Why No Left Handed Catchers?
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- Опубликовано: 11 янв 2018
- Why No Left Handed Catchers?
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I don't know how true this is, but it seems like I've always heard that any lefty with a strong enough arm to catch ends up getting turned into a pitcher. I guess that makes sense, as there's no obvious advantage to throwing lefty as a catcher but there is for a pitcher.
Yes probably true! Thanks for commenting and watching!
There may be an obvious advantage for catching as a lefty. Many coaches feel they get more strike calls with a lefty catcher. And umpires say they see the pitches better with a lefty catcher. While those claims are somewhat subjective, my own experiences fall in line with that. My 13 year-old lefty catcher gets a lot of outside called strikes against right-handed batter. Just throwing it out there for thought. No factual basis.
My daughter is a lefty catcher and when her little league went to state this year the opposing coach told her coach she was the best catcher he had ever seen. She has been catching since she was 6. In T-ball and 8U or even 10U none of the catchers used catchers mitts - they just used their regular glove so I don’t think its a matter of not being able to find lefty catchers mitts. If that were the reason there would be no lefties playing ball at all in any position because lefty gloves are hard to find period, especially if you go to somewhere like Wal-Mart because you don’t want to spend a lot of money on their first glove in case they hate it, which is where we went for hers. When she finally was ready to move into a catchers mitt 2-3 years ago it was really hard at first because i didn’t know where to look. A store here in st. louis (yes, she loves yadi!) called johnny mac’s has an entire section of just lefty gloves for all positions including lots of choices of catchers mitts. And yes i have heard that too - if you are a coach and you have a kid just starting out with a really strong arm thats a lefty what are you going to do with them? You’re going to turn them into a pitcher. I discouraged Anna from pitching because 10 other little girls raised their hands up when her tball coach said who wants to pitch? No one wanted to catch. I didn’t want her to get bored and start chasing butterflies or braiding hair in the outfield waiting weeks to get her turn to pitch and it worked. Catching is her heart. Also as a righty its easy to say it would be harder for a lefty to do this or do that but as a parent of 3 lefties I can tell you that the things we think are harder for them - they think we are funny for even thinking it and even funnier when we say it. I have gotten so many strange looks for saying that must be harder for you since you are left-handed. They look at each other and then make fun of me to each other. Only 10% of all people are lefties so 90% of coaches and managers and scouts are righties...
Yep. Left handed pitchers are in such high demand that any lefties are pushed towards pitching. If you are left handed, just that alone will greatly increase your chances of making it far in your baseball career. I think that it is safe to say that skill wise, you don't have to be as good of a pitcher if you are left-handed. Lefties are in such high demand that you can make it farther with less 'talent'. Being left handed IS the talent.
@@kaarman1 - Great comment!
"I can play outfield or first base. Alright!"
"Dont forget Timmy you can become a specialist reliever where you only pitch against a single batter in a game"
Not next year with the new rules.
Jerold Kaminsky, DC worst rule ever
@@ryanoakes4836 I agree but I get why they are doing it.
@@ryanoakes4836 actually worst rule ever is currently in the minors where they place a runner on second in extra innings.
@@jeroldkaminsky2963 absolutely. How do you even record pitching/defensive stats w/ such a rule?
At a young age a left hander with a good glove gets put on first
Cory Hansard Not exactly. I’m left handed and when i was a kid i was the only one who could field and throw with a good arm. So i played short and third.
no
HowToScience 😂😂
Trista1986 I’m 16 and committed to and SEC school when i was 15 so it couldn’t have been bad😂
I've been told by some coaches that at the younger ages the least mobile players are put at 1st - my lefty son would've loved to have played first but they needed him in the outfield as he had a good arm and was pretty quick in the field. As they get older and the players are better things start to change.
Another reason is on the throw to second a right handed catcher, the ball has a tendency to tail towards the first base side of the bag making the tag easier. A left handed catcher, the ball has a tendency to tail to the third base side of the bag which will make the tag harder when trying to throw out a runner at second. Also, if you look at the pick-off attempts at first, most of the time it is the catcher throwing behind a left handed batter so it shields him somewhat from the runner. A left handed catcher wouldn't have that advantage. A play at the plate on a throw coming from center or right, the glove is on the third base side of home so it make the tag easier and faster as well.
Sail towards the third base side??
What?!?
If you are accurate, you are accurate. Period!
End of discussion
true what i do is that i turn my body more towards the 1st base side and it works just fine
@Harold Frets throws are often not perfectly straight. A right-handed person's throw will usually tail slightly right if they don't throw perfectly over the top. Likewise a lefty throw will tail slightly left. Similar to the movement of a two-seam fastball/sinker. This tail effect benefits a right-handed catcher throwing to second base because a throw aimed directly to the bag will tail slightly toward the second base side of the bag which is where the runner will be sliding. The infielder can catch and tag swiftly in one motion. A lefty catcher aiming directly for the bag will have throws slightly tail toward the shortstop side of the bag away from where the runner is sliding. The infielder will have to reach away from the bag and bring the glove back to the other side to tag the runner. In order to overcome this a lefty catcher would have to aim their throw toward the second base side of the bag to have it tail back to the bag in the area where an infielder could tag the runner in swift motion. So yeah, I get where the OP was going with this.
Regardless of the disadvantages, it is always fun to see new players break baseball orthodoxy, like the ambidextrous pitcher. As a lefty myself, I would love to see someone shatter the orthodoxy and become a star lefty catcher in the big leagues.
Idk about
@@mikekelly3962 I have to disagree as a lefty the ball natural tail is to the right field side of 2B( the natural break is across your body think about a pitch) for a righty to do that it would be like a screwball break
I think way more simple than any of that. As a youth coach, if I get a left handed thrower who has the arm strength to make a good throw down to second, I want him on the mound way more than I do behind the plate.
So yeah they may catch for me as a backup,(it’s fairly easy to find a mitt on amazon) I prefer for them to pitch.
Once players get to a level where specialization is a thing, the number of left handed catchers will approach zero because coaches will push the issue much harder than a youth coach would. Not only that, but it’s much easier to make it through tryouts as a left handed pitcher because there is less competition.
A left handed catcher making it to the pro level would take a lot of determination, because guys are going to look at the situation and see the path of least resistance into the league as a pitcher or first baseman.
Agreed. If you have the arm strength for catcher, you can pitch. Left handed pitchers are in demand. Catchers, not so much.
What a good observation, this is really good to know.
That's very true for a lefty like me I actually did play pitcher because of my strong arm but I didnt feel like doing it anymore but that's was before I now play for jv softball and is the best catcher they have so far and the only catcher but I like what you are also saying
@@emmachevalier8825
We're not talking about chicks here
@@diablodavila bro wtf your problem lmao
Here's my take: It's the pitchers. The one thing the catcher does more then anything else is receive the pitch. in little league and even high school ball it probably doesn't make a lot of difference what the guy behind the plate does, but as pitchers start getting to the highest levels of their game, everything starts to matter. I know I heard Orel Hershiser say he could not locate his curve ball without cleats specially designed to sit a certain way on the pitching rubber. Big league pitchers have thrown tens of thousands of pitches to catchers wearing the glove on the left hand. This is not something you want to go messing with.
I think there is also validity in the thought that lefties, who are about 1 in three pro ball players but less then 1 out of 10 in the general population are too valuable to put behind the plate. A kid who might have turned out as a catcher otherwise gets encouraged to pitch or play first where his rare dominate hand does give a big advantage. This in amplifies the idea above that very few pitchers ever see a lefty backstop which makes it hard to switch.
Rock Watson I’m think he’s saying lefty catchers pose no difference compared to righty catchers.. where as lefty pitchers can be insanely effective. Or a lefty first baseman.
That’s a good point about the catcher’s glove, never pitched so I’m not sure if it’s 100% accurate but it makes complete sense.
Just found your video. My son is a left handed catcher. He's been catching for 7 years now. He does the mirror image of what a right handed catcher would do. I have to order his mitts online since most stores don't carry left handed anything for gloves/mitts (we live in a smaller town and have to drive over an hour to get to a sports store that carries anything lefty). I think that the reason there aren't many lefty catchers is because a lot of coaches deter lefties from that position. With the proper training and a coach that refuses to give up on a child who is determined to be a left handed catcher, they can become just as good as any right handed catcher out there.
Yes very true! Good luck to your son!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Why start someone on that path if they have no future at the higher levels? Regardless of what they do up until college, it wont matter if they dont use lefty catchers after a certain point as an industry.
If he wants to catch, I say let him. I'd love to see a left-handed catcher in the Major Leagues. And if he needs to transition to another position, he'll take a lot of smarts with him.
WestCoast Gamers Club Sounds great! I totally agree with you! Thanks for watching and commenting! 😉
Love the videos you post.. Provides a lot of insight to the inside or behind the scenes information most people don't get to see. I am left-handed and growing up I wanted to catch. I don't know where my grandparents bought the glove but I got one for Christmas one year. Ended up catching until about 10th grade and loved it!
As a lefty that caught in low levels the biggest issue is the bang-bang play at the plate. You either have to come all the way across your body with the glove to tag, or you have to blindly drop the glove behind you. Or worst of all you have to line up on the foul side of the line. Any case, runners going home get basically a full step on the lefty. The other points are all valid too, the throw to 3rd on a steal is not natural, throws to 2nd on steals tend to tail toward third base, more righty batters than lefties. Also, it's nearly impossible to play 2b, ss or 3b as a lefty at a high level. When you field a grounder and transfer from glove to hand, a righty's shoulders and hips are turned to first base, a lefty's are turned to third base. Again, the runner gets a full stride on a lefty as they pivot. The only position where it is a fielding advantage to be lefty is first base, because your hips and shoulders are open to second and third base.
A left handed catcher would have an advantage throwing to first base though.
@@epb0205 Less call for that throw though, by a long shot. To third would also be tough, not only by body position, but with that right handed batter in the box being in the way. I would imagine it can all be worked out though if the talent is there.
@@andyfletcher3561 I feel like catchers throw more to first base than to third base.
@@epb0205 I was meaning compared to throwing to second.
playing in the 70`s I loved full contact.. I was taught to block the plate and to drop my left shinguard ... I would say I was pretty aggressive I would take advantage of my "armor" ..when you got the rep of someone who loved the contact a lot of runners held up...some runners loved contact too and that made it fun..
I’ve seen lefty catchers mitts in academy multiple times but being a lefty I can say it’s very hard to find good gloves in stores
Yea I am always having trouble finding a lefty glove for me but ig the one I have is good for catching
Got mine at Big 5 😂
It's not the glove, it's the thrower
I was able to get a decent mitt on eBay
Hey Matt. My name is David and I am a professional hitting instructor located in Cleveland, Ohio. I also do a lot of catching (catcher instruction). I've worked with hundreds of players, of all skill levels, up to and including MLB players (current and former). In this topic, as a former catcher, I think you hit on all the reasons, and all are true. It isn't one thing as a sole reasoning, it is most likely a combo of all reasons. The biggest I would say on a mechanical side, is throwing to second base. Yes we have to throw with lefties at the plate as well, but I I think most catchers will tell you it is easier to throw with a RH batter. I think it is more a visual thing than actual mechanical deal. Think about it this way. If you were taking ground balls in the IF and throwing to 1B... If I stood directly behind you (on your left side) as you turned to throw, it probably would not distract you too much. You mihg tnot even know IM there until you have released the ball. Now if you took another round and I stood on your right side as you turned to throw I am betting your accuracy would decrease severely. I think the catcher being able to turn his back to the RHB as he pops makes it much easier.
Also, and probably most importantly, being a catcher requires a special set of skills that aren't as easy to just "play". Not that other changes are easy, but going IF to OF takes less specific work than say SS to catcher. So most catchers (not all of course) begin playing it at younger ages. As you know, most younger players are right handed, with some lefties. Rarely do you see switch hitters. So I think it is a matter of a natural weeding out process. Think of short quarterbacks. It isn't that they can't play or be successful, but by the time you get to high levels, there are so few playing the odds are now very low that one will make it. And of course there is, as you of all people know all too well, that some things in baseball are just that way because they have always been that way! My coach's coach said, and his coach said, now I say...." type deal.. Never underestimate how strong that is, right or wrong.. Love your channel would love to chat sometime.. Who knows, maybe collaborate on something in the future! Be well and keep up the great work.. Love your channel and highly recommend it to all my students!
i literally never thought of the question I've been a catcher since i was 10 stopped playing when i was 21 never really thought of why isn't there any lefties i would say i'm right handed so even if the left handed hitter was in my way i would pop further sideways or forward but then there also becomes the idea of interference i'd literally just throw it just like any other batter so if he's in the way i'm going to throw and hit him or something so maybe that could be a problem for lefties ? i'd like to figure this one out too
what?
I love reading the explanations by right handed people. Growing up I played 3B as a lefty, while I was told it couldn't be done I made it look easy until I was told I could only pitch or play 1B or OF. A few years ago in a co-ed baseball league we had a shortage of catchers so I began learning how to catch. I was able to find an Easton glove (and there are a few out there) and catch. Again, many people gave me reasons why I couldn't do it, but they were amazed at some of the advantages. Catching a right handed pitcher is much easier for a lefty. Throwing a runner out at second is easier as a lefty (especially with a RH pitcher) and throwing to third is actually easier as lefty. But yes, making a snap throw to first with a lefty in the box is extremely difficult, but how often would you have to do it? I've also never had a problem throwing back to the pitcher. As far as tagging a runner out most plays a catcher uses two hands on the glove, with making one handed tag it might cost a fraction of a second but if the throw is good and into the runner my momentum carries my right hand right into them instead of having to turn my body as a right hander would do. So, why no left handers in the minors or majors? Because, it's the way it's always been and no one can coach a left handed catcher the same as why some teams give up on young knuckleballers.
I think it's for the reason you said, that a left handed catcher on an attempted tag-out play at home plate, must reach across his own body and backhand the catch, which is very awkward compared to a righty who just sticks his glove out and makes the tag. It's kind of the same reason why leftys are sought for first baseman, a lefty first baseman has his glove and body facing all of his fielders, whereas a righty has his back turned to his fielders, on a throw out play to first base.
Not hard to find a lefty catcher’s mitt. Walked right into Dick’s Sporting Goods and found it on the shelf. Lots of choices online. If you want something bat enough you make the adjustments and make the position work.
My son loves being behind the plate and does well. The biggest obstacle honestly, has been the “good ole boy” coaches that just won’t let it happen. They don’t even know why, they just say no because that’s how it’s been for so long. Whoever plays the position best should get to play period. Don’t count someone out just because they throw with their left hand. Sad, very sad
Don't be such a drama queen. I know your little BS game. "Good ole boy"=these people don't agree with me and I want it my way AND.... "Im not from here".
common sense is an oxymoron name , I am a lefty, I had problems when I was a kid. They didn't value lefties 40 years ago, I was taught to be righty. I played outfield , occasional fill in catcher, and pitcher in the later innings. I already could do things either side but lefty was my primary side. I was instructed to focus on righty as that is what they wanted, so I did. I was also forced to hold my paper differently when I wrote. It was uncomfortable and resulted in my handwriting being pretty sloppy unless I really slow it down. Lefties are discriminated on, at least 40 yrs ago they were. Don't know how it is now. When I played football ( defense and offensive line ) I was shown how to explode off my right leg, even though my left was stronger. Being a kid, I just did it even though I didn't understand why I was forced to change. I hope that doesn't happen still.
common sense Out of all major North American team sports, baseball is unique in it’s infatuation with tradition. So much so, in fact, that the game’s popularity with young people (at least here in the United States) has been steadily and rapidly declining since the 1990’s. This is for many reasons, of course, but among those reasons is certainly it’s “old time” mentality.. Just think about it: Turn on a football game from 1950 and you will be watching a completely different game than the one we watch on Sundays. The same thing is true with basketball between the adoption of the 3-point line, high flying alley-oops on a nightly basis, etc. Baseball, on the other hand, hasn’t done a damn thing to modernize itself since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. You might be able to make a case for some of the changes that sabermetrics have had on today’s game, but it’s largely the same.. At any rate, next time you have a thought, just click the back button asshole.. And WTF does where someone is from have anything to do with anything?
@@commonsense7787 lmaooo
Just discovered your channel. I love it. My oldest son is in tee ball now. Spencer Morton, future big leaguer... I hope. Best of luck to you and your family!
Diamond makes a left handed softball catchers Mitt. I was a left handed Olympic catcher. I believe it is a left handed position. Picks at first, bunts, plays at the plate are actually easier to defend. only negative is if a lefty doesn't throw with true spin to 2nd and the ball tails, it tails away from short stop. The "awkward" throw to 3rd base is right handers "awkward" throw to 1st. In softball the amount of pick offs to 1st base is almost triple to 3rd base.
THanks for sharing!!! Thanks for watching!
Righties are throwing to the incoming side of second base from the incoming side, allowing a straight trajectory for throws down to second in a stolen base attempt. Theoretically, a leftie has to throw at a slight angle when making the same throw to the incoming corner of the bag. If both the leftie and righty make the same throws at the same velocity, the ball thrown by the righty will arrive first.
I caught from the time I was 6-15 with a mizuno catchers glove. And I had a HS coach tell me no matter how good I was I would never catch in HS or college. But from little league all the way to babe Ruth I was behind the plate. And throwing to 3rd was never an issue.
Exactly, if throwing to 3rd is an "issue" for a lefty, then throwing to 1B is exactly the same issue for a righty, and that happens a lot more often too.
Hello Mr. Antonelli, I am left handed catcher. Never played in the MLB but I do own a left handed catchers Mitt (and left handed catchers gear!) bought in a local sports store. All the issues you touched on are bang on and the suggestions made to overcome them 100% on the money. My favorite pitch to catch is a left inside pitch as because my arm is partially across the strike zone if I have to extend to catch the ball my glove is obscured enough from the ump that if my hand touches back into the zone on a pitch it's often called a strike when with a righty it would have been a called ball. I don't really stress about throwing to third cause if you get the guy at first he can't advance to first! The only major adjustment I've had to make is catching outfield throws to home to make a tag. I have to be far left of the plate off the base line so that when I tag my glove still drops between the runner and the plate. Throws to second are complicated as often there is an extra step taken right to clear a left standing right handed batter. But that's about all I ever noticed when catching. Hope that helps. Great video.
I agree with all of your elements, add some more like the percentage of lefties in general. I was always interested in catching growing up and it was never an option, because I was a lefty. The right handed kids got the nod and the practice over the years. Then one day I mentioned it to a coach who really appreciated my athleticism and said "you know what, I think there is an ancient left catcher glove in the attic of the concession stand at the little league field." I got it, and was catching for every team I played for until baseball was no longer my sport of interest. Once I got the glove it was my performance that mattered. I think any lefty who wants to catch, has the ability to catch, and coaches willing to let him, will catch. Many elements are obstacles but only obstacles.
being a left handed catcher all through LL and high school in the 80s and 90s the toughest was definitely the tag and finding a LH catchers glove ! throwing a ball to third wasn't that difficult other than the batter being in the way but at the same time as tough as a RH catcher to first with a LH batter
Thanks for the insight!! Thanks for watching and commenting!
When a catcher throws to first he is prepared to throw it there on his terms. He has decided to make the throw. When he throws to get a stealing runner it is the runner who is making the decision
I was a left handed catcher all throughout little league, senior league and high school. I never had a problem throwing to third. Throwing to third might seem awkward but it actually gave my throw more velocity with the step throw vs. throwing to first base which was just a whip throw with no power behind it. Finding left handed gloves back in the 80s and 90s wasn’t that hard. Our local sporting goods store would just order it for me.
I'm a lefty and finding gloves is a real struggle...
Troy Carmony this is so true and half the time people say it’s a lefty glove or mitt it’s a righty
South paw here. I almost exclusively order all my gloves online. Easier than the crap shoot of going to the store
Same man
you must be young. it was very hard before the internet. no i can find a glove i like in the store, go online and order the lefty version.
Hello Matt love your videos. I am a lefty and so is my father they do make left handed catchers mitts very rare to find growing up I played every position and used a normal left glove until my father found a lefty catchers glove. My brother was a right handed catcher and we both would train and not have any trouble throwing around the diamond to bases. Problems come in for a lefty is when a batter moves out of the box I would 5/10 times hit the batter when trying to pick 3rd but you are correct with the position change at 15 I got moved as a pitcher or a outfielder. As a lefty you do have trouble when attempting to tag at home plate if you are not correctly positioned it is very awkward to turn and reach the runner in time at the plate. I still have my catchers glove and love using it for a mess around on the side of the field or when warming up a relief pitcher.
Thanks!!! Thanks for watching our vids and commenting!
I was a lefty catcher and had a great pick-off move to first, simply dropping my knee and throwing across my body made it tough for runners to tell if I was throwing to first or back to the pitcher. But alas, as many of the other comments pointed out, with a couple of other righty catchers around the big lefty got moved to first with a few pitching opportunities thrown in. On a personal level (can't speak for all lefties) I had a few issues throwing down to second with a batter standing close to my throwing arc (mostly right handed hitters) but not enough of an issue to really make a difference.
Theres plenty of left handed catchers gloves out there...just shitty selection.
The reason is obviously throwing to catch runners at 3rd. BUT...the vast majority of preventing a stolen base is from the pitcher. The catcher just tries to clean up the mess if the pitcher lets him run.
So as a pitcher you'd be extra mindful of ur delivery when u have a 1uicn runner on 2nd and a left handed catcher. Period.
My 2nd favourite catcher to ever catch for me was a lefty. Great player. He had a few catchers gloves actually.
In softball its not out of the norm at all to see a left handed catcher. Buuut they also dont steal bases
..so that makes sense.
My youngest son 7 will catch and has a rawlings lefty catchers mit.He catches in little league minors when his older brother is pitching simply because the other kids were afraid .He mostly plays 1b/p/of. In travel but at lower levels the skill gap is so big at times he just fills whatever we need.Im pretty confident that a skilled lefty could overcome shortcomings and catch at any level.
Allen Mcdonough but no one will scout him
Intersting! Good luck to him!!! Thanks for commenting and watching!
Not gonna happen, 3rd is too important.
I feel like your just saying this because your his parent
maybe I prefer he doesn't catch at all but if he likes it go for it .
i agree with you on the lefty having trouble on a play at the plate. when people ask me about it, i would always give that as my main reason because it made the most sense for me.
When I was doing little leagues I did find and purchase a southpaw catchers mitt (I already did catcher a few times using my outfield mitt). Figuring out the rarity of it, I did want to try to make history in doing so. The next year, luck would have it, my coaches had me try as 1st and pitcher. Because I was pretty tall for the league, I had great reach for first and never sat a defensive inning that year. I was either the first baseman or pitching.
I don't have a definitive answer either but, I would have to chuck it up to the advantage lefties have when pitching, playing first base (if they can hit real well), and right/center field. You still have to be good at any of those positions but you do have a small reach advantage just because you catch with your right hand.
Lefty here: I'm ambidextrous in many things. But I can't throw good with my right hand. If I was forced to catch with a glove worn on my left hand it would be no problem, however delivering the ball into the field with power and accuracy would present a problem (for me).
I have worked most of my adult-life in construction and because of tool design my most powerful hand is my right, although my most precise hand is my left. That has been beneficial because I can hold a power-tool in my right hand and precisely guide it with my left.
When golfing I play right-handed because the clubs are cheaply available, I had no problem learning the swing. Most lefty's can learn anything right-handed. I honestly think the main factor to the question presented in your video is the availability of Lefty-friendly catcher's mitts to youngsters. The playing angles of catching, throwing out runners, and tagging at home don't seem to me to be a factor in the lack of lefty catchers.
Interesting question though! This will give me something to ponder. Generally speaking, a lefty has an advantage due to defenders not training as extensively to counter the lefty's natural offensive posture.
Even left-handed defenders have problems countering another lefty because lefties are less commonly found training partners. An example of that would be a left-handed soccer defender against a left-footed, left-field striker in soccer. The left-footed defender would however be very well suited to defend the left of his/her own goal, against a right or left-footed striker attacking from the offensive team's right side.
The simple answer is equipment availability (the shortage of suitable equipment) to youngsters.
Lots of interesting thoughts there on being left-handed. I too as a leftie have for some reason a stronger right arm. I played 25 years worth of soccer. I’m naturally right-footed but I’ve always had a decent left foot. As a defender I was happy to play left back, because I could use my left to play the ball and tackle opponents when needed.
I do remember someone speculating that someone with a good enough arm to catch who was a lefty would be routed into pitching.
I'm not an expert in terms of baseball, although I do watch the game. A couple of things that may or may not play into this:
1. The game is played counter-clockwise. Someone below made the comment about tags at each base, which seems reasonable. However, to me, as a casual observer, one of the advantages of being right-handed as a 2nd or 3rd baseman, or a shortstop is that so many throws are made to first (or to second from around 3rd) base. Not having to pivot and make a throw to the left (towards 1st) comes more naturally to right-handers than lefties, especially when the play is on the run and perhaps a double play is being attempted. If the game had been originally designed to be played clock-wise, all these issues would be reversed.
2. Conversely, a lefty at 1st has a natural advantage to make throws to 2nd and 3rd. Although not as common, it does happen and the ergonomics of left-handedness are much easier to execute.
3. The throw to first to pick off a runner? I'll leave that one to the rest of you. In today's age of more young men being taught to bat left-handed by their dads and couches has resulted in the batter having that extra step and a half closer to 1st. They also get in the way of the right-handed catcher more. But the catchers seem to handle it pretty well. So, personally, I believe a lefty could make the throw to third around a right-handed batter ok. (There's a demo video of this on RUclips that I just saw today. Although it's a demo, not a pro game, it looks workable.) Someone below also commented that depending on how you position your feet and body drives a lot of this. Comments?
4. I've never thought about the tailing of throws to 2nd. Seems reasonable. Also, it seems equally reasonable that you can teach a lefty catcher to throw over the top as much as a righty. Thoughts, anyone?
5. Below is a link to EBay. It's for a lefty catcher's youth mitt. Used, but still in good condition, about $50. Not too much versus a 1st baseman's mitt, etc. Personally, if you can't spend $50 on your kid's mitt, well, there are lots of things you have to buy for your kid---school books, hockey equipment, football equipment, ice skates, trumpet lessons, etc. It's part of being a parent. You can always give your kid chores to do and pay him so that he learns to earn stuff for himself. It's a good life lesson because it'll teach him the value of hard work and self-sufficiency.
6. I'm left-handed. So is about 10-14% of the rest of the world. I grew up in the 1960's and was told that I couldn't be a catcher because I was a lefty. I was also one of those kids who was told to switch my writing hand, which, stupidly, I did. Believe me, it didn't help me write any better or faster. And in some ways it still messes with me. That being all said, I don't sit there and go "oh, woe is me, I was messed with!" That's a waste of time. But...give your lefties a chance. Just like the lefty pitchers and 1st basemen who bring advantages to the overall game, you'll be pleasantly surprised that there will be situations that will come up where being left-handed is a real asset. Not on every play, but on a good number of them, I'll wager. As you can probably tell, I've put a lot of thought into this being left-handed business. I can tell you from personal experience that there are so many little things from cars, to power tools, to home appliances, etc., that are alway backwards and quite often up-side down for lefties. A challenge I always make to my righty friends and acquaintances is to do everything you do left-handed for a week straight. You'll get a taste of what this world is like for those of us who swing the bat and throw from the other side of the plate.
Thanks for listening to an old lefty, folks.
Play Ball!
www.ebay.com/itm/YOUTH-RAWLINGS-GOLD-GLOVE-EBBE29-CATCHERS-BASEBALL-GLOVE-GGCMB-RH-LH-Throw-/192552977243
Enjoyed your comment! I grew up in the 60's too: I write left-handed and throw and bat right-handed. I was in my 50's before I concluded that I was left-handed, although I'd begun to call myself "bi-manual" (not ambidextrous) because I'd developed the habit of changing hands and/or sides depending on what I was doing. I'm sorry they made you write right-handed.
I played 3 years of Little League and wasn't very good, but was bitten by the baseball bug. I'm sure you were a better player, and I hate that you weren't allowed to catch. Those were the times we lived in.
I'll end by saying, if Pat Venditte can play even one game as a switch-pitcher in the Major Leagues, why can't we live to see another left-handed catcher make The Show?
good point about the gloves; never thought of that
Maybe it's because if you throw hard enough to second base snagging runners, the team would try and convert you to be a lefty pitcher, that's a theory I heard
I'm a lefty. I played catcher threw hs.
Most definitely had to order a custom glove which was very expensive.
The only thing I that was difficult. Was throwing to 3rd. I did find a way that was easy to pick off 3rd. Which worked.
But yea it really is hard to find a left handed catcher. Like finding a needle in a hay stack
What did you do to pick off 3rd?
did you go all the way threw and gratuate?
@@Mike1614b yes. My senior yr was my last yr.
Had a full scholarship to play soccer
@@letthemeatboobs if I knew the baserunner was good base stealer. Drop my left foot. Angle myself towards shortstop.
Baserunner took off. All I had to do was pivot and throw.
Sounds harder then it actually was.
The not being able to find a Lefthanded catchers glove is a point that I never really thought about but it really makes a lot of sense.
I was a left handed catcher, played the position since little league up through high school. Got offered scholarships at several schools. Played at IU for two years until I started having knee issues. I got most of my gloves through Mizuno who used to make left handed catcher gloves (Dunno if they still do).
They do, I just got my 8 yr old one.
its hard to find a lefty glove period.. LOL. I've thought about this as well. I'd say its really all those you mentioned.
Thanks!!! Thanks for commenting and watching!
Oh my hell... there aren’t any... something I’ve never thought about it.
10 YR OLD LEFTY CATCHER
My son is 10 years old and a lefty. He has been a catcher for his baseball team for the past four years. He is pretty good at it. He Is able to make good throws at 3rd for the out, tags at home and so on. He has his own way of getting around the lefty problems at the plate and is a great catcher! We we're lucky to find his mit at a second hand store!
Thanks for sharing that. In some earlier responses, I mentioned that left-handers are resourceful, and your report about your son confirms that.
I played as a lefty catcher for maybe 4-5 years when I was younger, starting in elementary school all the way through middle school. I got my mitt from an online site if I recall and still use it in high school to catch bullpen and warm up the pitcher if the catcher isn't ready yet. I can also tell you it's much harder to throw out a guy at third. And since there are more righty batters it can be difficult to throw back at times. I actually hit a guy in the helmet once on accident. However, besides all this, I was a pretty decent catcher and kept the ball in front of me. I also noticed that the varsity team for another high school in my town has a starting left catcher, and he is GOOD.
As far as acquiring a left handed catchers mitt.... Its Damn near impossible.
just found three on line no trouble
@@bobanderson6656 we have one - both of our father's were lefties
Found multiples at my local Dick’s sporting goods store. My son is a left handed catcher.
Look on eBay that's where I got mine
There are a few very good female Division I softball catchers out there. Not many, but softball seems to be a little more open to the lefty catcher idea than baseball.
As a LH Baseball player... who primarily pitched, played 1B, and some OF)
I think it comes down to similarly to your thought process on lack of equipment... For me, and I'm sure many others... especially in the 90s... the catcher mitt seemed to be always the teams... it wasn't until around 8th grade where I felt one of my catchers had their own... and if you have a team catcher mitt, it would obviously be RH.... so I think it is just that early stages of Little League where, when you get on a team as a LH player, you don't have access to a catchers mitt.
I personally did catch a few times as a LH player... say when our catcher(s) were out of town or something... and I basically used my First Baseman's glove
I'm really happy how far the availability has come for left handed catchers mitts in 2021
It’s like lefty golfers. Back in the day , it was hard to find equipment so people taught themselves right handed golf. Now with more technology , you see a lot more left handed golfers. Give it 20 years , they’ll be lefty catchers in HS regularly.
My dad is a natural leftie and so am I but he uses righty golf clubs cause he had to learn it.
M M I hope I’m a lefty and I love to catch but I’m always put at first or outfield
I feel like catching as a lefty isn’t that hard especially the tag because it is similar to a righty first basemans tag and finding a decent lefty catchers mitt isn’t that hard
what? not at all dude. You have to make the tag to your left anytime theres a play at home so as a lefty youd have to reach across your body. righties can sweep across the plate without moving across their entire body. thats why
My son is a lefty catcher playing on a A High A team! He has offers from over 20 D-1 schools, some of the schools want him to work some at first also to have another option! He likes throwing down to 3rd base better then 1st! It helps that he has a great bat! Your right about the left handed catchers mitt! We had to order it from Mizuno, we went ahead and got two! We looked all over the place for one in store's! He was a right hand thrower when he was young but broke his arm, and he couldn't sit still so he started throwing left handed! Now he can't throw right handed like he used to! Thanks
Wow crazy! Good luck to him!!!
I've watched a number of your videos, but this one I can especially relate to, because I'm a south paw and yeah it's not easy to find left handed gloves.
Thought... Generally, when lefties throw, it more likely than not tails away towards the throwing side of a right-handed receiver. Throwing down to second base, a lefty catcher's throw would tail towards third base, away from the runner. That could mean the difference between safe or out on a stolen base attempt with such a long distance between the catch and the tag.
ZipEmUp48 good point. Didn't think of that, but a good catcher will throw over the top which should negate that being an issue. But you're right, they're more likely tail that direction.
Marvin Heyboer yes, because the traditional catcher is right handed! Different natural arm slot from a lefty could change that!
ZipEmUp48 I still think the #1 reason is that everyone says Leftys don't catch so it's a self fulfilling thing. But your reason is my new #2. 😉
Marvin Heyboer haha true!! Another thing I guess is that if you have THAT good of an arm, you should just pitch lol
True good point!! Thanks for commenting and watching!
runner on second base hit to right the throw from right field to a left-handed catcher will probably get him killed
Left-handed catcher here. Order a glove online. Happened to actually find one in Modells one time. Really not terribly hard to be a left-handed catcher. Always enjoyed playing the position even though it was never my primary position (OF/1B have been my primaries, caught when needed in games). Love your videos, awesome content.
Thanks!!! Thanks for commenting and watching and good luck!!
I actually had a left handed catchers mitt. When I was a kid I always had a pretty good arm Normally I pitched or played first but one year the coach had the bright idea to try me as a catcher. Our local sporting goods store was nice enough to special order a left handed mitt for me. Could not begin to tell you the cost (this was the 60's) was but my dad gladly paid it. I only caught a few games ( I was a much better 1st Baseman) but it was an experience. Had the glove for over 40 years.
As a lefty catcher I use a 1B glove
Intersting! Thanks for commenting and watching!
That's what I had to do in the sixties and while playing softball in the seventies.
That's what the guys catching knuckleballers do.
Robert Contreras knuckleball catchers use a softball catchers mitta lot of the time...not a trapper.
Nice! If there's a will, there's a way!
I am left-handed I have to order my catcher's mitts online
Good luck to you!!!
You actually replied nobody replies ever
You really played in the major leagues what team
There are left handed catcher's mitts available - on line of course, definitely not in the stores. Some coaches will not allow a lefty to catch (personal bias). My son was a lefty catcher for the last few years at 12U, 13U and was pretty good. On the plus side he had a LOT of activity developing his arm (both throwing back to the mound and throwing runners out at 2nd - a really good workout considering he's catching for longer than the pitcher is pitching). He is now a pitcher on a team that does not want him to catch :)
I was my baseball teams catcher a few years ago. I am a lefty. You did have a point with what your saying but once you get used to doing everything you can do most of the same things right handed catchers do I have no idea where my dad got my catchers mit I’m guessing it was mizunos website but I think it was really hard to find and when he did it was pretty expensive.
It would be awkward for a tag purpose, the bases go counterclockwise (from home plate) you lay down a tag with your left hand so it’s quicker, that’s why there’s no left handed infielders/catchers but first basemen because they the only tags they place go clockwise. it’s a thing set in stone that should/will never change. Let’s also not forget the history behind this Roman Catholicism was dominant in the time Baseball was invented and being a lefty was a sign of the devil, most or everyone played the game right handed
Baseball came along well after the "lefty/devil" business had passed. (Well, Ireland maybe, but they weren't playing baseball.) If you want to knock the Catholic Church, come up with something better.
Thomas Mann hey man I’m not knocking the Catholic Church, I was born and raised as an Irish Catholic with 2 uncles who are Monsignors
Expos Classics you just have to stand on the other side of the bag I've been a lefty catch for 7 years I've figured it out
Cole's Crafts I appreciate your input on how you’ve been able to do it, but keep in mind we’re thinking of reasons why there are no lefty catchers in professional baseball
There are lefty infielders, 2 players that come to mind is Corey Seager SS and Chase Utley 2B for Los Angeles Dodgers. Also, when a catcher goes to tag the runner coming home, they tend to use both hands to ensure the ball doesn't get knocked out of their hand/glove so being left handed wouldn't be an issue. On the quick plays where a catcher has to use only the right/glove hand, the catcher positions himself as best he can to apply the tag based on where the ball is coming in from or to. Right handed catchers at times have to catch the ball on the opposite side of their glove and reach across their body to make the tag so catching left handed (with their right hand) and reaching across their body would be the same thing... Playing lefty, any position is all about how you position your feet for the throw.
Want to more something more rare? Left Handed Submarine Pitcher.
Edit: Forgot pitcher
True!!! Thanks so much for watching and commenting!
Oh my God Matt what a funny video. Very funny to hear you imitate little kids looking for equipment at the store. It's also very refreshing to hear somebody with a lot of knowledge and experience say the words "I don't know". And it's great to hear you talk about thinking through the logic of things. To me baseball is a wonderful puzzle to try to figure out. I happen to be a dad who has a left-handed catchers mitt, because I'm left-handed and when my son started throwing the ball close to 80 miles an hour and because I'm a terrible athlete, I bought it so that when we were catching together my hand wouldn't hurt as much. It wasn't easy to find one you're right.
So in reasoning through the question, you brought up a few things that I had never thought about for the reasons why there are no left-handed catchers. We were always told it's because since most batters are right-handed that the batter would always be in the way of you throwing out a runner at second or third. This makes some sense but when you look at it in light of what you said about Molina throwing Runners out at first it kind of makes you scratch your head.
So,, since baseball is a thinking man's game and I can see that you certainly are one, I have a question for you that nobody's been able to answer satisfactorily. I think one of the reasons I love that game so much is because I feel that it's very fair. Everybody gets their chance and there's no clock to manipulate and so far there's only one rule I've discovered in the game that I think is a bunch of bullcrap. The dropped third strike rule. No one's been able to explain to me the reason for its existence.
I hate the fact that a pitcher could, theoretically, strike out an infinite number of batters and never get out of the inning. Anyone that reaches base because of this rule did absolutely nothing to earn it. Your thoughts?
Thanks!! I'm not sure why the rule exists. It's actually a really good question! I'll have to do some research to figure it out!! Thanks for watching!
As a left handed 2nd baseman I needed to hear this. Thank you.
Go lefties!!
Also there are not that much lefties to begin with
The reason: everyone says Lefty's don't catch. You play first if your left handed or pitch... We like lefty pitchers. But there is no rational reason other than that. At the youth level.... You're left handed, you don't catch, we don't even have a left handed catchers glove. Etc.etc.etc. That IS the reason! 100%
I agree that the lefties get more pitching opportunities. At the youth level, they get outs. When they aren't pitching, they play first. Also, the coach's (righty) kid gets to perpetually catch, because catchers get an automatic guaranteed look in the h.s. tryout! Don't underestimate the power of the youth sports industrial complex! :-)
Bryce, I think you miss read my response. I don't think there is any good reason for left handers to not catch. But it IS probably bias that prevents it more than anything else. The reasons mentioned in all the comments here are pretty weak at best. If you are a left hander and love to catch, then keep it up and work hard at it. It's a difficult spot on the field and maybe you can help change the unnecessary bias.
I think a lefty 1B is far more disadvantageous. A righty has a closer glove to the baseline-and therefore a huge advantage of those milliseconds to get a runner on a close play. A lefty has to reach across his body.
@Alexander F. Most of the tag plays at first are coming back into the base from second. The plays going forward through first are all force plays. The game is about averages and "how do most plays happen." Most First base tags are from pick off moves from the pitcher giving the lefty 1B a greater advantage seeing as how the glove is between 1st and 2nd to begin with.
My catcher is left handed
I remember seeing Don Mattingly play a couple of games at third base with the Yankees. They were experimenting with it. Of course, he was a gold glove first baseman, so he could field, and from what I remember, he didn't look bad at third. They didn't stick with it, obviously. When I was a kid, I knew a guy who had a left handed catchers mitt. I played catcher myself, and had my own (right handed) catcher's mitt, so was very interested in the lefty one, because I'd never seen one before. This same kid used to play shortstop on our team, and one time he fields the ball, has to turn all the way around to make the throw to first, and hits the second baseman right in the face with the ball. After that, the coach put him back in the outfield, LOL. He could have put him on first base, but that's where I was playing (when I wasn't catching. The coach moved me out of catching because he said I was "too tall to be a catcher". I guess he never heard of Carlton Fisk.)
I am left handed and we needed a catcher growing up in little league as everyone was afraid. I stepped up at the time and as part of our equipment from the league they bought me a lefty catchers mitt (not sure where from) and it stayed with me until it was too small (but nicely broken in for the next guy)then they bought a bigger one and gave it to me to keep and break in and I had that right up until I aged out of LL and moved into higher lever ball. I was not catching as often by this point as I had moved to the mound and OF but I have not seen a lefty catchers mitt since. I think the rarity of them in the stores is one of the main reasons there aren't as many of us South-paws back there. The awkwardness factor is a moot point, as we figure ways out to do things no matter the situation!
Thanks for sharing!!!!
I can answer this without even watching, it’s the awkward throws to third, you have to turn your whole body to throw, whereas right handed catchers can just catch and throw without any need for turning your body.
Alex B 36 Nope, probably easier for a lefty to throw to 3rd than a righty. Don't need to clear the hitter as much, just pivot and throw... Just like right handed throwing to 1st around a lefty hitter... Very easy and very very fast.
Alex B 36 for a righty its a awkward throw to first so i mean
Tahj Cunningham but which throw comes more often: a pickoff throw to first or a throw to third to try and catch a runner?
Asking my catchers that are right handers, they think throwing a back pick to 1st is easier than a throw to 3rd, therefore it make sense that a lefty throwing to 3rd would be easier than for a righty. And while the back pick to 1st is great and all, the throw to 3rd is more important, so that theory would favor lefty catchers over right handers.
Alex B 36 honestly... probably pickoffs😂
Why do couches not like 3/4 arm slot for outfield? If that’s my natural are slot it should be a problem but yet when I’m pitching they do not care at all. Why is this?
Trey Nichols because the ball will tail off if you throw side arm or too close to that. A 4 seam grip thrown over the top or at least closer to that will fly true and straight. That same throw side arm will tail on the direction of your arm. I had a side arm 3rd baseman and I needed to teach my first baseman how to catch his throws. They always would curve to the 1st baseman's left side. Once he knew that, he was able to catch them more. If you throw from outfield to home, you're throw will tail several feet before arriving. As a pitcher, it's closer, plus the catcher will quickly learn your pitches and a different arm slot can throw off hitters, so it's not such an issue as a pitcher.
Marvin Heyboer thanks the IF I play with have said that my ball curves before they get to them so that makes sense. Thank you for explaining!
Usually want a straighter throw and not one that tails so much. Thanks for commenting and watching!
Trey Nichols what the fuck does this have to do with the topic??
His comment isn't too far off topic if you think about ball tailing in general, not just from the outfield. A lefty catcher's throws, if not thrown over the top, would tail to the shortstop side of 2nd, away from the runner and possibly make tags harder more often on steals. Obviously you can correct this by throwing more towards the right side of 2nd if you have a 3/4 arm slot on your natural throws, but the middle infielders are probably used to a righty throw over a lefty throw and have less problems with it. Of course, not as big of a problem, but still different.
Two lefties in my UK baseball team one, my mate Boz was the best catcher in the team by some way. But we needed lefty pitchers, we had zero and could see what a massive advantage it would be to have a couple with good arms, that's what the team wanted them to do. they were happy to do it. Worked out well. Though Boz did catch a few times when we were short because of illness or injury or whatever. He got his glove from the US - this was a few years before Amazon existed.
I’m a lefty catcher and have no issue with the tag at home or throwing to first
Thanks for sharing!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Dude it's not that hard! I'm a lefty catcher and that is why there is a wonderful thing called Amazon!!!!!!!
haha Amazon wasn't around when I was growing up! lol. Thanks for watching and commenting!
As a kid (late 70's through 1989 graduation) I wanted to be a catcher but at any of the military bases we lived at (Texas, Kansas, Germany, and so on) there was never a lefty catcher mitt to be found. I would do it during practice with my 1st baseman mitt but was never allowed to catch during a game. Was really good at pivoting on a DP as a SS...but only allowed in practice, never a game. My theory is simply the "it just is not done that way" mentality. I had so many coaches that would not let me play LF because I was a lefty.
Im calling bullshit you troll, i want to see a video😂 lefty catcher HAHAHAHAHA
....because there’s no lefty gloves. hahaha
Yes there is I am a lefty catcher in 60/90 travel baseball. I have a lefty catchers glove.
Lefty catcher gloves exist
I'm left handed but would love to play for the MLB as a catcher should I try to change my dominant hand to the right or just try to be a left handed catcher?
I don’t know if it’s all that complicated.
1. There are positions where being left handed is more valuable. First base for instance. So lefties get steered in that direction.
2. If you are a good catcher prospect, you likely have a strong arm. Someone is going to talk to you about being a left handed pitcher. We can find enough righties to catch but left handed pitching is much rarer.
3. I love catchers but there are skill sets that, if you have them, make you very well suited for another position. Are you fast? Outfield. Are you good at fielding ground balls? Second is your place. Do you have great range and a strong arm? Shortstop. Do you have awesome reflexes? Third base might be good for you. Are you flexible or tall? 1st base would be awesome.
So in my mind, for a catcher to be left handed it means that he wasn’t very fast, has a decent but not strong arm, maybe isn’t as quick on his feet, but has the mental makeup and the desire to be a catcher rather than “just another first baseman.”
So I think it’s much less about the difficulties being a lefty brings to manning your position, and much more that lefties are much more valuable elsewhere + other positions put premiums on certain skill sets that push those folks to catching.
Great comment! Thanks for watching and commenting!
If ur a lefty with A good arm u will probably be a pitcher! Leftys r always more valuable pitching!
Very true!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!!
I think baseball get too caught up in tradition and that’s the reason.
Tried playing softball at PE, my teacher moved me out of catcher, and put me at shortstop. it messed me up so bad because I couldn't catch well, so my teacher told me to catch left and throw right. Yes, the throw will be weak, but at least there'd be less drops.
Next month, when we learned to play modified floorball, and I put on a left-handed baseball glove to simulate a full-left ice hockey goaltender, it all made sense to me.
My son is a lefty and was the starting catcher when he was a hs sophomore (jv). He also caught all through little league and senior (babe ruth) League. He's now an outfielder on a college d3 team. He never had a problem as a lefty catcher.
Interesting! Thanks!! Thanks for watching and commenting!
Why do you seem winded in this video?
The primary reason why you don't see lefties is political. All the mechanical details you present are not a factor as adjustments are very minimal and take exactly the same amount of time to execute as for the right-handed catcher. Anybody saying this movement or that compromises the lefty's ability to play the position is using flawed analysis. Once you play the position on the field, you'll quickly see all the arguments are BS.
Compared to other sports, baseball (and golf) is behind the times. Sure, equipment, training techniques, and strategies advance, but stereotypes are still in the dark ages.
As a lefty (bat and throw) I was originally brought up as a first baseman only because I was lefty. No other reason. Very shortly after I demonstrated my foot speed and strong throwing arm, they started grooming me as a starting pitcher, and later as a center fielder for days when I didn't pitch. But if on game day there were no other lefties on the bench, they put me at first base regardless. By the time I got into 6th grade, I was bored with the game because I always wanted to be a catcher. One day at Morrie Mages sports while shopping for batting gloves, I wandered into the mitts aisle and saw a left-handed Mizuno catcher's mitt (Mizuno was new to the USA at the time). I egged my dad to buy the glove promising I would play catcher. So he did, and I followed through too....or tried to.
That particular season the coach's son was the catcher, so I didn't get any time behind the plate other than warming up pitchers for batting practice. But the next year the coach's son (different coach/team) was the pitcher, so I never saw the mound and ended up being the starting center fielder. On practice days we'd play cycles. The coach would toss BP from the mound, we'd bat and the take the field in a rotation like you do in volleyball. If you get a base hit, you run the bases just like a game, including stealing and so forth. If you score, you get to bat again until you make 3 outs, at which point you get your glove and take the field. After you make your way through all the field positions, you bat again. Once the entire team made it through a couple of cycles, we'd switch catchers so the catcher could bat and run the bases.
On this particular day our backup catcher was not present, so I got to put on the gear and sit behind the plate. On first base was our fastest runner, who also happened to be the fastest runner in the league, and had never been caught stealing. The coach threw the pitch and I fired down to 2nd base in time to throw him out by 3 full steps. The coach was stunned. So he asked the runner to return to first base and try it again. Another pitch, and I threw him out just the same. In both cases the shortstop barely got there in time to catch my throw. Again, the coach was stunned. So the next game he put me behind the plate to catch his son off the mound. We were playing our toughest rival and they had some heads-up players on their team. But when they tried to steal, just like in practice, I threw them out by full steps to the point they didn't even try to slide. While that particular game went well, later games didn't go quite as smoothly.
One problem I consistently had while throwing to the bases was right-handed batters kept stepping in the way of my throws creating interference. They were so conditioned to right-handed catchers that they failed to recognize and adapt to fact that I throw behind them, not in front of them. In two separate games my throw released and hit the batter in the face because they failed to move properly. Even though it was their fault, interference was called on me. I got in the habit of warning batters when they took to the batter's box, and eventually things smoothed over. But when I got to high school, same politics all over again. Coach refused to let me play catcher for all the BS reasons you can think of - and a lot of them were just as stupid as the reasons golf pros force you to play right handed, or the Nun's slapping you on the wrist in school to write with your right hand. This was the late 1980's. BTW - I played on the golf team too, left-handed.
Physically / mechanically, there is nothing stopping a left-handed catcher from playing and succeeding in pro baseball. The reason you don't see them in pro baseball is purely political as coaches are so stuck in their ways they won't let it happen.
There is also a lack of equipment available for left-handers in general. I was lucky to live in a fairly urban area with sports stores galore, but even then it was quite rare to see left-handed catcher's mitts on the store shelves. Like with golf equipment, it had to be special ordered if you wanted it. And that creates a cyclical problem: consumers can't buy it if they don't know it's available, but stores won't stock it until they know for sure there are consumers who will buy it. So that reduces the total number of lefties coming up the ranks.
I was a lefty catcher as a kid and I never had any problems with any of the potential issue you brought up. I was never a good enough hitter to play at a super high level but fielding was actually where I was good. Never really thought about it though.
I played catcher in little league in the 80's before ordering online was an option. never saw a lefty mitt ever. I used a regular fielders mitt and my coach had to get the other teams coach to OK it before the game since it wasn't a catchers mitt. Never had a single issue throwing back to the pitcher or throwing out base runners on any base as i got older. ive heard every single excuse you mentioned growing up and how i should switch to 1st base because i had a fielding advantage having the glove on my right hand and not up against the foul line. That was the most common excuse for lefty 1st basemen i have heard as well.
Matt, would you prefer a left handed first baseman over a right handed one? I feel for the rest of the infield, the throw to second or first is easier for a right handed player than a left handed one. No awkward feet movement to get into throwing position. A right handed first basement always appears to postion himself awkwardly when holding on a runner close to the bag anticipating the pick off throw from pitcher.
Very interesting
Good overview, Matt. As a lefty I also remember being told the infield wasn’t an option outside of first base and pitching. The idea of catching NEVER occurred to me. Kind of hurt because my childhood hero was St. Louis third baseman Ken Boyer and I would have loved playing third. (Probably would’ve sucked at it.) At any rate, I don’t believe the idea of catching even occurs to lefties.
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I'm left handed and played short stop in little league and I also was good at catching in practice, but could never do it in a game because like you said, no gloves were available. I can understand not having lefty shortstops at higher levels because so many balls are hit there but even if it is easier for righties to tag and make throws, and I don't really feel like it is, those plays don't happen that much. The most important qualities in being a catcher is handling the pitchers and calling games and throwing out runners at second.
I think your theory is right about the gloves. I remember my parents searching everywhere for a leftie catchers glove. There was no internet when I was a kid.
You were probably the best athlete on your team.
I feel like the reason is tradition: "We just don't have left-handed catchers." I know gloves/mitts have been hard to come by, but you've known of lefties who used 1st base mitts, and decades ago a handy person could turn a right-handed mitt inside out and replace the padding to fashion a left-handed mitt. I mean, there's ways of solving the equipment problem.
I suspect a left-handed catcher is looked on as a black cat by veteran baseball men coaching beyond high school. And the likely argument is that strong-armed left-handers are steered into pitching.
My buddy in little league (30yrs ago) was a left handed catcher. He found a lefty catchers mitt at a mom and pop store, but I haven't seen one since.
Hay Matt I just got around to watching this video. BTW I’m Will Frain’s uncle - thanks for the autographed ball. One other thought I have is that there are a couple other positions ( first center and right) that are better fits for lefties. Gravitation usually pulls a lefty to those spots early in their baseball life.
Lefty here - I lived in a small rural town in the 1970s and our H.S. Team had 14 guys on the team total. I caught from time to time using my 1st baseman's glove. I never saw a lefty catcher's mitt until I was in college. Also, because I had a good arm, I ended up pitching.
Very interesting!! Thanks for sharing!!!
The making the tag at home makes sense now also the throw to 2B is also harder to get the ball at the right side of the bag especially with mostly right handed batters to get that throw off.
I. Left handed. Grew up as a lefty catcher. Love the position. Was always told a lefty catcher would never make it due to the issues of possible interference while throwing to 2nd or 3rd. I never had issues. So as a back up I learned to play 1st, outfield and most infield positions. As for finding a left hand catchers mitt back in the 70's and 80's was damn near impossible but we did find them. Still have mine today. I pull it out to play catch and it still draws attention.
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as a catcher who played with one lefty in my years on many teams, his biggest hurdle from what i saw was throwing to 2nd with right handed batters. He had to sort of avoid the batter or play further over or back to make up for it(some higher level catchers dont do this as they have perfected their throw to be tighter then your average teenager). he had a better arm and mine was alright but my throws to 2nd were consistently faster then his because i was in a more advantageous position with less to avoid.
Against a left hander i had to adjust a bit to make sure i was lined up better for the way i threw(again higher level not as common) even though this would seem like a fair trade off its not. When i played often the other team had 1 maybe 2 left handed hitters so my advantage out weighed his. in the majors there are a lot more left handed hitters but while growing up you wont get the reps. High school/american legion isnt about developing mlb players its about winning at your level so he never got the playing time except for double headers but he was a good pitcher and could play outfield so he always played but he was never the everyday catcher.
I am a lefty catcher and my coach wanted me to be catcher and its perfectly fine for me like I throw to 3rd just fine and tagging is pretty easy for me idk about any other
Tbh I am one of the best catchers on my team so far but before I played shortstop and did pitching and was also very good but the only base lefty have a hard time is 2nd cause the way it is
I caught in school. Our coach bought one for me and another guy who was a lefty. We never had an issue with throwing to third, but the batter does stand in the way a lot of times. It all depends on your arm strength also. Molina has a cannon of an arm, so a pick at first isn't hard for him. But other guys never try to pick at first, usually for that reason. Besides that, the tag isn't that awkward. When you do something the same way every time, you get used to it. I think you are right about the gloves being a large deciding factor. Not many parents want to go spend $200 on a glove for their kid to "try" catching, since left handed mitts are more scarce than ever.
Interesting thanks for sharing!
My son is 10 and he is a left-handed catcher in his rec league. We bought him a left-handed catchers mitt. He is trying out for travel teams and we have taken him to hitting and pitching lessons and both his coaches have said he needs to give up catching because no one will let him catch in travel ball or high school. No one really says why, they just say it won't happen. We also recently bought him a left-handed first base glove. The selection is less for lefties, but we have always been able to find what he needs at Dick's Sporting Goods.
Matt I was a left handed catcher from L.L thru Babe Ruth and mens Lg. in fact my LL team both me and and the kid I replaced were lefty go figure??.10-22 years old(1973-1985) I had a Spalding mitt that I got right off the shelf at the local sporting goods store... the only reason I didn't play H.S ball was because the coach wanted me to play first base ( he said lefty catchers are bad luck) back then my uncle played on the Reds AAA farm and had a few cups of coffee in the bigs( Reds,Pods,& Cards all glove no stick.)..he was my hero growing up and I wanted to be like him so I guess thats why I refused a position change.The only time I didn`t catch I was pitching.. I found it easier to throw out runners at second because the natural break being a lefty is to the right field side of the bag... every S.S I ever played with said they loved my throws found it easy to handle... I really feel the old school coaches in the day were very superstitious and it stuck thats why you don`t see lefty catchers..I hope this helps. Have you ever heard the Bad Luck excuse mentioned??
I used to play with a left handed catcher back in middle school. I wish I had asked where he got his glove tbh because like you said I’ve never seen a left handed catchers mitt in stores
It could be that any left handed baseball player is tried out at pitcher since there seems to be a premium on lefthanded pitching, and maybe the ones that don't work out as pitchers get thrown in the outfield.
i never thought of that,, interesting
I’m a left handed catcher so I’ve had a lot of experience with this. I’ve never had a problem throwing down to 3rd or 1st. The only thing is the tag at the plate but I’ve learned to tilt my body a bit so that I don’t have to sweep across to tag the runner if that makes sense. I’ve always had coaches that were open to me playing catcher and so is the coach at the high school I will be attending next year. I have a feeling that in the future I may get moved to outfield because I have good arm and I’m pretty fast (I’m not trying to sound cocky just in case it comes off that way). This spring/summer I’m dedicating myself fully to baseball so I’ll be ready for high school (my goal is varsity freshman year). Even though catching is my favorite position and the one I probably do best at, the most important thing is being able to play. If I need to get moved to another position that’s fine because I just love playing baseball and I want to play it as much as I can.
- Isaac
Interesting!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!
As you move up, keep that mitt handy. You've got experience most players don't have, and you may find yourself in a position at some point (if you get shifted) to be an emergency replacement. I really hope they'll let you catch as far as your bat will take you.
My son is travel ball and all star lefty catcher that has played on a team that was in the Cal Ripken major 70 World Series. Most of the arguments about throwing runners out are not founded in facts. His ability to throw runners out at second was higher than the right handed catchers. He had more throw downs for outs at 3rd this year than at second. His ability to frame pitches for right handed throwers has resulted in a 5-10% increase in the strike count due to the control he has on the outside edge of the plate. There are pitchers on his team that only want him to be there catcher.
The only play the lefty catcher is at a disadvantage is the sweep tag at home. However we have negated it by coaching him to position himself for the play. This year he was 2/4 on those plays at home plate.
The bottom line he is a good catcher. He controls the runners, blocks the ball, and frames pitches. As coach you need to decide what matters more. Do you want those skills in your catcher, or do you care more about the hand he is catching with?
BTW everyone has told us he won’t be able to keep up with the game when he moves up to 90’ bases. He hears the reasons all the time. So now he’s playing 90’s with players as old as 16. His coach put him back behind the plate in the 3rd inning of his first game. He hasn’t pulled him out except to pitch.
Which brings me to the only logical reason why there are no lefty catchers. It’s becuase they all become nasty fastball lefty pitchers!
Found you deep in the comments, but grateful for what you shared. I hope your son goes as far as he wants to go at catcher: I wouldn't mind seeing a left-handed catcher make the Show. If we can have a switch-pitcher....
I’m a lefty, i use to catch but it is very hard to find a catchers mitt and when you do they are usually expensive