The list of Cubs catchers to start an All-Star Game is short. There was Gabby Hartnett in 1934, 1936 and 1937, and there’s Willson Contreras, who was elected to start Tuesday in Los Angeles after starting in 2018 and 2019.
Hall of Famer Hartnett towers over Cubs catching history with a 52.7 WAR, as listed at Fangraphs.com. Contreras, who is having his best overall season at age 30, is at 14.4 career fWAR. He would need to remain with the Cubs through the trade deadline and stay a few more seasons to challenge 19th-century star King Kelly for No. 2 at 24.5.
