Ex-Yankees Catcher Jorge Posada Debuts On Hall Of Fame Ballot

Jorge Posada received some exciting news on Monday.

Ex-Yankees Catcher Jorge Posada Debuts On Hall Of Fame Ballot

The 45-year-old former New York Yankees catcher learned that his name would appear on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.

“I get chills thinking about it,” said the Puerto Rican Posada. “Hopefully, one day it happens. I know it’s hard and tough, but hopefully I can stand in front of everybody. If I get in, great. If I don’t, I had a great career. We will see what happens. I hope I stay on the ballot.’’

Players remain on the ballot if they receive at least five percent of the vote, for up to 10 years. To gain entrance to the Hall of Fame, a player needs to be named on 75 percent of the ballots cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America members. Voters can list up to 10 names. The announcement of the Class of 2017 is scheduled for Jan. 18, and it will be simulcast on MLB Network and MLB.com. The induction ceremony will be held on July 30 behind the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Among the first-timers joining Posada are star outfielders Manny Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero, as well as fellow catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. 

“Those are a bunch of guys I battled against,’’ said Posada, who spent 17 years with the Yankees and has five World Series rings. He retired in 2011.

Also remaining on the ballot are Roger Clemens and Mike Mussina, whom Posada caught with the Yankees, as are Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Barry Bonds. 

“I could never wear another uniform,” Posada said. “Being a part of seven World Series and having five rings was something I never imagined, and being a part of it was just priceless. I will forever be a Yankee.”

A five-time All-Star and five-time American League Silver Slugger Award recipient, Posada retired with a .273/.374/.474 slash line. He hit 275 total home runs and drove in 1,065 runs in 1,829 games, 1,574 of them behind the plate.

Posada also owns the record for most postseason games as a catcher (119) and stroked 103 hits in October, including his game-tying, two-run double off Pedro Martinez in Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship Series.

“I think he’s a Hall of Famer,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who helped groom a young Posada in the mid-1990s. “When you look at his numbers and stack his numbers against the catchers who have been there, what he has meant to this club and the championships, his numbers are incredible.”

Though Posada was never a Gold Glove defender, he remained a valuable asset for the Yankees even after moving from his original position of second base. Rivera said that Posada’s impact on those championship clubs may even have been underestimated.

“The fans appreciated him so much because he cared about winning; he cared about doing his job,” Derek Jeter said.

NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 02: Jorge Posada #20 of the New York Yankees hits a triple in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 2, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)