Catcher Brian McCann is one of the most under appreciated players in the history of the game. From 2006-2016 McCann averaged 132 game played. Production and accolades were plentiful.
The backstop hit 20 or more homers in ten of those 11 seasons, earning 7 Silver Slugger Awards along the way. Among catchers only Hall of Famer Mike Piazza has more. During that 11-year run, McCann averaged 22 homes and 79 runs batted in. He played in seven All Star games.
When the NL beat the AL in the 2010 contest, McCann’s bases-loaded three-run double in the 7th inning accounted for all of the Senior Circuit’s runs. For his efforts, McCann was the game’s Most Valuable Player, the star among stars.
Defensively McCann was underrated. Adept at blocking the plate, he was one of the best pitch-framers of his era. All but 69 of the games he started were behind the plate. McCann played in 1,755 games in his 15-year Major League career.
Despite all the accolades, getting to Cooperstown will be difficult. He finished with 1,590 hits, 282 homers, and 1,018 RBI to go along with his .262 career average – numbers that don’t exactly scream “Hall of Fame”.
In the collection is this receipt signed by McCann for his 2011 All Star ring. McCann was the starting catcher that day for victorious National League squad. Behind a three-run homer by Prince Fielder, the Senior Circuit beat the AL 5-1. McCann went 0-for-2 before being replaced by the Cardinals Yadier Molina.
It was the sixth consecutive All Star appearance by McCann who played in his final Mid Summer classic in 2013.