Only 21 catchers have had 180 hits while catching at least 120 games. Thurman Munson accomplished this feat 4 consecutive seasons. The only other catcher to do this was Hall of Famer catcher Ivan Rodriquez .
Only 12 catchers have achieved 180 hits and caught 120 games while being above their league average in defensive Caught Stealing (CS)percentage for the season. To put this in further perspective, 1,780 players at any position have collected at least 180 hits in a season.
To endure the additional challenges of the Catcher position for 120 games and hit for a high enough average to deliver at least 180 hits, while at the same time be able to excel on the defensive side of the ball is one of the most difficult trifectas in the game! To balance durability with endurance and hit with consistent excellence is a rare talent.
Munson also have 7 consecutive seasons of 130+ hits for a catcher. At the time of his death in 1979, he had 110 hits. With 60 games left, he would have almost certainly had an 8 consecutive season of 130 hits.
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Seasons in Which A Catcher Has Caught 120 Games and Delivered 180 Hits While Being Above League Average in Caught Stealing % |
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|
Year |
Hits |
League Rank in Hits |
Games Caught |
Caught Stealing % |
VS. League CS % |
|
|
Yogi Berra |
1950 |
192 |
4th |
148 |
58 |
9 |
|
Ted Simmons |
1973 |
192 |
4th |
153 |
44 |
8 |
|
Thurman Munson |
1975 |
190 |
3rd |
130 |
50 |
12 |
|
Thurman Munson |
1976 |
186 |
4th |
121 |
35 |
1 |
|
Thurman Munson |
1977 |
183 |
11th |
136 |
40 |
1 |
|
Thurman Munson |
1978 |
183 |
4th |
125 |
45 |
7 |
|
Ivan Rodriguez |
1996 |
192 |
7th |
146 |
51 |
21 |
|
Ivan Rodriguez |
1997 |
187 |
5th |
143 |
57 |
24 |
|
Ivan Rodriguez |
1998 |
186 |
9th |
139 |
56 |
25 |
|
Ivan Rodriguez |
1999 |
199 |
5th |
141 |
55 |
22 |
|
Jason Kendall |
2004 |
183 |
10th |
146 |
36 |
8 |
|
Joe Mauer |
2006 |
181 |
11th |
120 |
38 |
8 |
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Analytical Note 1: Yogi Berra won a World Series Title in 1950 and Thurman Munson won in 1977 and 1978. |
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Analytical Note 2: Thurman Munson won the MVP Award in 1976 and Ivan Rodriguez won in 1999. |
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Analytical Note 3: Munson’s 190 hits and 3rd place finish in 1975 is the closest a Catcher has come to leading his league in hits: 5 behind the leader (Brett / 195). |
Thurman Munson and Ivan Rodriguez share 8 of the 12 seasons in the history of baseball in which a Catcher has caught at least 120 games and delivered 180 hits while being above their league average in the defensive CS metric.
Thurman Munson had a 788 total hits between 1975 and 1978- the most by any catcher.
Batting practice before his first major league game on August 8, 1969 during which he caught a complete game 9 inning shutout victory by Al Downing and collected his first hit off Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter – his future friend and teammate.