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Posted By: davidcycleback

Traditionally, catchers and (especially) shortstops were considered defensive positions, and offensive prowess was not essential. Most managers would chose to build their team around a good short stop. In fact in 1995, there was a poll of MLB managers of which player they would pick to build a team around. You know which player won the poll? Barry Larkin. Mike Piazza is a fine offensive player, but twenty or thirty years ago he wouldn't playing catcher-- as he sucks defensively. It was once said that, irrelevant to which sides of the plate you stand, if you you bat less that .200 from one side, you ain't a switch hitter. By looking at Piazza try to throw out runners, I'm not certain he's a catcher. Ivan Rodriguez has always been a superior catcher and his batting numbers have almost been inferior.

In the dead ball era, many considered first base to be the most important defensive position-- and many ranked Hal Chase as best the first baseman.