, to prove worthy of top five consideration.

Now that we know who just missed the list, let’s break down the five best catchers in Dodger history.

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5) Russell Martin

Russell Martin‘s tenure with the Dodgers wasn’t long, only six seasons, but his work behind the plate earns him the fifth spot on this list. When you think of modern Dodger catchers, Martin’s name rises to the top in considering who has been the best over the past few decades.

The Canadian catcher batted .268 with an impressive .362 on-base-percentage while playing for the Dodgers. He appeared in two All-Star games and won both the Silver Slugger Award and Gold Glove Award in 2007, proving his value from both sides of the plate.

During that 2007 campaign, Martin clubbed 19 home runs and drove in 87 baserunners, while batting .293/.374/.469. He led catchers in games played, putouts, assists, runners caught stealing, and range factor per nine innings on his way to his Gold Glove honor.

Martin’s 23.1 wins above replacement level with the Dodgers ranks fourth highest among Dodger backstops. In 750 games, he produced value on par with long-time catchers, such as Johnny Roseboro and Mike Scioscia.

3) Mike Scioscia

Before Kirk Gibson limped around the bases in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, it was Mike Scioscia’s home run against the Mets in Game 4 of the NLCS that miraculously saved the season. The Mets were on the verge of taking a commanding 3-1 series lead, with Doc Gooden ready to retire the final three batters, and Scioscia, who had hit three home runs all season, shocked the baseball world with a game-tying long ball.

You could put Scioscia as an honorable mention just for this one swing.

When you think of Mike Scioscia, you also think of loyalty. He played all 13 of his seasons in the majors with one team. And followed up his playing days with 18 consecutive seasons managing down the freeway with the Angels.

The Pennsylvania native made two All-Star games in his career, his performance measured in consistency more than superlatives. Between 1980-1991, his batting average barely ever deviated in a negative direction from his career .259 batting average. He appeared in 1394 games as a Dodger catcher, most in franchise history. Scioscia gets the lifetime achievement award for Dodger backstops.

2) Mike Piazza

While things didn’t end as they should have with Mike Piazza in Los Angeles, he is still the second best catcher in franchise history. We could debate whether his statistics should count the same given the steroid era, but for now, we will leave that aside and focus on what he accomplished.

Drafted as a favor by godfather Tommy Lasorda in the 62nd round of the 1988 draft, Piazza quickly developed into a prolific slugger in the major leagues. After winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 1993 when he burst onto the scene with a .318 batting average, 35 home runs, and 112 RBIs, Piazza kept hitting and hitting and hitting.

Over his time with the Dodgers, he won six Silver Slugger Awards, appeared in six All-Star games, and finished in the top-five for MVP voting three times, including two second place finishes.

He hit 177 career home runs while calling Los Angeles home, a number that ranks him ninth in franchise history. His .572 slugging percentage puts him second all-time to Gary Sheffield. And his .966 OPS ranks third in team history.

While Piazza wasn’t known for his abilities behind the plate, during his time with the Dodgers, he was at least consistent in putting on the mask and pads. He deserves credit for suiting up nearly every single night at a punishing position, while still producing at the plate at an historic rate.

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1) Roy Campanella

It’s unfortunate that Roy Campanella never got the chance to play with the Dodgers in Los Angeles. A horrific car accident injured the Hall-of-Fame catcher in the months preceding the team’s opener out West.

For the ten seasons before the Dodgers left Brooklyn, Campanella became one of the greatest catchers to ever play the sport. An eight-time All Star, three-time MVP, and 1955 World Series champion, you can’t argue with the hardware the catcher, nicknamed “Campy,” accumulated over the years.

His 242 career home runs still ranks fourth among players who played at least 90 percent of their games at the catcher position. His 1953 season remains one of the greatest seasons by a catcher, when he set a long-standing record for a backstop with 41 home runs, along with 142 RBIs, and a .312 batting average.

Dodgers: 5 greatest seasons by a catcher

Who had the greatest season as a Dodger catcher, and what season was it?

The Dodgers have a rich history of backstops who transformed the catching role from a defensive-minded position to one packed with power. From Roy Campanella to Mike Piazza to Russell Martin, the franchise has built a lineage of catchers that hopefully continues to to Will Smith on the current-day Dodgers.

For now, the best ever designation remains with Roy Campanella.