Oakland Athletics: The Athletics’ All-Time 25-Man Roster

Starting Catcher: Terry Steinbach

During the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft, the Oakland Athletics took Terry Steinbach as their ninth round pick. Even though he started out in the Minor Leagues as a third baseman, he was switched over to catcher after two years. Three years later, he made his Major League Debut on September 12, 1986 and hit a home run in his first at-bat in the big leagues.

Steinbach spent 11 long years with Oakland. Over those years, he was a three-time All-Star, an MLB All-Star Game MVP, and a World Series Champion. He posted a respectable .275 batting average during his time with the A’s, with a .426 slugging percentage. =

Just like his offense, his defensive skills were the definition of consistent. His career fielding percentage as a catcher was .989. Additionally, he only committed 92 errors over 1381 games played in that position. In 1988, Steinbach was hit by a ball and suffered five fractures around his left eye, which resulted in corrective surgery. He overcame this hurdle and continued to be the Oakland Athletics starting catcher until 1997.

Runner Up: Mickey Cochrane

Catcher Mickey Cochrane made his Major League debut in 1925 with the Philadelphia Athletics. By the end of his rookie season, he was considered one of the best catchers in all of baseball. Known for his competitive attitude, Cochrane had a strong bat and contributed to the powerful Athletics’ lineup at the time. Even though he is sometimes blamed for the 1931 World Series lose, his overall success supersedes any of his past mistakes. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947.

Next: The Infield: Backup Catcher