Left-handed catchers? (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

Anyone listen to Mad Dog Radio yesterday at about 6pm EST, hosted by Chris Russo? A guy calls in and asks the Doggie why there are not any left-handed catchers in the majors. Chris pauses and says.... "Because they wouldn't be able to see the baserunners."

He then collected himself and gave a more logical opinion: "Because they'd have a hard time throwing a runner out at 3rd base." While I believe that to an extent, it's not the only reason. How many times have we seen Pudge Rodriguez and a million other catchers launch a snap throw to 1st base on a pickoff attempt? It gets there in a heartbeat. A lefty catcher throwing to 3rd base is the same thing.

The other thing you hear is that since most batters are right-handed, the left-handed catcher would have difficulty throwing out runners at 2nd base. Again, . How is that ANY different from a right-handed catcher throwing to 2nd base with a lefty at the plate?

Bill Lee offered perhaps the best explanation:

"Lefties can't play catcher because your head hangs over home plate when you make a tag." "You've got the ball in your right hand, you're blocking the plate with your left foot. When you go to make the tag, you're exposed. A lefty catcher would get killed."

 

[Leroy Hoard]

No left hander in his right mind would play catcher.

P, 1B & OF best.

 

[pantagrapher]

Catchers take a beating. If you're a lefty with a gun, you pitch.

 

[Eephus]

The last one I remember was Mike Squires who appeared in a couple of games for the White Sox in the early 80s. Squires was an outstanding glove at 1B and a very young Tony LaRussa was looking for ways to increase his roster flexibility.

 

[Raider Nation]

The last one I remember was Mike Squires who appeared in a couple of games for the White Sox in the early 80s. Squires was an outstanding glove at 1B and a very young Tony LaRussa was looking for ways to increase his roster flexibility.

Yep, literally "a couple"... he caught two games for the ChiSox in 1980. Would love to see video footage of that.Edit: Evidently, this guy was just a sideshow:

On August 23, 1983, he became the first left-handed third baseman in at least 50 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Squires

 

[Doctor Detroit]

The last one I remember was Mike Squires who appeared in a couple of games for the White Sox in the early 80s. Squires was an outstanding glove at 1B and a very young Tony LaRussa was looking for ways to increase his roster flexibility.

I never saw him catch but I remember him playing third a few times and he was good there.

 

[Mike Shanahan Fan]

The other thing you hear is that since most batters are right-handed, the left-handed catcher would have difficulty throwing out runners at 2nd base. Again, . How is that ANY different from a right-handed catcher throwing to 2nd base with a lefty at the plate?

In the lower levels of baseball (Little League, HS), the ratio of lefties playing is close, if not identical, to the ratio of left-handers walking around out in the world. In professional baseball, obviously, it's much higher. So a righty having to throw around lefties is much less common in Little League, etc., and thus only righties are groomed to be catchers. FWIW, I played some lefty 3B in Little League. I was decent over there, because I had quick reflexes and a relatively strong arm, which compensated for having to do a tango between catching the ball and throwing it.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Several reasons are out there, good or bad:

Why no lefthanded catchers

Good Answer

One more

 

[HellToupee]

much harder to throw a runner out at 2nd with the majority of batters being RH

 

[Eephus]

No mitts

 

[Wooderson]

No mitts

 

[oso diablo]

No mitts

i think this gets at the real culprit, far moreso than anything strategic or lefty/righty advantages. It is because lefties don't play catcher in youth baseball. And that is because most youth teams only possess righty catchers mitts. So, lefties don't develop as catchers from the outset, and there's not enough incentive for upper levels to alter that.:2Blefty: