Left Handed Catchers

[moe.ron]

Did you know that there are only 33 left handed catchers in the history of MLB? 28 of them played before 1924 and only 5 afterward.
Link to a site

What is rarer is regular 3rd baseman. mike squires and Don Mattingly are the only left handed 3rd baseman I can think of.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by moe.ron
Did you know that there are only 33 left handed catchers in the history of MLB? 28 of them played before 1924 and only 5 afterward.
Link to a site

What is rarer is regular 3rd baseman. mike squires and Don Mattingly are the only left handed 3rd baseman I can think of.

Don Mattingly was a 1st baseman, and one of the best ever.

Catchers, 2nd basemen, shortstops, and 3rd basemen are supposed to be right handed because its easier for them to throw to 1st base.

In my opinion, 1st basemen should be lefthanded. The very best defensive 1st basemen are almost always lefthanded.

[moe.ron]

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss
Don Mattingly was a 1st baseman, and one of the best ever.

Catchers, 2nd basemen, shortstops, and 3rd basemen are supposed to be right handed because its easier for them to throw to 1st base.

In my opinion, 1st basemen should be lefthanded. The very best defensive 1st basemen are almost always lefthanded.

I forgot to say that Mattingly played 3rd base once in a blue moon. Thanks for reminding me.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss
Don Mattingly was a 1st baseman, and one of the best ever.

Catchers, 2nd basemen, shortstops, and 3rd basemen are supposed to be right handed because its easier for them to throw to 1st base.

In my opinion, 1st basemen should be lefthanded. The very best defensive 1st basemen are almost always lefthanded.

Catchers, actually, are more likely right-handed b/c most people bat right-handed, and left-handers would have trouble tossing to second on steal attempts with a right-handed batter. It's actually more difficult to throw to first, b/c the entire body has to turn to get the left foot forward; this happens so little that the throw to second takes more prominence.

The rest of the infield, though, works as you described - left-handed throwers would have to turn their entire body to throw to first, slowing down the throw and putting them in an unnatural fielding position.

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by moe.ron
I forgot to say that Mattingly played 3rd base once in a blue moon. Thanks for reminding me.

He played second base during the re-play of the Pine Tar game. He was a good enough fielder that he fooled around once in a while at the other positions. He actually came up as a 1b/outfielder, and there was serious talk of leaving him in the outfield because the Yankees had Steve Balboni at first (he was more the power-hitter type that Steinbrenner was looking for; he even considered trading Mattingly to the SF Giants for Chili Davis). When you're the possibly the best fielding first basemen in MLB history though, chances are you're not going to get chances to mess around.

That said, Rob's correct in his statments. In the early 20th century there were a handful of lefty catchers, but I don't believe there have been any regulars in nearly a century.

Collin
- HUGE Don Mattingly fan; probably know more about his career than any normal person should

ETA there are good fielding right-handed first basemen who come along; Tino Martinez comes to mind.