Among my favorite types of cards are ones that show catchers in action. I’m sure many collectors will agree that is a cool shot.
I’m not sure why action photos of catchers stand out more than action photos of pitchers or hitters or infielders. Perhaps it’s because they’re less common, or all the equipment they wear, or the funny backward hat. I just know that I like them and I always have.
I started collecting in the ’70s, but I really noticed a surge in catcher action shots during the 1980s. That’s understandable, cards really shifted over to action in the ’80s. And recently I began to wonder which ’80s set featured the most catchers in action.
Aha, we now have a post.
I considered the Topps sets of the ’80s first, of course. If I ever look for the catchers in action for Donruss and Fleer, that will be a separate post. And I had my ideas about which set might have the most. I’ve dedicated a whole post to the catchers cards of 1986 Topps, so that set might have the most. Or it might be 1983 — that set is almost entirely action and nothing else. Or maybe it’s 1980, that’s the set where I first noticed a sizable number of catchers in action.
But you might be surprised. I was.
So a little about what I eliminated before getting to it.
— I didn’t include any posed catcher shots. As much as I like them, that is not action
— I didn’t include any catcher shots that were not on a particular player’s card. For example, I did not consider the team leaders cards from 1986-89 that sometimes showed action shots.
— Any catcher in action that showed up on another player’s card — think the 1987 Kevin Mitchell — was not considered.
— Shots that were candid, but not necessarily “action” were included. A catcher sitting on the bench in his gear was good enough for me. I also included catchers who are warming up a pitcher and may not be wearing a helmet or all of their gear.
All right, here is the ranking, from least to most:
10. 1981 Topps – 4 cards
Just four cards, that’s rather poor, There are Topps sets from the 1970s that have more (I’ve looked). The ’81 Topps set has never been a favorite of mine, and it just slipped another notch.
Catchers in action:
Jose Morales, Twins
Bob Boone, Phillies
Steve Yeager, Dodgers
Gary Carter, Expos
9. 1988 Topps – 7 cards
Ed Hearn, Royals
Lance Parrish, Phillies
Ron Karkovice, White Sox
Terry Kennedy, Orioles
Floyd Rayford, Orioles
Barry Lyons, Mets
Ozzie Virgil, Braves
8. 1982 Topps – 9 cards
1982 had a built-in advantage with the “in action” cards. It includes the best catcher-in-action card of the whole decade, Carlton Fisk.
Catchers in action:
Gary Alexander, Pirates
Carlton Fisk, White Sox, In Action
Milt May, Giants
Bo Diaz, Indians
Charlie O’Brien, Brewers
Darrel Porter, Cardinals, In Action
Bob Boone, Phillies
Johnny Wockenfuss, Tigers
Mike Scioscia, Dodgers
7. 1987 Topps – 12 cards
Cartchers in action:
Gary Carter, Mets
Bo Diaz, Reds
Tony Pena, Pirates
Bob Boone, Angels
Mike Fitzgerald, expos
Jody Davis, Cubs
Chris Bando, Indians
Andy Allanson, Indians
Tim Laudner, Twins
Mike Heath, Tigers
Terry Kennedy, Padres
Charlie Moore, Brewers
6. 1989 Topps – 13 cards
It’s the end of the decade, which was a nice moment to pause to consider which players showed up in action the most. I think this will be a future post, but you can already see that Gary Carter dominated this category. Others not far off are Carlton Fisk, Bo Diaz, Mike Scoscia and Bob Boone.
Catchers in action:
Gary Carter, Mets, record breaker
Jody Davis, Cubs
Ozzie Virgil, Braves
“Benny” Santiago, Padres
Scott Bradley, Mariners
Andy Allanson, Indians
Kirt Manwaring, Giants
Damon Berryhill, Cubs
Pat Borders, Blue Jays
Jamie Quirk, Royals
Terry Kennedy, Orioles
Tony Pena, Cardinals
Mike Scoscia, Dodgers
5. 1985 Topps – 14 cards
There are three sets tied with 14 cards. I ranked them in order by which set had the most “on-the-field” action cards.
Catchers in action:
Carlton Fisk, White Sox, record breaker
Dann Bilardello, Reds
Orlando Mercado, Mariners
Tim Laudner, Twins
Mike Fitzgerald, Mets
Bill Schroeder, Brewers
Ron Hodges, Mets
Jeff Newman, Red Sox
Jim Essian, A’s
Milt May, Pirates
Mike Scioscia, Dodgers
Butch Wynegar, Yankees
Bo Diaz, Phillies
Carlton Fisk, White Sox (two in one set!)
4. 1983 Topps – 14 cards
The set that I guessed would blow past all the others.
Catchers in action:
Carlton Fisk, White Sox
Rick Dempsey, Orioles
Bo Diaz, Phillies
John Stearns, Mets
Glenn Brummer, Cardinals
Mike Scioscia, Dodgers
Gary Carter, Expos
Stve Nicosia, Pirates
Bob Brenly, Giants
Don Werner, Rangers
Bill Nahorodny, Indians
Ron Hassey, Indians
Barry Foote, Yankees
Bob Boone, Angels
3. 1980 Topps – 14 cards
You’ve got to hand it to 1980 Topps. Not only did it make me take notice of the catchers in action when I was collecting the set that year, but this set and the 1981 set are dealing with 66 fewer cards than all the other ’80s Topps sets.
Catchers in action:
Jerry Narron, Yankees
Jeff Newman, A’s
Carlton Fisk, Red Sox
Gary Carter, Expos
Ted Simmons, Cardinals
Butch Wynegar, Twins
Jim Essian, A’s
Bob Davis, Blue Jays
Duffy Dyer, Expos
Mike Sadek, Giants
Jim Sundberg, Rangers
Bob Stinson, Mariners
Brian Downing, Angels
Mike Heath, A’s
2. 1986 Topps – 15 cards
The other “pre-race” favorite. 1986’s catcher-in-action shots are more action-packed than any other set considered here, which is why it’s always stood out to me in this category.
Catchers in action:
Dave Engle, Twins
Tom Nieto, Cardinals
Charlie Moore, Brewers
Dave VanGorder, Reds
Randy Hunt, Cardinals
Tony Pena, Pirates
Clint Hurdle, Mets
Mike Scioscia, Dodgers
Chris Bando, Indians
Glenn Brummer, Rangers
Bo Diaz, Reds
Ronn Reynolds, Mets
Bill Schroeder, Brewers
Don Slaught, Rangers
Jody Davis, Cubs
That leaves one set left. Would you figure? ….
1. 1984 Topps – 23 cards
Sometimes maligned, but now with more action-packed catchers! By far!
Catchers in action:
Bobby Ramos, Expos
Mike Scioscia, Dodgers
Ned Yost, Brewers
Johnny Wockenfuss, Tigers
Darryl Cias, Athletics
Alex Trevino, Reds
Jack Fimple, Dodgers
Jeff Newman, Red Sox
Orlando Mercado, Mariners
Allen Knicely, Reds
Bob Brenly, Giants
Gary Carter, Expos
Ron Hodges, Mets
Dann Bilardello, Reds
Gary Carter, Expos
Dave Engle, Twins
Ozzie Virgil, Phillies
Bo Diaz, Phillies
Carlton Fisk, White Sox
Steve Lake, Cubs
Bill Schroeder, Brewers
Doug Gwosdz, Padres
Milt May, Pirates
This is why I do posts like this, I would’ve gone the rest of my life figuring 1983 or 1986 Topps had the most action catchers of the 1980s without running the numbers.
This will probably be the first post for at least three parts. Like I mentioned earlier, I’d like to go through Donruss and Fleer for the 1980s. I’d also like to look at the 1970s sets, maybe from 1973 forward. My first fascination with catcher cards came from Barry Foote in 1975 Topps and, of course, Johnny Bench in 1976 Topps (along with the 1977 Carlton Fisk card).
And I’d like to crown the king of action catcher cards, whether that’s Gary Carter or Carlton Fisk or someone else.