Catcher

In baseball and softball, the catcher is one of the most important positions. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, right in front of the umpire, to catch the ball thrown by the pitcher. This is the catcher's main job, but they have many other important tasks too.

Because the catcher is behind home plate, they can see the whole field. This helps them guide and direct the other players during defense. Catchers decide which pitches to throw using special devices like PitchCom or hand signals. They choose pitches based on what the pitcher can throw well and what the batter might struggle with.

Catchers need to handle many different situations, like foul tips or balls that bounce close to the ground. To stay safe, they wear special protective gear, including a mask, chest and throat protectors, shin guards, and a thickly padded catcher's mitt. The catcher's role is very demanding, both physically and mentally, which is why many former catchers later become managers in Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball.

History and evolution of the position

In the middle of the nineteenth century, baseball changed from a game played by amateurs for fun to a more serious sport played by professionals. One big change was how pitchers threw the ball, shifting from an underhand motion to an overhand throw. Before the American Civil War, pitchers threw the ball underhand, similar to how a basketball referee starts a game with a jump ball. Back then, catchers stood far behind the batter and had no protective gear.

As baseball became more serious, pitchers tried to throw faster. With new rules about called strikes, catchers moved closer to home plate. By the 1870s, pitchers were throwing overhand after the National League allowed it. This made catchers very important because they had to catch these tricky pitches. Players like Candy Cummings and his catcher, Nat Hicks, helped introduce new pitches like the curveball, spitball, and knuckleball.

Around this time, baseball teams started using a harder ball, which made scoring less common. This era became known as the Dead-ball era. With fewer runs, players focused more on stolen bases and bunts, making catchers even more important. In 1901 in baseball, rules required catchers to stand within 10 feet of home plate, a rule the American League also adopted.

Because pitches were getting faster and catchers were moving closer, injuries became more common. By the late 1870s, catchers started using padded gloves. In 1877 in baseball, the first protective mask was used. At first, some questioned the catchers who wore masks, but they proved very useful. In the 1880s, chest protectors were introduced, and in 1888 in baseball, special mitts for the non-throwing hand were used. Roger Bresnahan was the first to wear shin guards in 1907 in baseball. These rules and new protections shaped the catcher's role into what it is today.

Catching pitches

The catcher is an important player in baseball and softball. When a pitcher throws the ball, the catcher waits behind home plate to catch it. The catcher watches the umpire, who decides if a pitch is a strike or a ball. Each umpire has their own way of calling pitches, and the catcher learns these to help the pitcher.

One way catchers help is by using a technique called "framing." This means the catcher positions their glove to make a pitch look like it is inside the strike zone, even if it is close to the edge. By holding the glove still, the catcher gives the umpire time to make a decision that may help their team.

Catchers have many ways to catch a pitch, such as using different parts of their glove or catching the ball on different sides. These choices help show the pitch in the best way for the umpire.

By rule, the catcher must stand directly behind home plate when a pitch is thrown but can move around after to catch the ball or make a play. The catcher is the only defensive player allowed to be in foul territory when a pitch is thrown.

Blocking balls in the dirt

When a pitcher throws a ball that bounces toward home plate, called a pitch "in the dirt," the catcher moves to stop it. The catcher slides and drops to their knees, putting their mitt between their legs to catch the ball. The goal is to keep the ball close and stop it from going far away. This can be hard and depends on how fast the ball is thrown and where it hits the ground.

Calling the game

Many baseball team leaders used to be catchers. Catchers help plan what the team should do on defense. They tell the pitcher which pitch to throw.

Catchers decide pitches based on things like who is up to bat, if runners are on base, how many outs there are, and the score. They might watch how the batter stands or holds the bat to guess what the batter might do.

To talk to the pitcher, catchers use hand signals. Sometimes they wear special nail stickers or painted nails to make signals clearer. Since 2022, catchers have also used a small device called PitchCom to help stop people from stealing signs.

Throwing

A catcher usually throws with their right hand because most batters are right-handed. This makes it easier to throw the ball to the right place. Left-handed catchers are rare because it would be hard for them to avoid right-handed batters and their throws would go to the wrong side. Only a few left-handed catchers have played in big league games. Most left-handed players with strong arms are encouraged to become pitchers instead. Some think left-handed catchers also have more trouble with certain plays.

Defensive plays

Unlike other players, the catcher and pitcher start each play in special spots. The catcher must stand behind home plate in the catcher's box, while the pitcher stands on the pitcher's mound. Once the game begins, both can move anywhere to help stop the other team.

Catchers have many jobs besides catching pitches. They need to stop wild pitches, catch high pop flies, and grab foul balls near home plate. They also field weakly hit balls in front of home plate and try to throw to a base to get runners out.

When a runner tries to score, the catcher must catch the ball and tag the runner out. Since 2014, catchers can only block the runner's path if they have the ball. They also try to stop runners from stealing bases by throwing quickly to second or third base. Sometimes, they can surprise a runner with a quick throw to a base. Any mistake by the catcher can hurt their team. Catchers might also try to distract the batter before a pitch by saying something funny, as long as the umpire allows it.

Personal catcher

Sometimes, a pitcher and a catcher work very well together. When this happens, the pitcher usually wants the same catcher to play every game. We call this catcher the pitcher's personal catcher.

This can be tricky because catchers play a hard position and sometimes need to rest. Some pitchers throw a tricky pitch called a knuckleballs, so they need a catcher who is good at catching it. Here are some famous examples of personal catchers and the pitchers they worked with:

• Paul Bako, Henry Blanco, Charlie O'Brien, and Eddie Pérez for Greg Maddux
• Austin Barnes and A.J. Ellis for Clayton Kershaw
• Kevin Cash, George Kottaras, and Doug Mirabelli for knuckleballer Tim Wakefield
• Tony Cruz for Lance Lynn
• Joe Girardi for David Cone and Andy Pettitte
• Carlos Hernández for Ramón Martínez
• Bruce Kimm for Mark Fidrych
• Tim McCarver for Steve Carlton
• José Molina for A.J. Burnett
• David Ross for Jon Lester
• Héctor Sánchez for Tim Lincecum
• Josh Thole for knuckleballer R. A. Dickey
• Bob Uecker for knuckleballer Phil Niekro
• Connor Wong for Brayan Bello

Injury

The catcher is a very hard job in baseball. Even with special padding, catchers often have a tough time. Their job is to stop runners from scoring and to handle fast pitches and hard-hit balls.

Catchers can also get knee problems because they bend over a lot. This can make it hard for them to run fast. Some catchers change to other positions, like first base, to help their knees and play more games. Because of these challenges, many catchers have shorter careers than players in other positions.

Equipment

Catchers in baseball wear special gear to stay safe. They use a catcher's mask to protect their face and head. They wear a catcher's mitt with extra padding to make the ball hurt less. Leg guards shield their knees and legs. They also have a chest protector for their body and a cup under their uniform to protect their groin.

Some catchers add more gear like knee savers, an inner protective glove, a throat protector, and a thumb guard for extra support. They try to catch the ball with only their gloved hand to keep their other hand safe. Because of all this gear, catchers are sometimes called users of "the tools of ignorance". They often get knee pain from squatting a lot.

Hall of Fame catchers

As of 2024, twenty players who were mainly catchers have been honored in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. These players include:

• Johnny Bench
• Yogi Berra
• Roger Bresnahan
• Roy Campanella
• Gary Carter
• Mickey Cochrane
• Bill Dickey
• Buck Ewing
• Rick Ferrell
• Carlton Fisk
• Josh Gibson
• Gabby Hartnett
• Ernie Lombardi
• Biz Mackey
• Joe Mauer
• Mike Piazza
• Iván Rodríguez
• Louis Santop
• Ray Schalk
• Ted Simmons

Catchers are also recognized in other baseball halls of fame around the world, like the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame.