In 1997, Piazza’s .362 batting average tied the highest average ever previously recorded by a catcher, first set by the Yankees’ Bill Dickey in 1936. In 2009, Minnesota’s Joe Mauer surpassed them both by batting .365. Mauer has won three American League batting titles compared with none for Piazza, who calls Mauer’s titles “a remarkable accomplishment.”
Having said that, however, Piazza makes some interesting points. One is that Mauer batted .365 while playing catcher in 105 games and Dickey batted. 362 in 107 games. Piazza, meanwhile, had to play considerably more games behind the plate – 139 – which may have meant he wasn’t as fresh toward the end of season. Playing in the National League, he wasn’t able to spend a game each week at designated hitter as Mauer sometimes did. And in terms of winning a batting title, Piazza had the misfortune of competing against one of the all-time greats in San Diego’s Tony Gwynn, who captured eight batting crowns.
When it comes to selecting baseball’s best complete catcher of all-time, Piazza says that he gives Cincinnati’s Johnny Bench the nod. But he considers himself a complete hitter, based on both power and average.
