Fan voting is underway for the RailCats 10th Anniversary Team, beginning with the catchers.  Read on to find out more about the three candidates, then pick who YOU think is the all-time greatest catcher in RailCats history.  The All-Decade Team will be revealed February 5, 2011 at Fan Fest!

Voting is conducted through a poll on the homepage (www.railcatsbaseball.com), and the winner at each position will be chosen based on a composite of voting from RailCats fans, coaches and staff members.  The 2011 season will be the 10th of RailCats baseball, and the 10th anniversary celebration begins at the third-annual Fan Fest at the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville.  Tickets are on sale now by clicking the link above or calling 219.882.2255.

Here are the candidates for catcher on the RailCats All-Decade Team (listed alphabetically):

CHRIS CURRY (2006)
RailCats Totals: 77 games, .285 AVG, 14 2B, 6 HR, 32 RBI, 24 BB, 65 K, 3-3 SB, .410 SLG, .361 OBP

An expert defensive catcher and a starter in the 2006 Northern League All-Star Game, Chris Curry could swing the bat a little too and was one of the leaders on the 2006 team that advanced to the Northern League Championship Series.  Curry’s .285 average was third-best on the ‘Cats and his six home runs ranked third as well.  A Ninth Round draft choice of the Chicago Cubs in 1999 after a standout college career at Mississippi State, Curry spent five seasons at Double-A and Triple-A before joining Greg Tagert’s 2006 RailCats and was sold to the Kansas City Royals after the season.

RENE PINTO (2003)
RailCats Totals: 74 games, .287 AVG, 18 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 43 RBI, 21 BB, 56 K, 3-5 SB, .453 SLG, .339 OBP

A Northern League All-Star during the first season at U. S. Steel Yard, Rene Pinto was the second in a long line of standout RailCats backstops in the early years of the franchise.  The Venezuelan-born Pinto finished the year in the top three on the RailCats in doubles, triples, home runs, RBI and average in what would eventually be the final year of a distinguished career.  Signed as a 17-year-old by the New York Yankees in 1994, Pinto played seven seasons in the Yankees organization before joining Garry Templeton’s first RailCats team.

JOSE YEPEZ (2005, 2007)
RailCats Totals: 162 games, .281 AVG, 43 2B, 3B, 10 HR, 100 RBI, 69 BB, 78 K, 2-8 SB, .416 SLG, .379 OBP

Rocket-armed Venezuelan Jose Yepez backstopped both of the RailCats Northern League Championship Teams including the most decorated pitching staff in team history in 2007.  A fan-favorite, Yepez did more than just cut down opposing baserunners in earning the start in the 2007 Northern League All-Star Game and twice being sold to Major League organizations.  Arguably the best hitter on the 2007 team, Yepez hit six home runs and drove in 56 (sixth-most all-time) that season and ranks in the top 10 on the RailCats career charts in more than a dozen categories, including the second-best on-base percentage ever.  Sold to the Seattle Mariners following the 2007 season, Yepez is still playing in the Mariners chain and was recently promoted to Tacoma (AAA) after hitting .322 at Double-A West Tenn.

So who is the best catcher in RailCats history?  Cast your vote on the homepage, then get tickets for the 2011 Fan Fest to see the winners unveiled in person!