Detroit Tigers 5 all-time best catchers in franchise history

4. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez

Pudge played about four and a half seasons for the Tigers. He was traded to the Yankees at the 2008 trade deadline. And I mean, how could I not include Pudge?

Pudge was fresh off a World Series title with the Marlins in 2003. The Detroit Tigers were fresh off one of the worst seasons in MLB history. Still, then-GM Dave Dombrowski was able to convince the All-Star catcher to come to Detroit. He had to overpay him a bit, but I think it's safe to say it was worth it in the end.

Adding Rodriguez to the mix was huge for this team. He was able to aid a young pitching staff while contributing big time offensively. His defensive prowess was unmatched behind the plate, winning four Gold Glove Awards during his time in Detroit. He was also a four-time All-Star as a Tiger.

There are a couple things that Tigers fans will remember him most for. The first is his performance in 2005 Home Run Derby at Comerica Park. He surprisingly finished second behind Bobby Abreu, who put on quite the performance himself.

The other is helping the 2006 Detroit Tigers reach the World Series. He was such an integral part of that team. He was just so clutch and an enormous leader.

My personal favorite Pudge moment came during that 2006 season when he hit a walk-off home run against Cleveland. It was the first walk-off home run I had ever seen.

Pudge was a fan favorite in Detroit, and for good reason. He was just a great player.

3. Mickey Tettleton

Tettleton just makes the cut here, playing the minimum four years. But he played his best seasons with the Detroit Tigers.

He came to Detroit following three years with the Orioles. He played here from 1991-94, and he was an awesome offensive catcher. There aren't a lot of catchers who can hit for as much power as Tettleton did.

The switch-hitter hit at least 30 home runs in each of his first three season with the Tigers while also putting up a wRC+ of at least 125 in all four years with the club. He also walked a bunch. He had two straight seasons with a WAR of at least 5.0.

Tettleton also had an unorthodox batting stance in which he held the bat in slanted position. Detroit Tigers 2022 first-round pick Jace Jung's batting stance has drawn some comparisons to Tettleton's for that very reason.

Tettleton was just a good old-fashioned ballplayer. He crushed baseballs, got on base, and played solid defense. All that makes him the third-best catcher in Detroit Tigers history.

2. Lance Parrish

Depending on who you ask, Parrish should be No. 1 on this list. He holds a lot of nostagia for fans simply because he was an integral aprt of the 1984 World Series Championship team. There's one catcher that's better, which we'll discuss shortly. But before we do that, let's talk about The Big Wheel.

Parrish was a six-time All-Star during his time in Detroit, which includes five straight selections from 1982-86. His best season came in that 1982 campaign where he had an fWAR of 5.0.

He had a 3.0 fWAR in 1984, but hit a career-high 33 homers. His home run in Game 5 of the 1984 World Series off Padres All-Star reliever Goose Gossage was especially memorable.

He also was a great defensive catcher, winning three Gold Gloves during his time in Detroit. He was the complete package behind the dish.

Parrish went on to join the coaching ranks, including coaching in the Tigers organization. He was the third base coach for the Tigers in the late '90s and early 2000s, and eventually came back to coach in the minor leagues in 2014.

He was the manager for the Double-A Erie SeaWolves from 2014-17, then for the West Michigan Whitecaps from 2018-19. It's safe to say he's a Tiger through and through.

1. Bill Freehan

Freehan just had to be the top catcher on this list. He's the only player on here to play his entire career with the Tigers, playing in 11 All-Star games and finishing as the MVP runner-up in 1968 en route to helping the Tigers win the World Series.

He played his first full season in 1963 and never looked back. In 1964 he had a 5.1 fWAR. He had a 7.0 fWAR in the aformentioned 1968 season. He was one of the greatest of his era.

Freehan is perhaps best known for catching the final out of the 1968 World Series. Cardinals' Tim McCarver popped the ball up in foul ground and Freehan caught it to seal the championship.

He was an outstanding defensive catcher as well, winning five Gold Gloves in his career. One of his other memorable moments came in that same 1968 World Series, this time in Game 5. Willie Horton had a great throw from left field to nab hall-of-fame speedster Lou Brock at home plate, but Freehan did a great job of blocking the plate as well.

Freehan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's late in his life and passed away in 2021 at the age of 79. There have been several great tributes done in his honor. He was not only the best catcher in Detroit Tigers history, but also one of the best overall players in the history of the franchise.