Rangers Mt. Rushmore: Best Catchers
By Jared Sandler | @sandlerJ
105.3 THE FAN -- MLB.com created a cool "Mt. Rushmore" campaign that asks fans to identify the people who'd make up their favorite team's Mt. Rushmore. The results will be unveiled as part of the All-Star festivities in Cincinnati.
Going along with the theme, each week I'll introduce a new Rangers themed Mt. Rushmore prompt and unveil the four faces who best demonstrate that prompt. Feel free to play along yourself.
Week 1 -- Texas-Born Players
Week 2 -- Best First-Round Picks
Week 3 -- Best Rookie Years
Week 4 -- Drafted In 30th Round Or Later
Here is the Mt. Rushmore of Rangers Catchers:
Ivan Rodriguez: Do I even need to try and justify this? "Pudge" leads the franchise in a number of statistical categories, even without the "for a catcher" distinction.
There's no question he's the franchise's best catcher, responsible for the team's first introduction to the playoffs in the mid-to-late 90s.
Jim Sundberg: No player has caught more games in a Rangers uniform than "Sunny." A six-time Gold Glove Award winner, Sundberg was amazingly well-rounded defensively.
While he might not have had Pudge's arm, he had a very quick release. Sundberg was also very durable behind the dish.
Mike Napoli: Though his time was brief, Napoli was such an integral part of the Rangers' second World Series chase in 2011, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
In just two seasons, his 34 home runs as a catcher ranks fourth all-time in franchise history. A great clubhouse guy, Napoli also had a knack for the big hit, with those chants of "Nap-O-Li" still ringing in my ears.
Rod Barajas: Slim pickings for the final spot. Barajas spent three seasons with the Rangers (2004-2006), catching 318 games. His 47 home runs as a catcher ranks third in franchise history, as do his 159 RBI.
Barajas hit .254 behind the plate with a .742 OPS. The former Arizona Diamondback was also strong defensively, doing his part to make up for some years of thin pitching staffs.
Others to consider: Geno Petralli, Don Slaught, Gerald Laird.
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