Box-Toppers top catchers by time frame (after 2017)

Here are the top catchers in Box-Toppers points (BTP) over the past season (2017), the past two seasons (2016-17), the past six seasons (2012-17) and “all-time”—the past 23 seasons (since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began). For the most recent seasons, the top five catchers in each league are shown. For the “all-time” rankings, the top five overall catchers (including retired players) are shown at left and the top five active catchers in career Box-Toppers points are shown at right. Some players played more than one position, but even if their primary position was not catcher, they are listed here.
 

 American League National League
’17 Player Pos Team BTP Player Pos Team BTP
1 Perez, Salvador 2972 ca kc al 7.5 Posey, Buster 2745 ca 1b sf nl 9.5
2 Gomes, Yan 3177 ca cle al 5.5 Molina, Yadier 1967 ca stl nl 5.5
3 Zunino, Mike 3390 ca sea al 5.5 Suzuki, Kurt 2344 ca atl nl 5.5
4 Castillo, Wellington 3251 ca bal al 5.0 Contreras, Willson 3776 ca chi nl 5.5
5 Vazquez, Christian 3380 ca bos al 5.0 Hundley, Nick 2497 ca sf nl 4.5
American League National League
’16‑17 Player Pos Team BTP Player Pos Team BTP
1 Martin, Russell 2202 ca tor al 12.5 Posey, Buster 2745 ca 1b sf nl 13.0
2 Perez, Salvador 2972 ca kc al 11.5 Wieters, Matt 2643 ca dc nl 13.0
3 Castillo, Wellington 3251 ca bal al 10.0 Molina, Yadier 1967 ca stl nl 9.5
4 Sanchez, Gary 3701 ca dh nyy al 8.0 Realmuto, J.T. 3491 ca fla nl 9.5
5 McCann, Brian 2179 ca hou al 7.2 Grandal, Yasmani 3058 ca lad nl 8.7
American League National League
’12‑17 Player Pos Team BTP Player Pos Team BTP
1 McCann, Brian 2179 ca hou al 33.2 Posey, Buster 2745 ca 1b sf nl 38.0
2 Martin, Russell 2202 ca tor al 27.0 Wieters, Matt 2643 ca dc nl 25.0
3 Perez, Salvador 2972 ca kc al 26.7 Lucroy, Jonathan 2744 ca col nl 21.8
4 Montero, Miguel 2304 ca tor al 16.7 Molina, Yadier 1967 ca stl nl 19.0
5 Castillo, Wellington 3251 ca bal al 16.5 Grandal, Yasmani 3058 ca lad nl 18.7
All players (including retired) All active players
’95‑17 Player Pos Team BTP Player Pos Team BTP
1 piazza, mike ca Retired 95.7 McCann, Brian 2179 ca hou al 62.4
2 Posada, Jorge ca Retired 79.5 Martin, Russell 2202 ca tor al 55.0
3 rodriguez, ivan ca Retired 79.0 Posey, Buster 2745 ca 1b sf nl 42.5
4 McCann, Brian 2179 ca hou al 62.4 Molina, Yadier 1967 ca stl nl 40.2
5 lopez, javy ca dh Retired 62.0 Wieters, Matt 2643 ca dc nl 37.7
What are those numbers after players' names?
Active players are shown on the team with whom they finished the 2017 season.

Mike Piazza leads catchers in career Box-Toppers points since 1995; Brian McCann leads active catchers in career points

Mike Piazza has the most Box-Toppers points of any catcher since tracking began in 1995.

Piazza, who played from 1992 to 2007 primarily for the Mets and Dodgers, but also for the Padres, Athletics and Marlins, earned 95.7 Box-Toppers points from 1995 to the end of his career. That is 16.2 more points than the second-place catcher since 1995, Jorge Posada (79.5).

The chart above shows the top five catchers over several time frames—over the past season (2017), the past two seasons (2016-17), the past six seasons (2012-17) and “all-time”—the past 23 seasons (since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began). For the most recent seasons, the top five catchers in each league are shown. For the “all-time” rankings, the top five overall catchers (including retired players) are shown at left and the top five active catchers in career Box-Toppers points are shown at right.

Piazza’s 95.7 Box-Toppers points ranks 88th among all players since 1995 and 33rd among all batters. Piazza was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2016.

Piazza’s lead among catchers would likely be larger if his entire career from 1992 were tracked. Rough projections put his overall career Box-Toppers point total at about 111.

Four of the five top catchers in career Box-Toppers points since 1995 are retired and three of them played prior to the advent of Box-Toppers in 1995. If their point totals for their entire careers are roughly projected, the career standings among those five looks like this:

  1. Piazza—111.0 Box-Toppers points.
  2. Ivan Rodriguez—90.0 (who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2017).
  3. Jorge Posada—79.5.
  4. Javy Lopez—65.0
  5. Brian McCann—62.4.

McCann, who played for the Astros in 2017, is the active leader in career Box-Toppers points among catchers with 62.4. That is 7.4 points ahead of the second-place active catcher, Russell Martin of the Blue Jays (55.0 Box-Toppers points). McCann also leads American League catchers in Box-Toppers points over the past six seasons (33.2 points over 2012-17). McCann ranks fifth among AL catchers over the past two seasons (7.2 points over 2016-17).

Buster Posey of the Giants had the most Box-Toppers points of any catcher in 2017 with 9.5. Posey also leads all catchers in Box-Toppers points over the past two seasons (13.0 over 2016-17) and over the past six seasons (38.0 from 2012-17). Posey ranks third in career Box-Toppers points among active catchers (42.5).

Salvador Perez of the Royals led AL catchers in Box-Toppers points in 2017 (7.5). He also ranks second among AL catchers over the past two seasons (12.5 over 2016-17) and third among AL catchers over the past six seasons (26.7 from 2012-17).

Russell Martin of the Blue Jays led AL catchers in Box-Toppers points over the past two seasons (12.5 over 2016-17). However, Martin only had 2.0 Box-Toppers points in 2017, not among the top five AL catchers for the season. Still, Martin ranks second among AL catchers over the past six seasons (27.0 from 2012-17) and second among active catchers in career points (55.0).

Of the five who lead active catchers in career Box-Toppers points, all earned Box-Toppers points during the 2017 season. Third-ranked Posey, as previously mentioned, led all catchers in 2017 with 9.5. Of the other four:

  • McCann had 4.0 Box-Toppers points.
  • Martin had 2.0 points.
  • Fourth-ranked Yadier Molina of the Cardinals had 5.5 points, second among NL catchers in 2017.
  • Fifth-ranked Matt Wieters of the Nationals had 2.0 points.

About Box-Toppers—Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

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Related: 

Related Box-Toppers High by Position posts showing Box-Toppers points leaders by position over several time frames—past season (2017), past two seasons (2016-17), past six seasons (2012-17) and “all-time” (since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began):

  • First base: Miguel Cabrera leads all-time (career Box-Toppers points since 1995). He also leads all active first basemen in career points and leads all first basemen over the past six seasons. Anthony Rizzo leads past season.
  • Second base: Jeff Kent leads all-time. Scooter Gennett leads past season.
  • Shortstop: Miguel Tejada leads all-time over Derek Jeter. Elvis Andrus leads past season (and also past two seasons).
  • Third base: Alex Rodriguez leads all-time. Jose Ramirez leads past season.
  • Catcher: Mike Piazza leads all-time. Buster Posey leads past season (and also past two and past six seasons).
  • Outfield: Manny Ramirez leads all-time. Giancarlo Stanton leads past season (and also past two seasons).
  • Designated hitter: Albert Pujols leads all-time (and also leads active DHs in career points). Edwin Encarnacion leads past season (and also past two seasons and past six seasons).
  • Pitcher: Randy Johnson leads all-time. Clayton Kershaw leads active pitchers in career points (and also leads over past six seasons). Chris Sale leads past season. Max Scherzer leads past two seasons.
  • Closing pitcher: Trevor Hoffman leads all-time over all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera. Craig Kimbrel leads active closers in career points (and also leads over past two seasons and past six seasons). Edwin Diaz leads over past six seasons.
  • Overall: Johnson leads all players in Box-Toppers points since 1995. Kershaw leads active players in career points and also leads all players over the past six seasons. Chris Sale led players in 2017. Max Scherzer leads players over the past two seasons.