Alfonso Ramón López was a Spanish-American professional baseball catcher and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Brooklyn Robins / Dodgers, Boston Bees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians between 1928 and 1947, and was the manager for the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox from 1951 to 1965 and during portions of the 1968 and 1969 seasons. Due to his Spanish ancestry and "gentlemanly" nature, he was nicknamed "El Señor".
Al López
López in 1965
López, circa 1966
Al López's plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame
Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catcher is also called upon to master many other skills in order to field the position well. The role of the catcher is similar to that of the wicket-keeper in cricket.
Kansas City Royals catcher and 5× Gold Glove winner Salvador Pérez stands behind home plate during a 2013 game versus the New York Mets.
Uni-President Lions catcher Kao Chih-kang preparing for a game
Ali Sánchez's orange-painted fingernail during a 2022 game for the Toledo Mud Hens
Catcher Matt Wieters blocks runner Derek Jeter from tagging home plate.