BLS poll: Is Fisk or Rodriguez the best 'Pudge' in catcher history?

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Who's your Pudge?

Baseball fans have enjoyed having a Pudge behind home plate in major league games for most of the past 40 years.

Classmates gave Carlton Fisk the nickname "Pudge" in grade school, long before Ivan Rodriguez (notes) was born, though the monicker sticks to both men to this day. Appropriate, considering Rodriguez just surpassed Fisk as the career leader in games caught.

Fisk already is in the Hall of Fame and many have expressed certainty that Rodriguez, provided there's no breaking news (wink-wink) between now and then, will join him in Cooperstown someday.

Which Pudge is better? White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, a former teammate of Fisk, said he would pick Rodriguez, whom he coached with the Marlins.

From the Chicago Tribune:

"I think the young Pudge can do more stuff than Fisk," Guillen said. "I played with [Fisk] for 10 years, and I've only known Rodriguez for a few, playing against each other and coaching him. But he broke the record for a reason.

"Pudge Rodriguez is the best player to ever come from Puerto Rico. When you catch every day, you have to be strong mentally and physically."

Here are some of the stats:
I. Rodriguez: 19 seasons, 109 adjusted OPS, 14 All-Star Games, 13 Gold Gloves
C. Fisk: 20 seasons, 117 adjusted OPS, 11 All-Star Games, 1 Gold Glove

Stats only tell part of the story. Which Pudge you got? Check the records, rifle through your memories, go with your gut and don't forget to vote!

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1. Posted by Allen Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:05 pm EDT
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I would go with Fisk everyday and twice on Sunday.
But you have to admit, they are both the greatest catchers of their time.
It is like everything else in life, the torch is passed.
2. Posted by Mickey D. Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:06 pm EDT
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Even if you take away Ivan's hitting numbers, he's the best defensive catcher of all time.
Although he should have learned at some point in his 19 years how to take a walk, or NOT ground into a double play. I'll still take him over Fisk.
3. Posted by This is Dave, Hello There! Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:10 pm EDT
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He took a walk, I think, back in '99. Four balls and everything, Mickey.
4. Posted by Buff Hammer Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:22 pm EDT
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Ivan Rodriguez is as clean as Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa and Keith Richards....what are you talking about, huh???....Buff Hammer, Woooh!!!
5. Posted by Mickey D. Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:23 pm EDT
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Dave, so THAT'S why he won the MVP award.
Seriously, 477 walks in 9463 PA is pretty awful.
6. Posted by Butt Pirate Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:28 pm EDT
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Allen must have never heard of Johnny Bench.
Also, the discussion at hand will be rendered moot shortly when the mysterious lawyer-hero reveals that Ivan Rodriguez is one of the infamous 104.
7. Posted by JHitts Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:30 pm EDT
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I'll still take him 1) for defense and 2) as a homer because he brought the Tigers back to relevance.
8. Posted by Mickey D. Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:32 pm EDT
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Of active players he is 5th in plate appearances.
Of active players he is 61st in walks.
Something went wrong early in his plate discipline career. Maybe that's why he commissioned a larger-than-life bronze statue of himself to be placed in his backyard.
9. Posted by Deker Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:01 pm EDT
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13 gold gloves? Pudge Rodriguez all the way. Who cares about a Homerun trot caught on camera? I wonder why that's such a big highlight when the Red Sox didn't win anything.
10. Posted by habs1rule Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:31 pm EDT
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Yankees care so much for their team, they are making them hang around for Five hours to play in conditions deemed 'Dangerous'. Thats how you treat a Billion dollar investment.
11. Posted by Sludge Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:35 pm EDT
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Fisk, the non-cheater. MLB has about the same credibility as the WWE, and that might be an insult to the WWE.
12. Posted by Smart_People_Fear_Me Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:01 pm EDT
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I vote for Pudge being the better of the 2.
13. Posted by Miguel Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:01 pm EDT
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easy...gold gloves, number of games caught and most important...a WS RING...Pudge Rodriguez wins this one DB
14. Posted by abe1927 Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:56 pm EDT
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Actually,Allen,Johnny Bench played for the team that beat Fisk's in the '75 World Series. And maybe for the Steam Rollers too.
15. Posted by Andy Woollam Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:07 pm EDT
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Rodriguez was on 'roids, do I'll take Fist.
16. Posted by teddyballgame Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:10 pm EDT
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Fisk all the way. Especially after he kicked Deion's lazy a$$.
17. Posted by cuffablimp Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:18 pm EDT
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10 or more years from now they'll both be Hall of Famers. No matter which one you pick you're getting a great top flight catcher. They both had a drive similar to a Bull in full motion and while Carlton Fisk hit more homers, Pudge Rodriguez played in more games. Both stood out in Post Season play and both played regularly past the age of 35 while Carlton Fisk carried that stature into his 40's.
18. Posted by Travis Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:29 pm EDT
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Ivan Rodriguez is the best catcher since Johnny Bench.
19. Posted by Travis Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:31 pm EDT
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Ivan Rodriguez is the best catcher since Johnny Bench.
20. Posted by Allen Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:43 pm EDT
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#16, thanks for pointing that out, I never knew that.
I hear he has a son in the Japanese leagues that is also a catcher.
If I remember right his name is Woo Den Park Bench.
They say he isn't as great as the old man, but he holds his own.
21. Posted by darrin Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:48 pm EDT
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ivan (if it is proved that he was a roid boy then fisk for sure) definatley is up there with the likes of fisk , bench and cochrane although cochrane was a lifetime .320 hitter.
honorable mention mike piazza, but he dh'd when he moved to the AL alot
22. Posted by billc Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:50 pm EDT
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I have enjoyed watching both of these guys play but if you push me John Bench would be my catcher . Fisk had Munson as competion and we all know about the New York -Boston history . In the mid- seventies the big Red Machine was as good as it gets and they had to contend with the Dodgers and Lasorda at third base coaching . I watched Bench stand at the plate and give as much as he took with runners trying to score by force . Posada for his offence ,Varitek for his game calling Yogi in his day was a gamer . seeing Yeager with a broken bat sticking in his neck Catchers are tough guys all you have to do is look at their hands !
23. Posted by darrin Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:52 pm EDT
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well so did fisk and rodrigez,so where is piazza?
however i still go with rodrigez
24. Posted by Andrew H Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:58 pm EDT
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All I will say is that I have been a Pudge Rodriguez fan since the day he showed up at Arlington Stadium, married his sweetie at home plate, and went on to a zillion straight Gold Gloves and All-Star appearances. Even today, he exudes boyish enthusiasm and love for the game, making him one of the few players that it is truly worth paying to watch.
25. Posted by Senior Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:46 pm EDT
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Does it really matter how you rate these two exceptional players. Most likely the best two all around catchers in Modern Day Baseball, saw both play Fisk in Boston and Pudge with the Tigers, enjoyable and fantastic.