Baltimore Orioles: Ranking the 5 best catchers of all-time
2. Gus Triandos (1955-1962)
The Baltimore Orioles’ received a gift from their division rivals New York Yankees when they acquired a catcher that went by the name of Gus Triandos in a massive trade following the 1954 season.
Triandos played 953 games in eight memorable years with the Baltimore Orioles. The longtime Orioles’ catcher immediately showcased his awe-inspiring baseball abilities in his first season in the black and orange hitting .277/.333/.399 with 12 home runs and 65 RBIs in 140 games. Triandos revealed his power hitting strength the following year in 1956 when he slammed 21 homers and posted some of the best numbers of his career with 88 RBIs and hit .279 in 131 games. Despite setting new career-highs, Triandos was not selected to the 1956 All-Star team and placed 26th in the AL MVP voting.
Triandos revealed his power hitting strength the following year in 1956 when he slammed 21 homers and posted some of the best numbers of his career with 88 RBIs and hit .279 in 131 games. Despite setting new career-highs, Triandos was not selected to the 1956 All-Star team and placed 26th in the AL MVP voting.
In his third season with the Orioles, Triandos’ numbers dropped only a smidgen from the previous season as he hit .254/.317/.445 and walloped 19 home runs with 72 RBIs. In spite of the decreased statistics, Triandos was elected to his first All-Star game.
Following a season where the backstop’s number dipped a tad, Triandos came roaring back in 1958 as he smacked a career-high 30 home runs with 79 RBIs and hit .245 in 137 games. Triandos’ 30 homers is an all-time single-season best among Baltimore Orioles’ catchers.
When comparing some of the power heavy Orioles’ catchers, Triandos home run rate is similar to Chris Hoiles as they hold the top two spots for career home runs as an Orioles player.
Along with his distinguished offensive numbers, Triandos was a defensive guru behind the plate as he led the league in many defensive categories as catcher such as 132 games behind the plate and 698 putouts. Finishing just outside the top 10 in the 1958 MVP voting, Triandos finished 11th in a memorable season in Orioles’ history.
Triandos went on to earn his third straight All-Star appearance as he slammed 25 home runs. The Orioles’ catcher didn’t experience any drop off in his defensive categories, leading the league once again with 125 games as a catcher and 63 assists.
In 953 games, Triandos hit 142 home runs (15th in franchise history) and recorded 517 RBIs which is most all-time among Orioles’ catchers.