Finley Knows All Too Well the Meaning of Prized Catcher

TEMPE, Ariz. —  Angel pitcher Chuck Finley starts rattling off all the catchers he has had during his 12 years in Anaheim.

“Let’s see, there was Bob Boone, Jerry Narron, Darrell Miller, Butch Wynegar, Ron Tingley, Lance Parrish, Jorge Fabregas, Andy Allanson. . . . Man, I can almost name as many managers.”

There’s a common denominator among all of Finley’s receivers: None, except Parrish, could hit for power. In fact, power-hitting catchers are almost as rare in Anaheim as Angel World Series appearances.

Parrish’s 24 homers in 1990 were the most in a season by an Angel catcher, but Parrish was nearing the end of his career when he joined the Angels in 1989, and his production tailed off after ’91.

Brian Downing had 28 homers in 1982, but that was after he moved from catcher to left field. He never hit more than 12 homers as a catcher.

Otherwise, the Angels have had a string of weak-hitting catchers since their inception in 1961.

In hard-swinging Todd Greene, it appears the team has its first legitimate power-hitting catcher in his prime. And that excites Finley.

“I like a catcher with some pop,” Finley said. “These Punch-and-Judy catchers never did much for me. If you’re going to be that kind of hitter, you better be able to catch. . . . Greene can do both.”