As one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball history, the Philadelphia Phillies have been flush with tremendous catching.
The club has recently seen an excellent stretch at the position, thanks to J.T. Realmuto. The Phillies can honestly state that during his tenure, he has been one of the best catchers in baseball. Not only has Realmuto been one of the best offensive catchers in the league since arriving with the Phillies, but his defense also speaks for itself.
Off the field, Realmuto is just as impactful. Rob Thomson called Realmuto the “most prepared catcher” he had ever collaborated with in Major League Baseball. Thomson even compared him to catching greats such as Jorge Posada and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez during the club’s end-of-season press conference.
With Realmuto’s future still up in the air, it is fair to question if his Phillies career has concluded. If he next plays another inning in red pinstripes, he will finish his time in Philly as one of the best catchers in franchise history.
If you ask most Phillies fans who the greatest catcher in franchise history is, their answer would likely be shaped by their era of the game.
A fan from the 1970s and ’80s would likely say Bob Boone. A fan from the ’90s would respond with Darren Daulton. Some fans from the early 2000s might say Mike Lieberthal, and other fans from the late 2000s would give Carlos Ruiz some props as well.
Adding Realmuto to this class of catchers is not an easy challenge.
Boone has caught the third-most games in franchise history with 1,125. He is a 1980 World Series champion and has the seventh-most fWar among Phillies catchers. Boone also sits within the top five in most offensive categories.
Dutch is another frontrunner, often described as the heart and soul of the 1993 Phillies. Daulton was the club’s enforcer both on and off the field. His leadership qualities are just as important to this ranking as stats such as hits and games played. Daulton caught the fourth most games in Phillies history with 1,109. He is top five in nearly every offensive category and has the third-most fWar among club catchers.
Lieberthal is often an overlooked player in Phillies history. Despite playing in a forgettable era in team history, Lieberthal was a bright spot in a dark decade of Phillies baseball. He was one of the better catchers in the game during his tenure with the team. Liberthal ranked just behind Rodriguez, Mike Piazza and several other Hall of Fame-caliber catchers.
He has the most home runs for a catcher in team history with 150. He ranks fourth in fWar and has caught the second most games for the club. Liberthal is yet another member of this list who sits in the top five of most offensive categories.
The last player that you can make a genuine case for is Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz joins Boone as the only other Phillies catcher to win a World Series. Nicknamed Chooch, the Panamanian backstop anchored one of the best stretches in Phillies history. He ranks fifth in games caught as a Phillie.
Ruiz caught four no-hitters in his time with the Phillies, including Roy Halladay's perfect game. He is one of two catchers in baseball history to accomplish this feat. Chooch, by all accounts, is one of the best game callers to ever roll through this city.
Countless pitchers have complimented Ruiz's ability to call a game. Halladay once called him the Phillies' most valuable player.
Now we can evaluate Realmuto against the rest of his Phillies peers.
If he has caught his final game in Philly, Realmuto will finish with the 10th most games played by a catcher. He is second in fWar, fourth in home runs and top five in most categories.
Like some others, Realmuto's defensive game is another feather in his cap. Using modern metrics, he has been one of the best catchers in baseball history when throwing runners out on the basepaths. Realmuto's toughness fits the description of the position as well. Despite some close calls, it is extremely difficult to remove the veteran from any game in which he plays.
By catching in the 2022 World Series, Realmuto joins an exclusive group of Phillies to man the position in the sport's championship round. Speaking of the postseason, he trails only Ruiz in playoff games as a catcher. These two are the top in nearly every category for the postseason. They also played in more rounds than what Daulton and Boone had back in their playing days.
Realmuto has played the position differently than most. His athleticism stands out above the rest, and his base-running ability is something the Phillies haven't seen since Daulton. He plays the game hard and has given the club everything he has in the tank.
As it stands today, I would claim that Darren Daulton is the greatest catcher in franchise history. There are several great options to debate. If Realmuto returns for another few seasons, it certainly gives him the opportunity to claim that title.
Who do you believe is the greatest catcher in the history of the Philadelphia Phillies?
