Chicago Cubs: The 5 Best Seasons By Cubs Catchers (based on WAR)

One of the rarest commodities in baseball is a top-hitting catcher. Most MLB teams are satisfied with a catcher who is good with the glove, and can handle pitchers effectively. A catcher who can put up big numbers on offense has always been a bonus, regardless of the era they played in.

As is the case with most teams, the Cubs have historically been light on catchers who swung a big stick. They have averaged about one good hitting catcher every other generation.

With current starting catcher, Geovany Soto, the Cubs may have found an elite catcher for years to come. After his tremendous Rookie-of-the-Year-award winning 2008 season, however, Soto may turn out to be a one-hit wonder as he’s been wildly inconsistent the last three seasons. Soto is coming off of a 2011 season in which he posted a .721 OPS, 147 points below his 2008 output.

Soto did lead the National League in 2011 in baserunners caught stealing with 36. With an average of 17 home runs in his first four full seasons, Soto has the power and defensive skills to be one of the top catchers in the game. Hopefully for the Cubs, he will pick a lane in 2012 and put up numbers on par with his breakout rookie season.

Soto’s rookie season in 2008 makes the list of top seasons by Cubs catchers. Here are the five best seasons by Cubs catchers.

For purposes of this article, only one of Gabby Hartnett’s top seasons has made this list. Hartnett had a WAR of 5.1 in 1930.

5. Jody Davis, 1986, 3.5 WAR

  G PA H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS

Jody Davis 148 581 132 27 2 21 74 41 110 .300 .428 .728

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2011.

One of the Cubs’ most popular players during their 1984 division-winning season was catcher Jody Davis. Davis hit 19 home runs in 1984, and was one of the league’s top defensive catchers. Davis’ 43 home runs from 1983-1984 spawned Cubs fans’ “Jody” chant, and his steady play made him an instant fan favorite.

His best all-around season as a Cub came in 1986. Davis played in 148 games behind home plate, while knocking out 21 home runs. Davis was a force behind the dish, throwing out 89 baserunners, the most in baseball in 1986. Davis also posted the second best fielding percentage for catchers in 1986.

His combination of power and defense made him a valuable asset to the Cubs in the mid-80′s.

4. Randy Hundley, 1967, 3.8 WAR

  G PA H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS

Randy Hundley 152 597 144 25 3 14 60 44 75 .322 .403 .725

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2011.
During the Cubs’ run of three winning seasons from 1967-1969, Randy Hundley played no less than 151 games in each season. He was the backbone of a team that flirted with the postseason often, but famously came up short, culminating in an epic collapse at the end of the 1969 season.

In 1967, Hundley posted an on-base percentage of .322 at the catcher position, while throwing out 40 percent of baserunners attempting to steal. He also added 14 home runs, fifth best on a team that had three future hall-of-famers in Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo.

3. Geovany Soto, 2008, 4.1 WAR

Pos   G PA H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS

C Geovany Soto 141 563 141 35 2 23 86 62 121 .364 .504 .868

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2011.
Soto’s rookie season set the bar high for the Puerto Rican born catcher. Soto was an All Star in 2008, and won the Rookie of the Year award as well.

With 23 home runs and a .364 on-base percentage, Soto was vital to the Cubs’ regular season success. They went on to win the NL Central with 97 wins before being swept out of the NLDS by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Soto was first in the National League in 2008 for range factor/game (putouts + assists/games played).

2. Gabby Hartnett, 1935, 5.2 WAR

Pos   G PA H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS

C Gabby Hartnett 116 461 142 32 6 13 91 41 46 .404 .545 .949

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2011.
One of the best catchers in the history of the game, Hall-of-Famer Gabby Hartnett played 19 seasons with the Cubs, posting impressive numbers during the 1920′s and 1930′s.

In 1935, Hartnett was voted the National League’s Most Valuable Player. While posting an OPS of .949, Hartnett led the league with 35 baserunners caught stealing. Hartnett finished in the top five for runners caught stealing 14 times in his career.

During his MVP season in 1935, Hartnett also posted a .404 on-base percentage.

1. Rick Wilkins, 1993, 6.5 WAR

  G PA H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG OPS

Rick Wilkins 136 500 135 23 1 30 73 50 99 .376 .561 .937

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2011.
When talking about one-hit wonders in baseball history, one can’t avoid looking at Rick Wilkins’ 1993 season, an anomaly during an otherwise mediocre 10-year career, which saw Wilkins post no higher than a 1.8 WAR season, not counting his breakout 1993 performance.

The Cubs’ third-year catcher had the fifth highest WAR in baseball in 1993, blasting 30 home runs while posting a .561 slugging percentage.

Wilkins was also efficient behind the plate, throwing out 56 baserunners in 1993, good for second in the National League.

It was Wilkins’ bat that brought him league-wide attention in 1993, however. His OPS of .937 was the third highest in the National League. His offensive heroics led the Cubs to a winning season, a rarity in the late 20th century.

-James Kries