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When thinking of Michael Barrett's lasting memory with the Chicago Cubs, fans almost certainly will point to his exchange with former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski after a play at the plate during a 2006 game between the Cubs and White Sox. Scoring on the play, Pierzynski collided with Barrett, resulting in the Cubs' catcher slugging the White Sox veteran. That moment defined Barrett's tenure with the Cubs, likely leading many to overlook the fact that the former first-round pick won the Silver Slugger award in 2005.
Thinking of the Cubs' 2005 season, Derrek Lee is the first player who comes to mind, as the veteran first baseman spent most of the season as a threat to win the National League's Triple Crown. To no surprise, Lee was the National League selection at first base for the Silver Slugger award that season.
Lee's dominance likely took some shine away from the season Barrett had. While Barrett was seen as the offensive complement to Paul Bako for the Cubs at the catcher position, he had a three-year run where he was one of the best offensive catchers in the National League.
The strangest Cubs Silver Slugger winner you probably forgot
In 477 plate appearances in 2005, Barrett slashed .276/.345/.479 with 16 home runs and a wRC+ of 111. The unique aspect of Barrett's Silver Slugger win with the Cubs is that 2005 wasn't even his best offensive season with the team. In 2006, Barrett slashed .307/.368/.517 with 16 home runs and wRC+ of 122.
The problem for Barrett in 2006 was that season marked Brian McCann's first full season at the Major League level with the Atlanta Braves. In 492 plate appearances with the Braves that season, McCann slashed .333/.388/.572 with 24 home runs and a wRC+ of 142. Selecting McCann for the Silver Slugger award among National League catchers in 2006 was a very easy decision.
So there you go, for all the fanfare that surrounded Willson Contreras' time as the Cubs' catcher, he never was a Silver Slugger. Some would say that makes Barrett a more memorable Cubs catcher than Contreras, but that is a conversation for another time.