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3 greatest LA Angels catchers of all-time
It has been said that, if you were to start a baseball team from scratch, the first position that should be chosen is catcher.
Far from being the wearer of ‘the tools of ignorance,’ the catcher is the quarterback of the diamond. The field general. All things having to do with the team during play runs through the catcher.
The LA Angels have had their share of standout catchers. When making this list, I took into consideration many outstanding players. Some were defensive wizards. Some were expert offensive players.
But, I’ve tried to find the best that were purely the greatest at running the ballgame from behind the plate. The ones that the Angels manager could most depend on.
Here are the best LA Angels catchers up until now:
No. 3 greatest LA Angels catcher of all-time: Buck Rodgers
Not many remember Bob ‘Buck’ Rodgers. Buck was the LA Angels catcher from 1961 until 1969. He was LA Angels manager Bill Rigney’s lieutenant.
Rodgers played on the LA Angels teams that included Jim Fregosi and Bobby Knopp. He was there at the beginning.
Rodgers was a switch-hitter, but I use the term hitter loosely. Buck didn’t hit much.
He had 704 hits in 3,033 at-bats. 541 were singles. That’s Jeff Mathis territory.
But Rodgers could play great defense and call a game well. He displayed leadership values that led to managerial jobs, including the Angels from 1991 to 1994.
He caught Bo Belinsky’s no-hitter and was there when Dean Chance won the Cy Young Award. Rodgers helped develop some decent young LA Angels pitchers like Andy Messersmith and Clyde Wright.
He caught 895 games for the LA Angels which is second-most all-time.
No. 2 greatest LA Angels catcher of all-time: Bengie Molina
After a couple of call-ups in the late 1990’s, Bengie Molina made the LA Angels ballclub as a starter in 2000. He quickly established himself as a fine defensive catcher.
During his rookie season Molina’s offensive numbers exploded as he became one of Major League Baseball’s best receivers.
His LA Angels career really came together in 2002. Molina won the first of two Gold Glove Awards and led the LA Angels to their only World Series win.
Through 2005 the LA Angels would win two American League West championships with Molina behind the plate.
Molina was also a great contact hitter. He struck out only 231 times in 716 career games with the LA Angels. His contributions helped the ballclub during their most successful era in LA Angels history.
No. 1 greatest LA Angels catcher of all-time: Bob Boone
Bob Boone was a standout catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, appearing in the postseason with them in the late 1970’s, when the LA Angels picked him up when he was 34 years old.
Age wasn’t a factor. Boone led the LA Angels to division titles in 1982 and 1986; winning a Gold Glove award in both seasons. He also won Gold Glove awards in three straight years from 1987, 1988 and 1989.
Boone caught Mike Witt’s perfect game on the final day of the 1984 season.
Boone has caught the most games in LA Angels history with 968. He was a clutch hitter in the postseason. In 1982 and 1986 he hit a combined .368.
The LA Angels have had some fine players behind the plate.
Brian Downing deserves to be mentioned. He caught for the LA Angels mostly in 1978 and 1979, but is remembered mostly as an outfielder.
Mike Napoli and Lance Parrish were also outstanding offensive players, but didn’t catch as many games as the three listed above. A franchise that's been around a long time, the Angels certainly have their share of special ballplayers behind the plate.