The rare lefty catcher

Something that I've failed to notice in all my years of watching baseball is how rare a left-handed catcher is. Think about it, when's the last time you saw someone throwing the ball back to the pitcher with their left hand? If you said anything more recent than 1989, you'd be wrong!

On May 14, 1989, in a game between Pittsburgh and Atlanta, the Pirates moved Benny Distefano from first base to catcher as part of a double switch. Distefano was a lefty, and no other team has had a left catcher in a game since then. In fact, no lefty catcher has started a game since 1900, when Jack Clements retired after playing 10 games behind the plate for the Boston Beaneaters.

This season, the Milwaukee Brewers have Logan Schafer as their emergency catcher. Schafer is a lefty, so although highly unlikely, we may get to see the first lefty catcher in 24 years!

Benny Distefano in 1989. Lefty!