Year Of The Catcher
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by user Cshimkin
In 1961, during their Ruthian home run chase, Yankee sluggers Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle
were dubbed the M&M Boys. Forty-six years later we might have to redefine that term to refer to catchers
Joe Mauer and Brian McCann. There's been a lot of press about the Twins' Joe Mauer becoming the first catcher in 64 years and the first AL catcher ever to win the batting title. But, it's time to realize that an even more rare feat could be accomplished this season. If Braves' catcher Brian McCann can manage another
170 plate appearances (PA) in the Braves' final 46 games, the major leagues could experience the first ever instance of two catchers winning the batting title in the same season.
While Mauer, at .361, currently has a commanding .020 lead in the AL, McCann at .350 would have a .004 lead in the NL if he had enough plate appearances to qualify. Presently, McCann is taking off about only one game a week, so the probability of him qualifying by the end of the season is pretty good. If McCann were to play in 40 of the Braves' final 46 games, which would keep with his recent pattern of games played, he would have to average 4.25 plate appearances per game. If you consider that McCann has averaged 4.18 plate appearances in his 77 game starts so far, and you add in a few pinch-hitting appearances, his shot at qualifying is definitely within reach.
If McCann should fail, another NL catcher who is in the running for the batting title is the Cubs' Michael Barrett. Like McCann, Barrett is a little short of having the necessary plate appearances required to qualify, but he is closer than McCann. To date, Barrett would need 143 more plate appearances. The Cubs have 45 games remaining, so barring another injury Barrett should have no problem qualifying. His .330 average would presently rank 4th in the NL.
When you consider the history of catchers winning a batting title, there aren't many places to look. Cincinnati has been the benefactor of this rare feat two of the three times it has been accomplished. And neither time was the player's name Johnny Bench. The only two catchers who have ever won a batting title since 1900 are
Bubbles Hargrave and Ernie Lombardi. Hargraves was the first, winning in 1926 for the Cincinnati Reds (.353). Lombardi also won a batting title for the Reds when he led the NL in 1938 (.342). Lombardi became the last catcher to top the batting charts in 1942 (a war year when many of the best hitters were out of the league because they had joined the U.S. armed services) when he again led the NL, hitting .330 for the Boston Braves.
To further bolster the proclamation that this is truly the year of the catcher click on the following link to see a few other backstops batting over .300 in 2006:
http://bestblog.mlblogs.com/inside_pitch/2006/08/year_of_the_cat_1.html
Carl the Cabbie
Date
Mon 08/14/06, 10:18 am EST
