Performance Not Timing Should Be Lieberthal’s Legacy in Philadelphia
May 31, 2008 by Brian Joseph · 2 Comments
On Sunday, former Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal will spend one more day as a Philadelphia Phillie then retire. After spending 13 of his 14 seasons in Philadelphia and starting more games at catcher than any other Phillie (1,139), the Phillies plan to sign him to a ceremonial one-day contract, have him throw out the first ball and officially retire from baseball.
Despite the warm reception Lieby will get from the fans in the place he refers to as a “second homeâ€, it would be surprising if he were recognized as the greatest catcher in the team’s history. However, Lieberthal’s numbers make a strong case for him to lay claim to the title.
Of all the catchers that crouched behind the plate for the Fightin’ Phils, only seven catchers have started the majority of five seasons –- Mike Lieberthal, Darren Daulton, Bob Boone, Clay Dalrymple, Andy Seminick, Bill Killefer and Red Dooin.Â
In his 13 seasons with the Phillies, Lieberthal put up some solid numbers. Unfortunately, those seasons came from 1994-2006. A first-round pick by the Phillies in 1990, Lieby’s first year in the league came one season after their National League Pennant and his last year in a Phillies uniform came one season before their return to the playoffs in 2007. Talk about bad timing.
Compared to the other six players who have played at least five seasons as the starter behind the plate, Lieberthal is the leader in most categories. Looking at just their statistics with the Phillies, Lieberthal had more hits (1,137), runs scored (528), RBI (609), doubles (255), home runs (150), batting average (.275), slugging percentage (.450) and OPS (.788).
In addition, Lieberthal played in two All-Star games , became the sixth catcher in Major League history to hit .300 and 30 home runs in 1999 and won a Gold Glove. Only Bob Boone and Darren Daulton played in more All-Star games (three each) and Boone won two Gold Gloves while playing for the Phillies.
While Lieberthal’s time as the Phillies’ backstop was marked by the team’s disappointing performance and a fan base that turned on its owners and players for their inability to deliver a playoff appearance for over a decade, most of the other catchers played for teams that were successful during their tenure at some point.
Killefer played from 1911-1917 and started 105 games in 1915, the Phillies’ first World Series appearance. Seminick was a member of the Whiz Kids, the team that lost in the 1950 World Series to the Yankees. Boone played for the Phillies during their most successful stretch. In his ten seasons with the Phillies, the team won the NL East five times and brought home the first World Series Championship in 1980. Daulton was a September call-up during the 1983 season (another World Series loss) and a member of the beloved Macho Row team that lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ’93 World Series.
Offensively, it’s tough to make a case for anyone but Lieberthal as the best offensive catcher in Phillies’ history. On the defensive side, the nod has to go to Boone but he was better defensively after he left Philadelphia and Lieberthal was strong behind the plate as well. Unfortunately, Lieby and those who played with him during that stretch will be better remembered for their team’s futility rather than their actual personal performance.
another interesting article, I am eager to hear your personal opinion on who the best catcher offensively was for the Phillies. I would have to go with Dutch, despite on paper playing for a year longer than Lieby, he had 600 less AB’s and if i get the magnifying glass out i think i can read that on average he would have better power numbers.
I think Lieby really lacked some leadership skills or he could have been liked a whole lot more in Philly and to be honest maybe he would have been a bit more clutch if he felt the team was on his shoulders…
You can actually click on the stats to make them readable on a separate view… and when I was going through the information, I figured it was Boone, Daulton and Lieberthal who could be argued as the best. Personally, I rank them this way:
OFFENSE
1. Lieberthal2. Daulton
3. Boone
DEFENSE
1. Boone2. Lieberthal
3. Daulton
LEADERSHIP
1. Boone2. Daulton
3. Lieberthal
I think it’s a tough call between Lieberthal and Boone but not an easy one. Boone had a better career but that includes the success he had after he left Philly. Daulton’s legacy was inflated (as all the ’93 player’s legacies were) by the hype around that team.
if all three players were available to me, I’d begrudgingly take Boone over Lieberthal but only b/c I’d have to hold a press conference and face the public based on my decision. LOL :)