Top 5 players to play for the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins

3. Charles Johnson

Charles Johnson has the distinction of being the Miami Marlins’ first-ever true draft pick, and what a pick he would be. Johnson was elite on defense, becoming the fourth catcher to win a Gold Glove in his rookie year. Johnson would win four more Gold Gloves in a row. Johnson was critical in the 1997 World Series run throughout the entire season, earning the second-highest WAR on the team during that run.

His heroics came through in the playoffs with him batting .357 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and 4 Runs. Johnson had the second most important play of the World Series, according to Championship Win Probability added when his 1-out single in the bottom of the 9th of game 7 moved Moises Alou into scoring position. Alou would then score on a Sac Fly to tie the game. The only play more important than that, you may ask? The one that made the Marlins walk off the Cleveland Indians in the 11th inning, when Craig Counsell scored off an Indians error to win the game.

That World Series would not end Johnson’s highlights with the club. He left after the 1998 season but would return in 2001, earning his second All-Star appearance during his comeback tour. Seemingly always looking for people to catch, the Colorado Rockies traded for Johnson in 2003.

At this point, though, Johnson’s age would start to catch up to him. He was still productive for the Rockies, posting a 1.4 and 1.9 WAR during his two-season with the club, while age may have been catching up to him, that is good enough to have the 5th highest catcher WAR, in Colorado Rockies history. To date, Johnson still has the most games played at catcher in Miami Marlins history, earning him at least number 3 on this list.