In the world of professional baseball perhaps no position other than pitcher is more important than the catcher. The catcher is the quarterback on the field and handles the ball on virtually every pitch thrown. He is vital to the team’s success. Trying to narrow down the five best to play the game is no easy task. If you look only at offense, then it is easier. If it takes into account their defensive skills, then it becomes a bit harder. Here are the top five choices overall (in my opinion) and why they rank where they do:

• Ivan Pudge Rodriguez – Pudge was quite simply one of the best defensive catchers of all time. He also was no slouch with the bat, but he was known primarily for his rocket arm. Had he played on some better teams overall in his career, he may have found his way further up this list. Rodriguez is certainly among the best catchers of all time, and deserves his spot on this list.
• Carlton Fisk - Fisk was the everyday man of every team he played for throughout his glorious career. He hit, he defended and some might say that he deserves to be higher on this list. I can not really argue with that, other than to say that others won more championships and hit the ball much better. Still, if I needed a hit with the game on the line, few would make my roster spot before Fisk. Not only was he one of the best, but he was also a class act off the field to boot.
• Mike Piazza - Piazza is the lone exception to the rule I mentioned about being a great hitter and defender - he was far from the best defender. The thing is, he was so much better at the plate as a hitter than everyone else he must be included. Piazza was quite simply a terror to pitch against, and he changed the way catcher’s were viewed. The guy in his prime was simply one of the best hitters period, much less best catchers.
• Yogi Berra - Who can argue with ten rings? Granted he was a member of one of the most powerful teams to ever play the game. Still, Berra more than holds his own with the others on this list statistically. He was also highly underrated behind the plate. Berra called the game like few others can, and understood the little things in baseball. That makes for a great catcher in any era. He also was one of the funniest men to play the game, though a little eccentric to say the least.
• Johhny Bench -Bench is the hallmark for all future and past catchers. As a member of the Big Red Machine, he and Pete Rose were the heart and soul. This guy did it all, and did it at the highest level a catcher could play. Bench was one of the best players to ever put on a uniform and this is why I put him at the top of my list of catchers.