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Member
Not gonna break any new ground here.
I think we all agree there are different definitions of "toughness" involved here. Not trying to slight any other positions, (if you're good---none are easy), but catchers and pitchers are under unique pressures.
To me, there's no doubt about it---catcher has the most physically difficult position on the field. As many have already said: wearing specialty equipment, heat issues, crouched position, most likely to take a hit from wildly swinging batters, takes the lion's share of tackles from runners trying to make it home, trying to stop the ball when the pitcher can't find the plate, etc.
There's a different kind of toughness at work when it comes to pitchers. Again, as many others have mentioned---no other position requires as much outside practice and instruction, just to maintain ~ much less to try and excel. I truly don't think parents and players who don't pitch really have any idea the time and money involved, and the years it can take to get to the point where your dd can get out in the circle and pretty much put the ball where she wants it, when she wants it. (Pitchers' parents die a thousand deaths the first few years, lol. It can be agonizing to see the ball sail right over the backstop. )
Being the parent of a pitcher who has spent countless hours with pitching/hitting coaches, and me and team coaches to get where she is now (and she is not done yet) I do know. However, my dd pitched in a semi-final game and then right into the final game (13 innings) to help win a tournament. She pitched better than anyone could have asked of her, but she still got hit and needed her fielders and her catcher to assist in that feat. She didn't do it by herself. She did get most of the glory but she thanked the rest of team for their participation too!:yahoo: