Bob Uecker Vs. Drew Butera

Every once in a while I will do a comparison piece but usually I compare great players and attempt to do a statistical analysis of the two players. The comparison usually involves a Los Angeles Dodger. This statistical analysis is at the other end of the spectrum of greatness, that of the backup catcher. Every team has one and it is a job that you just can't plug a player in to. The backup catcher is usually a defensive specialist, can call a game and handle a pitching staff, and is a good fit in the clubhouse. This blog is a comparison of Bob Uecker, a catcher whose hitting futility is stuff of baseball legend, and Drew Butera, who has carved himself out a career as a light hitting backup catcher but statistically, ranks right down there with Uecker's.

Bob Uecker played in the 1960's with four teams over six seasons and sported a career .200 batting average with 14 homeruns and 74 RBI's. This is Drew Butera's seventh season, also with four teams and has a career batting average of .192 to this point in his career with 11 homeruns and 68 RBI's. I believe Drew Butera may have the advantage over Uecker in the speed department. Uecker had 0 career triples and 0 stolen bases in four attempts whereas Butera has three career triples and 0 stolen bases in two attempts.

In what I would call a statistical anomaly, Butera has never batted above .200 in any of his first six seasons until this season. He is currently batting .286 although it is only in 56 at bats with the Kansas City Royals. Butera did hit a career high three homeruns with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014 and Bob Uecker's career high was seven in 1966 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Defensively, it is also just about dead even. Uecker's career fielding percentage was .981 and Butera sports a .991 career fielding. They both threw out 33 percent of the runners trying to steal against them.

Butera has played multiple positions in his career having logged 13 games at first base and four as a pitcher in his 331 games in the major leagues. He was even used once as a designated hitter (there is no rule that says they should actually be able to hit). Uecker spent his entire career behind the plate.

In comparing these stats, I believe that Bob Uecker has been supplanted as "Mr. Baseball" by Drew Butera. Their careers are almost statistically identical with the light hitting edge going to Butera. They were both able to carve out a niche in baseball with their rare abilities to be backup catchers.