The Mets Police: John Stearns of the New York Mets is plenty rugged behind the - 09.25.78

John Stearns of the New York Mets is plenty rugged behind the - 09.25.78 - SI Vault

Here's another Met you kids don't hear enough about...

This kid lived in every neighborhood. He was short and chubby, and when it came time to play ball, there was only one position for him. "You catch, Butter-ball," the others would tell him. "Knock down the pitches, and if somebody tries to score, block the plate with your blubber." Even if he made it to the big leagues, the kid carried with him a nicknameâ€”such as Yogiâ€”more suggestive of his low center of gravity than his skills.

There are still a lot of squat, lumbering catchers in the majors, but no longer do men matching that description hold a monopoly on the position. Just look at last week's statistics. In the American League, Boston's Carlton Fisk, who is a well-proportioned 6'2", 220 pounds, was battling for the league lead in doubles with 39. No catcher has ever led his league in this category. And in the National League, John Stearns of the Mets was basking in the afterglow of his 24th stolen base, the most ever by a National League catcher.

More below.

John Stearns of the Mets is plenty rugged behind the - 09.25.78 - SI Vault

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