# Left-handed catchers
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-catchers/526604
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [January 27, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-catchers/526604 "2010-01-27T01:29:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BuckeyeCub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckeyeCub)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-catchers/526604/1 "2010-01-27T01:29:35Z")
In regards to the article of the lack of left-handed catchers,
> **[Why are left-handed catchers so rare in baseball?](https://www.straightdope.com/21341450/why-are-left-handed-catchers-so-rare-in-baseball)**
The reason why left-handed catchers are rare is because if a lefty has a good enough arm to be a catcher, he is turned into a pitcher
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### Author:  [@qazwart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qazwart)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-catchers/526604/2 "2010-01-27T21:22:54Z")
Maybe the problem has to do with the catcher’s view of third base. A right handed batter stands to the left of home plate, and a left handed catcher would be slightly to the left behind home plate. The batter would be blocking the catcher’s view of home.
Otherwise, I’d think a catcher’s view of 1st base would be better than a righty’s view.
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### Author:  [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)
#### Post date: [January 27, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/left-handed-catchers/526604/3 "2010-01-27T21:42:04Z")
> [@qazwart](#):
>
> Maybe the problem has to do with the catcher’s view of third base. A right handed batter stands to the left of home plate, and a left handed catcher would be slightly to the left behind home plate. The batter would be blocking the catcher’s view of home.
>
> Otherwise, I’d think a catcher’s view of 1st base would be better than a righty’s view.
Huh? The catcher’s view of home?
Most people say that a lefty’s throws to second or third are more difficult with a righty batter in the box, which I guess is true, but I don’t think there are THAT many more righty batters than lefty batters in the majors. I’d be interested to see what the actual number is, but unscientifically, batters seem split more or less evenly.
Additionally, on a bunt down the 3rd base line, a lefty catcher has an easier throw to first than a righty, whereas on bunts down the first base line, the difficulty of the throw is about the same for both.