Kansas City Royals: Top Ten Catchers In Team History

Rush singer Geddy Lee (center) talks with former Kansas City Royals catcher Buck Martinez (left) – Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Who remembered that Buck Martinez, who has been an announcer for the Blue Jays for years now, played eight seasons with the Royals?

In his eight seasons, Martinez was pretty much a back-up, playing in only 361 games (an average of 45 a year) and seeing only 1,073 Plate Appearances. Let’s see how he ranked out on our statistical categories among other qualifying catchers:

• Last in Home Runs –  15
• Last in Runs Scored – 72
• Last in Runs Batted In – 104
• Last in Stolen Bases – 1
• Last in Batting Average – .222
• Last in On Base Percentage – .277
• Ninth in Slugging Percentage – .322
• Ninth in Wins Above Replacement – .9

It is crazy in this day and age to imagine a team keeping around a catcher, even a back-up for eight years based on this total lack of production. He spent parts of the 1969, 1971, 91972, and 1973 seasons in the minors.

The most games Martinez ever played for the Royals was 95 in 1976. His career high in RBI, 34, also came in that season. His WAR was 1.1 that year, meaning he accumulated a negative the rest of his career with the Royals.

This was an easy number ten.

Next: Number NINE