Jorge Posada, longtime catcher and Yankee great, retired today at Yankee Stadium after 17 years wearing the Yankee pinstripes.
Posada had a disappointing 2011 campaign as a part time DH, but that will be hardly remembered after a historic Yankee career. He did not have the simplest road to the bigs, as he was drafted in the 24th round of the MLB draft by the Yankees in 1990 and didn’t become the Yankees starting catcher until 1998. From that time on, Posada showed absolute greatness in a Yankees uniform.
The stats and accolades for Posada’s career speak for itself. He made five All-Star games, and was considered the best slugger at his position with five Silver Sluggers. The most important feat to the Yankees and probably to Posada as well, is his five World Series rings.
As a Yankee, he is one of the best ever. He hit 275 home runs as a Yankee, with 246 of them while he was behind the dish, which ranks second in Yankees history to Yogi Berra’s 306. Posada caught 1,574 games in pinstripes and that ranks third in Yankees history, behind Bill Dickey and Berra. Also, in 2003 he had a historical season by hitting 30 home runs and 101 runs batted in, which was the first time a Yankees catcher was able to do that since the great Yogi Berra.
The Yankees will move on, but never forget Posada. This year Russell Martin will be catching, and the Yankees have two young catchers in Austin Romine and Gary Sanchez that they will be grooming. The Yankees will be hoping that these young catchers can be in the same ballpark with Jorge Posada one day. His slash line of .273/.374/.474 make not only a Yankees great, but one of the greatest catchers of all-time. Posada will be missed and always loved by the Yankees. He deserves to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame and have a spot in Cooperstown one day.
Categories: Sports
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