BBA Hall of Fame: Catcher Wing

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RonCo
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BBA Hall of Fame: Catcher Wing

Post by RonCo » Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:53 am

"Catchers"
A Wing of the BBA Hall of Fame
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They call the catcher’s equipment the tools of ignorance, and yet inside those tools you usually find the guys of highest intelligence. These are the leaders of teams—the guys whose impact is often as silent a blocked ball in the dirt or a stolen base not attempted. These are the guys who squat a hundred fifty times a game, and who manage pitchers’ emotions as much as they do their tosses. And then, of course, they swing the lumber. It’s a tough job. But these guys did it better than anyone else.
Dickey Brinkman
(Calgary Marauders)
1976 - 1986

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79 HR, 653 RBI, .282/.357/.417 24.4 WAR
Slick Fielder Award: 1980, 1981, 1983
All-Star: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1984

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Brinkman was an elite defensive catcher who was a significant element of Calgary’s outstanding teams in the 80s that made a string of six straight post-season appearances. Inducted in 1996. He also coached and managed in the Calgary organization for twenty years.
Jason “Attitude” Dunn
(Valencia Stars)
2011 - 2029

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2,496 Hits, 462 HR, 1429 RBI, .278/.331/.491, 73.7 WAR
Rookie of the Year: 2012
Puckett Award C: 2021
All-Star: 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025
Geoghegan Rd. MVP: 2029


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A mainstay with the Stars, Jason Dunn was such a hard-hitting left-handed bat that he led the league in intentional walks three times. Despite playing the most physically demanding position on the field, he was consistently among the league’s most successful hitters, and was a defining member of the core group that carried Valencia to the post season 8 times in a ten year span. At his peak as a defender he threw out runners at nearly a 50% pace.
Riley Hinson
(Las Vegas Hustlers)
1994 - 2002

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2231 hits, 252 HR, 1151 RBI, .281/.366/.459, 57.4 WAR
Landis Champion: 1989, 1991, 2001
Zimmer Diamond Glove: 1990, 1992, 1998
All-Star: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998


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Known as a steady hitter and an outstanding defender, Diamond Ri was a fixture behind the plate for one of the league’s cornerstone franchises during a run that produced three Landis champions. At his prime he was a line-drive hitting on-base machine.

Hinson cemented his legacy after his retirement by managing the Hustlers until his retirement in 2034.
Jeremy “Superman” Hunter
(Buffalo Bison)
1996 - 2011

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2431 hits, 354 HR, 1252 RBI, .319/.390/.506, 71.0 WAR
Zimmer Diamond Glove: 2000
All-Star: 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009

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Hunter was one of the most consistently solid catchers in the history of the game. He hit for power and average, and had arguably one of the best understandings of the strike zone of any hitter in the league. Before his arm aged in his later years, he threw out base stealers at an elite level. His teams won four division titles.
Dexter “Killer” Sheehan
(Birmingham Bandits)
2003 - 2007

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2041 hits, 425 HR, 1317 RBI, .310/.386/.554, 70.0 WAR
Landis Champion: 2015
Sawyer Silk Slugger: 2012
Zimmer Diamond Glove: 2006, 2010
All-Star: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014

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Ultimate teammate, ultimate leader, ultimate hitter. Sheehan was the glue that held the Birmingham Bandits together for over a decade. He was a perennial All-Star, leading the league in home runs, slugging, and WAR at various times. Given this, and his propensity to lean out over the plate, it’s not surprising that he also led the league in getting hit by pitches three times.
Ernest Watts
(Buffalo Bison)
2010 - 2025

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2012 hits, 367 HR, 1280 RBI, .278/.333/.504, 56.6 WAR
Puckett Golden Bat Award: 2021
Zimmer Diamond Glove: 2017, 2020, 2021
Doubleday Series MVP: 2024
All-Star: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021

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Watts’ numbers with the bat were enough to draw HoF attention on their own, but his most superlative skill lay in his strong arm and quick release that made it nearly impossible for base stealers to find success. He was a cat behind the plate, throwing out 36% of runners on his career, but approaching 50% at certain points.
Billy Wilson
(California Crusaders)
1984 - 1998

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2012 hits, 367 HR, 1280 RBI, .278/.333/.504, 56.6 WAR
Sawyer Silk Award: 1990, 1991, 1994
Slick Fielder: 1990
All-Star: 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

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Wilson is listed as a catcher, but played much of his career at first base. Perhaps all that needs to be known about Billy Wilson is that he led the league in home runs four time despite playing in one of the poorest power ballparks in BBA history. Name a leaderboard and he was on it.
Elroy Hinson
(HALIFAX/NASHVILLE)
2020 - 2039

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2,789 hits, 94 HR, 1,246 RBI, .294/.359/.448, 76.5 WAR
6-Time Pucket Golden Bat Winner
Zimmer Diamond Glove
8-Time All-Star

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Elroy Hinson was arguably the best catcher in baseball for a string of years, including a 7-WAR 2027 that saw him come second in the Sawyer Silk award voting. He led the league in doubles once, and OBP. At his peak he was very hard to run on (he threw out as many as 44% of base stealers a could seasons), though his career total finally settled to "only" 33%.

Elroy was the son of fellow Hall of Famer Riley Hinson.

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