Collect the Best Catchers of the 1970s
The 1970s were a golden era for tough, gritty backstops who anchored their teams behind the plate and left lasting marks on the game. From defensive masters to clutch hitters, these catchers defined the decade with consistency, leadership, and durability.
Their trading cards captured the essence of that era — bold uniforms, sideburns, and all. Here’s a look at the top catchers of the 1970s and the cards that help tell their stories.
Top Catchers of the 1970s
1973 Topps Baseball #193 Carlton Fisk
player Info
• Hall-of-famer
• 11-time all-star
• 1972 AL rookie of the year
Set Info
• 660-card set
what they’ve said
• “He played the game the right way. Both behind the plate and at the plate.” – Hall of Fame teammate Carl Yastrzemski
1971 Topps Baseball #338 Gene Tenace
player Info
• six-time world series champion
• 1972 world series MVP
• member of the oakland a’s hall of fame
Set Info
• 752-card seet
What They’ve Said
• “I’m a line-drive hitter. But I can’t go around telling people that. I know they will be expecting homers. I can feel the people. I know they all saw the World Series.” – tenace following his legendary 1972 world series performance
1971 Topps Baseball #5 Thurman Munson
player Info
• two-time world series champion
• seven-time all-star
• 1976 al mvp
set Info
• 752-card set
What They’ve Said
• “He was the main reason I came to New York. He was an excellent catcher who called an outstanding game.” – yankees teammate tommy john
1972 Topps Baseball #154 Ted Simmons
Superstar Info
• Hall-of-famer
• eight-time all-star
• his number (no. 23) is retired by the cardinals
Set Info
• 787-card set
What They’ve Said
• “You wanted him catching you because he was going to win the game with his bat. Offensively, he was going to carry the load for us. He was as tough an out in the National League as there was in the 1970s.” – former mlber al hrabosky
1973 Topps Baseball #380 Johnny Bench
Superstar Info
• Hall-of-famer
• 14-time all-star
• two-time world series champion
• two-time NL MVP
Set Info
• 660-card set
what they’ve said
• “He was so aggressive. I can still remember the fights we had with Pittsburgh and he’d be standing there with his eyes as big as half-dollars or larger. He was challenging the whole team and nobody ever challenged him. He was amazing.” – fellow hall-of-famer dave parker
