Glove Will Keep Us Together

Posted on 13 February, 2012 by Diane

Its Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, and what better way for the VORG to celebrate it than to examine the “couples” that have lasted the longest on the diamond.

I’m speaking of the batterymates . . . pitchers and catchers.  They have to be able to communicate well, in many different, subtle forms.  The twittering of fingers for signs, the shaking of the head, the nodding in agreement, whispers behind their gloves while they meet on the mound, the pat on the tush for encouragement.  It’s the most intimate relationship on a team.  If it falls apart, 23 others suffer and millions will talk of what went wrong between them.

So, just who survived the “seven-year itch” from 60 feet, 6 inches away?  Here are the batterymates that have been together for at least 100 game starts (along with their first and most recent games):

Pitcher Catcher First game Most recent Games
Mickey Lolich Bill Freehan 05/21/1963 09/08/1975 324
Warren Spahn Del Crandall 06/23/1949 09/17/1963 316
Don Drysdale John Roseboro 07/20/1957 09/26/1967 283
Red Ruffing Bill Dickey 05/11/1930 06/06/1946 282
Steve Rogers Gary Carter 05/12/1975 09/24/1984 270
Bob Lemon Jim Hegan 08/26/1946 07/21/1957 264
Early Wynn Jim Hegan 04/23/1949 08/31/1957 250
Tom Glavine Javy Lopez 04/05/1994 09/28/2002 248
Lefty Gomez Bill Dickey 04/25/1931 08/14/1942 247
Dazzy Vance Hank DeBerry 04/13/1922 09/27/1930 246
Bob Feller Jim Hegan 09/09/1941 09/15/1956 240
Fernando Valenzuela Mike Scioscia 04/09/1981 09/30/1990 239
Tom Seaver Jerry Grote 04/13/1967 04/22/1977 237
Lew Burdette Del Crandall 07/30/1953 06/12/1963 230
Steve Carlton Tim McCarver 06/26/1965 09/30/1979 228
Lefty Grove Mickey Cochrane 04/17/1925 09/27/1933 224
Paul Derringer Ernie Lombardi 05/11/1933 09/15/1941 221
Red Faber Ray Schalk 04/28/1918 09/20/1926 218
Whitey Ford Yogi Berra 07/06/1950 09/02/1963 212
Mike Flanagan Rick Dempsey 08/23/1976 09/24/1986 208
Sandy Koufax John Roseboro 08/23/1957 10/02/1966 208
Jack Morris Lance Parrish 04/26/1978 07/23/1986 207
Billy Pierce Sherm Lollar 04/15/1952 09/01/1961 203
Rube Walberg Mickey Cochrane 05/24/1925 08/27/1933 203
Dave Stieb Ernie Whitt 04/11/1980 09/27/1989 202
Gary Nolan Johnny Bench 08/29/1967 06/15/1977 198
Bob Gibson Tim McCarver 09/12/1959 08/21/1974 197
Roy Oswalt Brad Ausmus 06/02/2001 09/25/2008 193
Andy Pettitte Jorge Posada 04/02/1997 10/02/2010 191
Jamie Moyer Dan Wilson 08/01/1996 09/30/2005 191
Fergie Jenkins Randy Hundley 05/21/1966 09/20/1973 190
Orel Hershiser Mike Scioscia 05/26/1984 09/26/1992 189
Charlie Root Gabby Hartnett 05/12/1926 06/17/1940 186
Jim Kaat Earl Battey 04/22/1960 07/25/1967 184
Don Newcombe Roy Campanella 05/22/1949 09/15/1957 183
Jim Clancy Ernie Whitt 08/07/1977 10/01/1988 181
Mike Mussina Jorge Posada 04/05/2001 04/23/2008 181
Mike Witt Bob Boone 04/08/1982 09/30/1988 180
Urban Shocker Hank Severeid 06/12/1918 09/22/1926 180
Whitey Ford Elston Howard 05/22/1956 05/07/1967 180
Guy Bush Gabby Hartnett 07/16/1924 09/05/1934 179
Stan Coveleski Steve O’Neill 04/18/1918 08/15/1923 179
Denny McLain Bill Freehan 09/29/1963 08/26/1970 177
Kenny Rogers Ivan Rodriguez 04/13/1993 07/28/2008 177
Scott McGregor Rick Dempsey 09/29/1976 09/07/1986 177
Fergie Jenkins Jim Sundberg 04/06/1974 09/13/1981 175
Bob Forsch Ted Simmons 07/12/1974 09/30/1980 174
Mike Mussina Chris Hoiles 08/09/1991 09/27/1998 173
Jerry Koosman Jerry Grote 09/17/1967 07/17/1977 172
Dan Petry Lance Parrish 07/08/1979 06/06/1989 170
Luis Tiant Carlton Fisk 04/29/1972 10/01/1978 164
Pedro Martinez Jason Varitek 04/06/1998 09/29/2004 164
Dave Stewart Terry Steinbach 09/28/1986 07/08/1995 162
Dock Ellis Manny Sanguillen 04/22/1969 05/08/1977 161
Eddie Lopat Yogi Berra 05/01/1948 07/27/1955 161
Hal Schumacher Gus Mancuso 04/21/1933 09/14/1942 160
Milt Wilcox Lance Parrish 09/14/1977 06/03/1985 160
Carl Erskine Roy Campanella 08/05/1948 09/20/1957 159
Mark Buehrle A.J. Pierzynski 04/04/2005 09/27/2011 159
Rick Rhoden Tony Pena 09/29/1980 09/30/1986 159
Jim Palmer Rick Dempsey 07/10/1976 04/23/1984 158
Vic Raschi Yogi Berra 09/23/1946 09/19/1953 158
Camilo Pascual Earl Battey 04/18/1960 09/05/1966 157
Dolf Luque Bubbles Hargrave 04/18/1921 09/23/1928 157
Don Sutton Steve Yeager 08/02/1972 09/17/1980 157
Chris Carpenter Yadier Molina 06/07/2004 09/28/2011 155
Jim Lonborg Bob Boone 04/07/1973 09/10/1978 155
Mike Cuellar Elrod Hendricks 04/10/1969 06/11/1976 155
Roger Clemens Jorge Posada 04/10/1999 09/03/2007 153
Tim Wakefield Doug Mirabelli 06/29/2001 09/29/2007 153
Allie Reynolds Yogi Berra 06/26/1947 09/25/1954 152
Johnny Podres John Roseboro 08/16/1957 09/27/1965 152
Charles Nagy Sandy Alomar 06/29/1990 09/24/2000 150
Burt Hooton Steve Yeager 05/22/1975 05/01/1984 149
George Earnshaw Mickey Cochrane 06/03/1928 08/17/1933 147
Jack Billingham Johnny Bench 04/15/1972 09/11/1977 147
Bill Hands Randy Hundley 04/21/1966 04/19/1974 146
Bill Lee Gabby Hartnett 05/07/1934 07/25/1940 146
Steve Carlton Bob Boone 04/14/1973 10/02/1981 146
Wilbur Wood Ed Herrmann 05/02/1971 09/21/1974 146
Dave McNally Andy Etchebarren 09/26/1962 09/19/1974 145
Phil Niekro Bruce Benedict 05/13/1979 09/27/1987 145
Randy Wolf Mike Lieberthal 06/11/1999 07/03/2007 145
Dennis Martinez Rick Dempsey 09/26/1976 10/06/1985 144
Wilbur Cooper Walter Schmidt 04/16/1918 09/25/1924 144
Al Leiter Mike Piazza 05/23/1998 10/02/2004 143
Eppa Rixey Bubbles Hargrave 04/15/1921 09/30/1928 143
Frank Sullivan Sammy White 05/21/1954 09/22/1959 142
Mike Garcia Jim Hegan 05/30/1949 08/29/1957 142
Mike Krukow Bob Brenly 04/05/1983 08/28/1988 141
Wes Ferrell Rick Ferrell 06/10/1934 08/07/1938 141
Frank Viola Tim Laudner 06/06/1982 07/28/1989 139
Freddie Fitzsimmons Shanty Hogan 05/01/1928 09/20/1932 139
Josh Beckett Jason Varitek 04/05/2006 09/21/2011 139
Walter Johnson Muddy Ruel 04/18/1923 08/28/1927 139
Bob Welch Mike Scioscia 04/24/1980 10/01/1987 138
Pat Malone Gabby Hartnett 04/23/1928 08/24/1934 138
Tim Hudson Ramon Hernandez 06/30/1999 09/19/2003 138
Mel Stottlemyre Thurman Munson 09/05/1969 06/11/1974 137
Preacher Roe Roy Campanella 07/02/1948 07/06/1954 137
Tom Brewer Sammy White 05/12/1954 09/20/1959 137
Bob Gibson Ted Simmons 06/03/1970 07/08/1975 136
Bill Dietrich Mike Tresh 05/17/1939 06/25/1946 136
Dick Ruthven Bob Boone 04/28/1973 09/27/1981 135
Lon Warneke Gabby Hartnett 08/18/1931 09/27/1936 135
Nolan Ryan Alan Ashby 04/12/1980 09/19/1988 135
Robin Roberts Stan Lopata 04/23/1949 08/26/1958 135
John Smoltz Javy Lopez 04/30/1995 06/09/2001 134
Richard Dotson Carlton Fisk 04/12/1981 09/25/1989 134
Fred Norman Johnny Bench 07/20/1973 09/25/1979 133
Harry Brecheen Del Rice 05/09/1945 09/16/1952 133
Chris Short Clay Dalrymple 07/30/1960 09/29/1968 132
Dutch Leonard Rick Ferrell 04/20/1938 09/23/1945 132
Tim Hudson Brian McCann 07/16/2005 09/28/2011 132
Willis Hudlin Luke Sewell 08/15/1926 08/27/1939 132
Carl Hubbell Harry Danning 07/29/1934 09/03/1942 131
Joe Niekro Alan Ashby 04/08/1979 07/28/1985 131
Kevin Appier Mike Macfarlane 06/18/1989 09/25/1999 131
Randy Jones Fred Kendall 06/22/1973 06/13/1980 131
Bob Turley Yogi Berra 04/15/1955 08/18/1962 130
Dean Chance Buck Rodgers 09/11/1961 09/30/1966 130
Ramon Martinez Mike Piazza 04/06/1993 05/12/1998 129
CC Sabathia Victor Martinez 06/28/2003 06/10/2008 127
Juan Marichal Tom Haller 04/15/1961 08/25/1967 126
Larry Christenson Bob Boone 04/13/1973 08/10/1981 126
Robin Roberts Andy Seminick 06/23/1948 09/18/1956 126
Carl Hubbell Gus Mancuso 04/16/1933 08/18/1943 125
Cole Hamels Carlos Ruiz 05/12/2006 09/24/2011 125
Dixie Davis Hank Severeid 04/24/1920 05/29/1925 125
Earl Wilson Bill Freehan 06/17/1966 07/07/1970 125
Freddy Garcia Dan Wilson 04/07/1999 06/25/2004 124
Hal Schumacher Harry Danning 07/19/1935 07/24/1942 124
Joe Coleman Bill Freehan 04/30/1971 06/06/1976 124
Jose DeLeon Tony Pena 07/23/1983 09/30/1989 124
Ken Holtzman Randy Hundley 04/24/1966 05/30/1971 124
Sheriff Blake Gabby Hartnett 08/04/1924 07/11/1931 123
Bruce Hurst Rich Gedman 09/06/1981 09/28/1988 122
Dick Donovan Sherm Lollar 04/24/1955 07/29/1960 122
Fritz Peterson Thurman Munson 08/10/1969 04/14/1974 122
Orlando Hernandez Jorge Posada 06/03/1998 09/22/2004 122
Van Mungo Al Lopez 09/07/1931 09/29/1935 122
Vic Sorrell Ray Hayworth 09/08/1929 09/11/1936 122
Bill Gullickson Gary Carter 06/11/1980 09/30/1984 121
Kevin Millwood Javy Lopez 07/23/1997 09/27/2002 121
Pedro Astacio Mike Piazza 09/12/1992 05/16/2003 121
Greg Maddux Eddie Perez 06/17/1996 05/03/2000 120
Jim Colborn Darrell Porter 05/09/1973 05/09/1978 120
Shane Reynolds Tony Eusebio 05/21/1994 10/07/2001 120
Dave Goltz Butch Wynegar 04/11/1976 09/27/1979 119
Doug Rau Steve Yeager 09/02/1972 05/22/1979 119
Jim Hearn Wes Westrum 07/17/1950 08/03/1956 119
Kevin Tapani Brian Harper 09/05/1989 10/03/1993 119
Pete Donohue Bubbles Hargrave 07/31/1921 09/17/1928 119
Pete Vuckovich Ted Simmons 06/03/1978 09/04/1985 119
Scott Sanderson Gary Carter 08/06/1978 09/13/1983 119
Burleigh Grimes Zack Taylor 05/21/1921 09/22/1932 118
Curt Davis Mickey Owen 04/21/1938 05/20/1945 118
Don Gullett Johnny Bench 09/21/1970 09/22/1976 118
Ron Darling Gary Carter 04/11/1985 09/17/1989 118
Thornton Lee Mike Tresh 10/02/1938 08/27/1947 118
Gerry Staley Del Rice 09/25/1947 07/31/1954 117
Hooks Dauss Johnny Bassler 04/24/1921 09/16/1926 117
Jake Westbrook Victor Martinez 07/20/2003 05/28/2008 117
Jarrod Washburn Bengie Molina 08/27/1999 10/01/2005 117
Larry McWilliams Tony Pena 07/06/1982 09/24/1988 117
Sal Maglie Wes Westrum 07/21/1950 07/21/1955 117
Larry Dierker Johnny Edwards 04/09/1969 08/17/1974 116
Rollie Naylor Cy Perkins 05/24/1919 06/24/1924 116
Waite Hoyt Wally Schang 07/31/1919 05/23/1931 116
Burleigh Grimes Otto Miller 05/27/1918 09/24/1922 115
Dennis Leonard Darrell Porter 04/18/1977 09/30/1980 115
Dizzy Trout Bob Swift 04/18/1944 08/03/1951 115
Eric Show Terry Kennedy 08/06/1982 08/25/1986 115
Slim Harriss Cy Perkins 06/14/1920 09/20/1924 115
Bob Feller Rollie Hemsley 04/20/1938 08/17/1941 114
Ed Whitson Benito Santiago 10/04/1986 07/05/1991 114
Gaylord Perry Dick Dietz 04/22/1967 09/28/1971 114
Jim Maloney Johnny Edwards 06/29/1961 08/21/1967 114
John Denny Ted Simmons 04/10/1975 09/11/1979 114
Rick Helling Ivan Rodriguez 04/10/1994 08/25/2001 114
Alex Fernandez Ron Karkovice 09/08/1990 09/07/1996 113
Bob Knepper Alan Ashby 04/13/1981 04/29/1989 113
Charlie Lea Gary Carter 06/12/1980 09/16/1984 113
John Danks A.J. Pierzynski 04/08/2007 09/24/2011 113
Jim Bagby Steve O’Neill 04/24/1918 08/05/1922 112
Geoff Zahn Butch Wynegar 04/11/1977 10/02/1980 111
Mel Harder Frankie Pytlak 04/28/1932 09/28/1940 111
Roger Clemens Tony Pena 04/09/1990 09/21/1993 111
Brandon Webb Chris Snyder 08/21/2004 04/06/2009 110
Dwight Gooden Gary Carter 04/09/1985 05/07/1989 110
Larry Jansen Wes Westrum 05/23/1948 06/08/1954 110
Nate Robertson Ivan Rodriguez 04/14/2004 07/25/2008 110
Wilson Alvarez Ron Karkovice 08/11/1991 07/21/1997 110
Catfish Hunter Thurman Munson 04/11/1975 07/12/1979 109
Eddie Rommel Cy Perkins 07/23/1920 08/03/1927 109
Jim O’Toole Johnny Edwards 07/06/1961 10/01/1966 109
Jimmy Key Ernie Whitt 04/17/1985 09/30/1989 109
Joe Sparma Bill Freehan 06/23/1964 09/26/1969 109
Mike Caldwell Charlie Moore 07/05/1977 08/27/1984 109
Tony Cloninger Joe Torre 06/15/1961 09/09/1967 109
Brett Myers Mike Lieberthal 07/24/2002 09/26/2006 108
Curt Simmons Stan Lopata 04/19/1949 09/06/1958 108
Rick Sutcliffe Jody Davis 06/19/1984 09/25/1988 108
Chad Billingsley Russell Martin 06/15/2006 07/31/2010 107
Doug Drabek Mike LaValliere 04/09/1987 09/19/1992 107
Erik Hanson Dave Valle 09/05/1988 09/14/1993 107
Howie Pollet Joe Garagiola 06/02/1946 09/05/1954 107
Ralph Terry Elston Howard 06/08/1957 08/21/1964 107
Candy Cummings Nat Hicks 04/23/1872 10/26/1874 106
Harry Gumbert Harry Danning 09/25/1936 04/26/1941 106
Livan Hernandez Brian Schneider 04/06/2003 08/17/2009 106
Roger Pavlik Ivan Rodriguez 05/02/1992 09/27/1997 106
Tom Candiotti Mike Piazza 09/06/1992 09/24/1997 106
Bob Buhl Del Crandall 05/12/1953 04/12/1962 105
Bucky Walters Ernie Lombardi 06/25/1938 09/24/1941 105
Jack Sanford Tom Haller 04/13/1961 07/19/1965 105
Jeremy Bonderman Ivan Rodriguez 04/07/2004 06/01/2008 105
Tommy Bridges Ray Hayworth 08/25/1930 07/30/1938 105
Watty Clark Al Lopez 09/30/1928 09/25/1935 105
George Uhle Luke Sewell 06/04/1922 09/03/1928 104
Randy Johnson Dan Wilson 04/04/1994 07/05/1998 104
Scott Baker Joe Mauer 07/05/2005 08/08/2011 104
Darren Oliver Ivan Rodriguez 05/19/1995 08/28/2001 103
Ed Brandt Al Spohrer 06/30/1928 09/23/1935 103
Gavin Floyd A.J. Pierzynski 07/06/2007 09/25/2011 103
Jim Tobin Phil Masi 08/08/1940 08/08/1945 103
Jon Matlack Jim Sundberg 04/08/1978 05/17/1983 103
Larry Gura John Wathan 09/29/1976 06/18/1984 103
Adam Wainwright Yadier Molina 04/06/2007 09/14/2010 102
Cliff Lee Victor Martinez 06/30/2003 06/04/2008 102
Jim Barr Dave Rader 06/25/1972 09/25/1976 102
Jim Slaton Charlie Moore 09/23/1973 08/01/1982 102
Johnny Niggeling Rick Ferrell 06/12/1941 09/21/1945 102
Paul Splittorff Darrell Porter 04/11/1977 10/05/1980 102
Pete Alexander Bob O’Farrell 06/17/1919 04/29/1928 102
Terry Mulholland Darren Daulton 07/09/1989 10/03/1993 102
Willard Nixon Sammy White 05/06/1952 06/15/1958 102
Bill Doak Verne Clemons 04/26/1919 09/23/1923 101
Bill Lee Carlton Fisk 05/01/1973 08/14/1978 101
Carl Hubbell Shanty Hogan 07/26/1928 09/25/1932 101
Carl Mays Wally Schang 05/10/1918 05/26/1923 101
Don Wilson Johnny Edwards 04/08/1969 05/12/1974 101
Jim Palmer Elrod Hendricks 04/13/1969 06/15/1976 101
Luis Tiant Joe Azcue 07/19/1964 04/13/1969 101
Mort Cooper Walker Cooper 09/29/1940 08/02/1947 101
Steve Trout Jody Davis 04/08/1983 07/11/1987 101
Todd Stottlemyre Pat Borders 04/10/1988 04/18/1996 101
Wade Miller Brad Ausmus 04/05/2001 06/25/2004 101
Craig Swan John Stearns 08/24/1975 08/08/1982 100
Doc Medich Jim Sundberg 04/11/1978 08/09/1982 100
Freddie Fitzsimmons Gus Mancuso 04/18/1933 09/22/1940 100
Jose Contreras A.J. Pierzynski 04/07/2005 08/29/2009 100
Mike Scott Alan Ashby 05/06/1983 04/30/1989 100
Scott Erickson Lenny Webster 09/29/1990 05/04/1999 100

Bold/Italics: active as of end of 2011 season

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4 Responses to Glove Will Keep Us Together

  1. Ember Nickel says:
    13 February, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    Bill Dickey is in the top ten…twice. Warms my heart.

    Reply

  2. Pingback: Pitchers “Pitching Around” & Catchers “Catching Around” | Value Over Replacement Grit

  3. JES says:
    19 February, 2012 at 1:33 pm

    There’s a mistake in the number of games for the Bob Gibson-Ted Simmons battery; the last game listed was in 1983, so they obviously included games in which the mid-1980s Brewers pitcher named Bob Gibson (who certainly was not the same Bob Gibson who was wrapping up his HOF career for the Cardinals in the early-to-mid 1970s) threw to Ted Simmons. The 1980s Bob Gibson was a rookie in 1983, and only started one game in which Simmons was the starting catcher (I checked Gibson’s Gamelog on Baseball-Reference.com, and fellow rookie Bill Schroeder was the starting catcher in Gibson’s other 1983 starts). That means that the real Bob Gibson and Ted Simmons were the starting battery in 136 (not 137) games, and their last start as a battery (as per Baseball-Reference.com) was on July 8, 1975.

    Reply

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