Jorge Posada. His numbers speak for themselves as to why he could be – more home runs than Babe Ruth is a start. The catcher called out teammates and pushed the younger Yankees to perform up to their standards.
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When he stood on the mound, the brim of his cap pulled low, staring over the top of his glove, Andy Pettitte never seemed nervous. It’d be nice of him to step it up for Andy, but I’m not holding my breath.
“It made me concentrate a lot more on pitches, following it all the way”, Posada said.
Other guests saluting Pettitte were his manager Joe Torre, the general manager who signed him to a contract, Gene Michael, the team’s trainer Gene Monahan, and Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson.
The Yankees came into yesterday afternoon a poor 1-4 against the Indians on the season, but they pulled away with a victory in honor of Jorge Posada day. Pettitte won his fifth championship with the Yankees in 2009.
All that’s left is a big bash for Jeter, his No. 2 the final available single digit.
What a weekend it has been for the New York Yankees. The two became a tandem in the lowest levels of the minor leagues. Pettitte was joined by many members of his family to share the glory and joy he received.
“I don’t know why things worked out the way they have”, Pettitte said. “I love that”.
Retired New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte acknowledges the…
Berra, now 90, wrote Posada a letter that was posted on the videoboard in center field. “I’m proud of you, kid”.
A five-time All-Star, Posada hit. 273 batting average, collected 1,065 RBIs and 275 Home Runs during a stellar career. Booed during his early seasons in Yankee’ pinstripes for making an error or striking out in a big game, the Forgive t-shirts have been out in full force across Yankee Stadium.
Numerous former Yankees greats who attended the Posada salute on the previous day were again present to help honor their teammate.
“When he said that, that was it”, Posada said. In fact, he admired him.
He was obviously a very skilled player, but he brought an attitude, Girardi said. “It was great to see every day”.
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Posada talked about his son Jorge Jr., who went through repeated surgeries in his battle with craniosynostosis, a condition where the bones in a child’s skull don’t fuse properly. Despite his outstanding regular season numbers, Pettitte was even better in the postseason, going 18-10 with New York during their brilliant stretch in the late 1990s and 2000s.
