The staff at FOX Sports Ohio has been debating a topic recently, and we would like your input.
As the All-Star Game approaches, we've been looking at past seasons and asking ourselves "who were the greatest Reds/Indians players ever to play each position?" Trust us, making the list wasn't easy - we went through several drafts and researched players of the past.
Now we turn it over to you.
Between now and the All Star Game (July 16 on FOX), we will be asking you to vote for your favorite Reds player and favorite Indians player at each position.
Click here to vote for first base - see the candidates
Today's position - catcher.
Johnny Bench
Bench played 17 seasons in the majors, all of them for the Cincinnati Reds. He went to 14 All-Star Games, won the Rookie Of The Year Award in 1968, grabbed the NL MVP twice (1970 and 1972), and has ten Gold Gloves. His lifetime batting average is .267. He was elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1989.
Johnny Edwards
Edwards spent 14 years in the league, the first seven in Cincinnati. He went to three consecutive All-Star Games from 1963 to 1965, and collected a pair of Gold Gloves. His lifetime batting average was .242 (.246 in Cincinnati).
Ernie Lombardi
Of his 17 years in Major League Baseball, 10 were in a Reds uniform. He payed in seven All-Star Games, and in 1938 he hit .342 and was awarded the NL MVP. His lifetime batting average was .306 (.311 as a Red). He was elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1986.
Joe Oliver
Oliver played two stints as a Cincinnati Red, covering eight of his 13 seasons in the bigs. Following his time with the Reds, he became a journeyman backup catcher on several teams in the American League. His lifetime batting average was .247 (.246 with the Reds).
Sandy Alomar Jr.
Alomar played 20 years in the Major Leagues, 11 in Cleveland. He played in six All-Star Games, won the Rookie Of The Year and a Gold Glove in 1990, and won the All-Star Game MVP in his home stadium in 1997 after hitting a home run to win the game. His lifetime batting average was. 273 (.277 in Cleveland).
Ray Fosse
Fosse played 8 of his 12 years in an Indians uniform. He went to the All-Star Game twice, and won the Gold Glove those same two seasons. His lifetime batting average was .256 (.269 in Cleveland).
Jim Hegan
Hegan spent 17 years in the Majors, 14 with the Indians. He began his career in 1941, but left to serve in the military for three years (1943-1945). When he returned, he went to five All-Star Games. From 1947-1950, nobody was better at throwing out base runners. He threw out over 62 percent of all would-be base-stealers during that time. His lifetime batting average was .228 (.230 as an Indian).
Steve O'Neill
The first 13 years of his 16-season career were spent in Cleveland with the Indians and the Naps. He never played in the All-Star Game, because it was not yet introduced during O'Neill's career. In 1922, he finished 6th in AL MVP voting. His lifetime batting average was .263 (.265 with Cleveland).
