Jorge Posada #20

Full name is Jorge Rafael de Posada, Jr ... first name pronounced HOR-hay ... he and his wife, Laura, have a son, Jorge Jr., and a daughter, Paulina ... Selected as a finalist for the 2010 "Marvin Miller Man of the Year" Award ... was honored as a recipient of a 2010 "Father of the Year" Award at the National Father's Day Committee annual luncheon on 6/17/10 ... Received the Ted Williams Community Award from the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame on 3/20/09 ... honored by the New York BBWAA along with Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera as the "Willie, Mickey and the Duke" Award winner at the 2010 annual dinner ... Selected as the Yankees' recipient of the 2007 Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to recognize players who combine outstanding skills on the baseball eld with devoted work in the community ... was his second nomination (also 2005) ... also received the Kids in Distressed Situtations' 2007 Mentor Award and the Bart Giamatti Award at the 2007 Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) dinner, presented annually to the individual associated with the baseball community who best exempli es the compassion demonstrated by the late Baseball commissioner ... received the 2004 "Good Guy" Award by the New York Press Photographers Association ... given the 2001 Milton Richman "You Gotta' Have Heart" Award by the New York Chapter of the BBWAA ... received the 2001 Thurman Munson Award for his baseball accomplishments and philanthropic work in New York. ... In the fall of 2000, initiated the Jorge Posada Foundation, part of the Giving Back Fund family of charities ... proceeds support families of children who su er from craniosynostosis and provide athletic programs for children in New York City and Puerto Rico ... held the Foundation's third Family Day in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in July 2008 ... the event included games, rides, food and live entertainment ... held the foundation's Annual Heroes for Hope Gala in June 2009 in NYC ... hosted the fourth annual BaseBowl charity event at Chelsea Piers in New York in November 2010, raising funds for his foundation ... co-authored the book The Beauty of Love with his wife, Laura, ... He and Laura teamed with Nike to design "Hip, Hip, Jorge" T-shirts in 2010 in honor of reaching 1,000 career RBI, with 100% of the net proceeds going to the foundation ... held a fundraising event to introduce the shirts on 9/7/10 at Yankee Stadium. ... Was honored at the first annual Puerto Rican Yankees Festival in 2007 at the Puerto Rican Sports Museum in Guaynabo ... the festival was established to raise money for underprivileged children in Puerto Rico ... Jorge Posada, Sr. presented his son with a plaque that commemorated the 30 Puerto Ricans who have played for the Yankees during the team's history ... wife, Laura, received the 2007 "Commitment to Family" Award from Boys and Girls Town of New York and was honored as an "Inspiring Woman" by Siempre Mujer in 2008 ... Teamed up with Charity Wines to make "Jorge Cabernet" in 2008 with proceeds going to the Jorge Posada Foundation ... the wine, from the Clos LaChance Winery and Estate Vineyard in San Martin, Calif. (Napa Valley), is available across the Tri-State area and retails for $13 ... Was signed by Leon Wurth ... uncle, Leo Posada, was an instructor for the Dodgers ... father, Jorge, is a scout for the Rockies ... was a baseball All-Star in 1988-89 at Colegio Alejandrino High School ... also participated in basketball, volleyball and track ... in 1991, he received an Associate's degree from Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Ala ... at Calhoun, he was voted best hitter in 1990 and was a co-captain and all-conference selection in 1991 ... in 2006, was elected to the Alabama Community College Athletic Hall of Fame ... inducted into the Hall of Fame at Pfitzner Stadium on 8/25/07, having played there during the 1993 season with Single-A Prince William ... became the seventh member of their Hall of Fame, joining Barry Bonds (2004), Bernie Williams (2004), Andy Pettitte (2004), Art Silber (2005), Bobby Bonilla (2005) and Albert Pujols (2006).

2011

Hit .235 (81-for-344) with 34R, 14 doubles, 14HR, 44RBI and 39BB in 115 games (82 starts at DH and 11 at 1B) with the Yankees in 2011...17 of his 44RBI tied the game or gave the Yankees the lead (38.6%)...11 of his 14HR came at Yankee Stadium...batted .092 (6-for-65) with 1 double vs. left-handed pitchers and .269 (75-for-279) with 14HR and 41RBI vs. right-handed pitcher...went hitless in first 27AB of the season vs. LHP...Appeared in 90 games at DH...became the second player in Baseball history to serve as his club's designated hitter in at least half of his team's games in a single season after catching at least 1,000 games in the Majors, joining Ted Simmons (99 games with the 1985 Brewers)-credit: Elias Sports Bureu...Only 13 players in Major League history who were active for their age-39 season caught more career games than Posada (1,574)...of those players, only Chicago-AL's Carlton Fisk (23HR in 1987) hit more home runs as Posada in their age-39 season...Batted .282 (57-for-202) with 21R, 8 doubles, 8HR 27RBI and 17BB in his final 71 games from 6/5 until the end of the season...in his first 44 games of the season (3/31-6/4), hit just .169 (24-for-142) with 6 doubles, 6HR and 17RBI...Made his 15th career Opening Day roster (since 1997)....made his 12th Opening Day start, first at designated hitter...Recorded his first career multi-HR game as a designated hitter in 4/3 loss vs. Detroit...was his 17th career multi-home run game, and first since 9/1/09 at Baltimore...marked his first multi-homer game at home since 9/4/07 vs. Seattle at the original Yankee Stadium...Went hitless over a 19AB span from 4/4-13, snapping the stretch with a fifth-inning solo HR in 4/13 win vs. Baltimore...marked his longest hitless stretch since a career-high 0-for-25 in August 2006 (credit: Elias)...Hit game-tying solo HR to lead off the ninth inning and was 1-for-4 in 4/14 10-inning win vs. Baltimore...marked his eighth career homer in the ninth inning or later that tied the game or gave the Yankees the lead...Had a second 0-for-19 stretch from 4/23-5/1...the hitless stretch was snapped with a fifth-inning double in 5/1 win vs. Toronto...Went homerless in a career-high 38 consecutive games with an official at-bat from 4/24-6/19...Appeared in his 1,737th career game in 5/2 win at Detroit, surpassing Joe DiMaggio (1,736) for 10th place on the Yankees' all-time list...Tied for fourth in the Majors with a .382 (26-for-68) batting average in June (6R, 5 doubles, 3HR, 11RBI and 5BB)...Fashioned a season-high nine-game hitting streak from 6/5-16, batting .457 (16-for-35) over the stretch...recorded four consecutive multi-hit games from 6/7-10, matching his career-high stretch (fourth time, first since 5/4-8/07)...Was 3-for-3 with 1R, 1RBI and 1BB in 6/7 loss vs. Boston, entering the game in the first inning as PR for Teixeira and remaining in the game at 1B...marked his third career pinch-running appearance-also Game 2 of the 1995 ALDS vs. Seattle on 10/4/95 and 4/14/96 vs. Texas...became the first player to go 3-for-3 or better in a game he entered as a PR since Oakland's Brent Mayne on 8/31/97 at Colorado and the first Yankee to do so since Ruben Rivera on 9/25/96 vs. Milwaukee (credit: Elias)...singled off Jon Lester in his first AB in the third, snapping an 0-for-27 stretch against left-handed pitching to start the season...Hit grand slam and was 3-for-5 with 6RBI in 8/13 win vs. Tampa Bay...was his 10th career grand slam, surpassing Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra (nine each) for sole possession of sixth place on the Yankees' all-time list (Gehrig-23, DiMaggio-13, Ruth-12, Rodriguez-12 and B. Williams-11)...was his sixth career game with at least 6RBI and first since 9/6/06 at Kansas City (also 6RBI)...hit eighth in the batting order, becoming the first Yankee with as many as 6RBI from the eighth or ninth spot in the batting order since Tino Martinez (6RBI) on 4/18/05 vs. Tampa Bay-credit: Elias...at age 39, became the second-oldest player ever to hit a grand slam for the Yankees (Jose Cruz was 40 years, 343 days old when he did so in 1988)...Turned 40 years old on 8/17, becoming the first non-pitcher to play in a game for the Yankees after turning 40 since Lou Piniella appeared in 26 games with the club in 1984...Made his first career appearance at 2B in 8/25 win vs. Oakland, entering defensively in the ninth (did not bat)...had an assist on the game's final out...Entered 9/10 loss at Los Angeles-AL at catcher in the bottom of the third inning, going 1-for-2...was his first appearance at C since 10/22/10 in Game 6 of the 2010 ALCS at Texas and first regular season appearance at the position since 10/3/10 at Boston...Hit game-winning, two-run single in the eighth-inning of 9/21 Game 2 AL East-clinching win vs. Tampa Bay, pinch-hitting for Montero with the bases loaded and breaking a 2-2 tie...Tied his career high with 4K in 9/22 loss vs. Tampa Bay (sixth time, first since 6/23/09 at Atlanta)...Batted fourth in the starting lineup in 9/25 Game 1 win vs. Boston, hitting a two-run HR and going 2-for-3 with 1BB...batted cleanup for the first time since 9/28/09 vs. Kansas City...was his seventh career home run as a cleanup hitter and first since 4/10/08 at Kansas City (off Hideo Nomo)...scored his 900th career run on the homer...collected his 934th career walk, surpassing Roy White for sole possession of seventh place on the Yankees' all-time walks list...Hit .227 (10-for-46) with 2R, 2 doubles, 1HR and 7RBI in 19 spring training games.

2010

Hit .248 (95-for-383) with 49R, 23 doubles, 1 triple, 18HR and 57RBI in 120 games (78 starts at C, 28 at DH) with the Yankees....the Yankees were 49-29 in his starts at catcher....caught 10-of-78 (11.4%) potential base stealers. ... Had 3SB, tying his career high (also 3SB in 2006)....all 3SB came in a nine-game stretch from 8/7-17 after having just 1SB in his previous 297G (7/15/07-8/6/10). ... Made his 11th career Opening Day start at catcher (since 2000), surpasing Thurman Munson (10) and trailing only Bill Dickey (14, 1930-43) for most consecutive starts behind the plate for the Yankees on Opening Day in franchise history....became the oldest catcher (38 years, 230 days) to start an opener for the Yankees since Dickey in 1946 (38 years, 314 days). ... Hit solo HR in his first AB of the season in the second inning of 4/4 Opening Day loss at Boston, going 3-for-4 with 2RBI and 1BB....was his fourth career Opening Day home run, tied with Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra for second-most Opening Day home runs in franchise history behind Babe Ruth (five)....was the first of back-to-back homers with Curtis Granderson, becoming the first pair of Yankees to hit backto- back home runs on Opening Day since Dave Winfield and Steve Kemp on 4/5/83 at Seattle (credit: Elias). ... Hit his 345th career double in the seventh inning of 4/13 home opening win vs. Los Angeles-AL, surpassing Mickey Mantle (344) for sole possession of seventh place in franchise history....is a .444 (16-for-36) hitter in 11 career home openers with 8R, 6 doubles, 4HR, 7RBI and 9BB. ... Recorded his 1,500th career hit in 4/17 win vs. Texas....became the 19th overall Yankee and fourth Yankee whose primary position was catcher to reach the plateau (also Yogi Berra , Bill Dickey and Thurman Munson). ... Left 4/28 win at Baltimore in the bottom of the second inning after being hit by a pitch by Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie in the top of the inning....suffered a right knee contusion and missed 4/29 game with the injury....missed four games with a strained right calf from 5/4-8. ... Was placed on the 15-day disabled list on 5/20 (retroactive to 5/17) with a hairline fracture of the bottom of his right foot....was reinstated from the D.L. on 6/2 (missed 15 team games). ... Hit grand slams in consecutive games on 6/12 and 6/13 vs. Houston, becoming the first Yankee to hit a grand slam in back-to-back games since Bill Dickey on 8/3 (G2) and 8/4/37....according to Elias, the only other Yankee to accomplish the feat was Babe Ruth in 1927 and 1929....prior to his grand slam on 6/12, had hit 102HR since his last slam on 7/26/04 at Toronto (off Sean Douglass)....his grand slam on 6/13 was the 251st HR of his career, surpassing Graig Nettles for sole possession of seventh place on the Yankees' all-time list. ... Drove in at least one run in a career-high eight straight games (10RBI total) from 7/11-24....was the longest such streak by a Yankee since Jason Giambi drove in a run in eight straight from 8/27-9/3/08 and tied for the second-longest streak in the Majors in 2010, trailing only Florida's Jorge Cantu (10 straight from 4/5-15). In 7/20 loss vs. Los Angeles-AL, caught Bobby Abreu stealing 2B in the fifth and the seventh innings, the first time he caught the same runner stealing twice in the same game since 7/29/04 vs. Baltimore (Jerry Hairston, Jr.). ... Collected his 1,000th career RBI with his run-scoring double in the first inning of 7/23 win vs. Kansas City, going 2-for-3 with 1R, 1 double, 2RBI and 1BB....became the 12th overall Yankee and 11th player in Major League history whose primary position was catcher to reach the plateau. Collected his 10th career triple in the first inning of 8/31 win vs. Oakland....became the oldest Yankee to triple since Chili Davis on 9/1/99 at age 39. ... Was ejected on 9/1 vs. Oakland by HP Umpire Dana DeMuth for arguing balls and strikes....was his sixth career ejection, first since 9/15/09 vs. Toronto. ... Suffered a mild concussion after being hit with foul tip while catching on 9/7 vs. Baltimore and did not start the Yankees' first two games at Texas on 9/10 and 9/11. ... Hit game-winning, pinch-hit HR in the 10th inning on 9/14 at Tampa Bay....was his fifth career pinch-hit home run....had been hitless in his previous 10AB as a pinch-hitter in 2010. ... Played in all nine postseason games, making eight starts at C....hit .267 (8-for-30) with 3R, 2 doubles and 3RBI....Yankees were 3-0 when he scored a run. ... Underwent arthroscopic surgery on 11/10/10 to correct a small meniscus tear in his left knee....the procedure was performed by Dr. Lee Kaplan in Miami.

2009

Hit .285 (109-for-383) with 55R, 25 doubles, 22HR and 81RBI in 111 games (88 starts at C and nine at DH) with the Yankees... batted .290 (36-for-124, 5HR) vs. left-handed pitchers and .282 (73-for-259, 17HR) vs. righties...Played in 100 games at catcher in a season in which he turned 38 years old, the most games ever for a Yankees catcher in a season at that age and the most by any catcher since Benito Santiago in 2003 w/ San Francisco... among all-time Major League catchers, only Carlton Fisk (130G, 37HR and 107RBI in 1985 with Chicago-AL) reached Posada's totals in games, home runs and RBI in a season in which they entered at 37 years of age or older...Among Major League catchers, ranked fourth in HR, fifth in RBI and tied for seventh in doubles... ranked seventh in the Majors with a 4.73AB/RBI ratio (383AB, 81RBI)... had the most RBI for any player with fewer than 400 at-bats...Reached base safely in each of his 11 games against Boston in 2009, going 16-for-40 (.400) with 6R, 3 doubles, 2HR, 7RBI and 11BB... batted .432 (16-for-37) with 6RBI out of the cleanup spot...Made his 10th straight Opening Day start at catcher (2000- 09), the most consecutive starts by a Yankee at C on Opening Day since Thurman Munson made 10 straight starts there from 1970-79... only Bill Dickey (14, 1930-43) has made more consecutive starts behind the plate for the Yankees on Opening Day...Hit solo-HR and was 1-for-3 with 1BB in 4/6 Opening Day loss at Baltimore, marking his third career Opening Day homer...Hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium history in the fifth inning in the Yankees' 4/16 home opening loss vs. Cleveland...Hit go-ahead, two-run, pinch-hit HR in the seventh and was 1-for-2 in 4/19 win vs. Cleveland... was his third career pinchhit home run and first since 8/29/04 at Toronto... the home run was reviewed via replay, becoming the first HR to go under umpire review in Yankee Stadium... was the first reviewed home run in the Majors in 2009...Caught all 14 innings in 4/22 win vs. Oakland... marked the seventh time in his career he caught at least 14.0 innings and the first since catching 17.0 innings on 6/1/03 at Detroit...Was 1-for-4 with 1R, 1BB and 1SB in 4/29 win at Detroit... was his first SB since 7/14/07 at Tampa Bay...Was placed on the 15-day disabled list from 5/5-29 with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain (missed 22 team games)... rehabbed at Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., appearing in simulated, intrasquad and extended spring training games...Tied a career-high with four strikeouts in 6/23 loss at Atlanta, going 0-for-4... was only the fifth 4K game of his career (last on 7/19/02 vs. Boston)...Hit solo-HR and game-winning "walk-off" single in the 12th inning on 7/4 vs. Toronto, going 2-for-6... according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 12th-inning RBI single-in his 1,533rd Major League game-was his first career "walk-off" RBI in extra innings... the last player whose first extra-inning "walk-off" RBI came as far into his career as Posada's was Tony Fernandez, who finally accomplished the feat in his 2,123rd big league game in 2001 w/ Toronto...Missed three games (8/27-29) with bruised left ring finger...Recorded his 16th career multi-HR game (all 2HR-games) with a solo-HR and two-run HR in 9/1 win at Baltimore... was his first multi-homer game since 9/4/07 vs. Seattle...Hit his second pinch-hit homer of the season in 9/9 win vs. Tampa Bay (also 4/19 vs. Cleveland), hitting the game-winning three-run homer in the eighth... was his fourth career pinchhit homer...Was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball for his actions during eighth-inning altercation in 9/15 loss vs. Toronto... was 1-for-3 with 2R and 1BB the game before being ejected by HP umpire Jim Joyce in the bottom of the eighth inning (fighting)... was his fifth career ejection and first since 8/24/07... served his suspension from 9/16-19...Did not play in 9/23 win at Los Angeles-AL (bruised right toes), undergoing X-rays (negative) that day... was scratched from lineup prior to 9/26 win vs. Boston with a stiff neck (also missed 9/27 game)...Was selected by Joe Girardi to manage the Yankees' final regular season game, guiding the team to a 10-2 win on 10/4 at Tampa Bay...Appeared in all 15 Yankees postseason games (10 starts), batting .260 (13-for-50) with 5R, 2 doubles, 2HR and 8RBI... reached base in 14 of the contests... hit go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning in Game 3 clincher of ALDS at Minnesota.

2008

Hit .268 (45-for-168) with 13 doubles, 3HR and 22RBI in 51 games with the Yankees before being placed on the disabled list from 7/21 through the conclusion of the season with a right shoulder strain (28 starts at C, 15 at DH, three at 1B)... marked his most starts at 1B since 2000 (8GS)...Was placed on the 15-day D.L. on 7/21 (retroactive to 7/20)... underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder on 7/30 at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York... the procedure was performed by Dr. David Altcheck (missed 63 team games)...Was his second stint on the D.L. in 2008... was also on the 15-day D.L. from 4/28-6/3 with a right shoulder strain that was later diagnosed as right rotator cuff tendinitis (missed 32 team games)... had never spent time on the disabled list prior to the 2008 season... according to the Elias Sports Bureau, at the time of his injury, Posada was one of six current players with at least 10 years of service that had never been placed on the disabled list along with Brad Ausmus, Johnny Damon, Andruw Jones, Derek Lowe and Livan Hernandez... prior to 4/28/08, the Yankees' last game without Posada on the active roster was 9/1/96 at California (Jim Leyritz started at C)...Had started at least 120 games behind the plate in each of his previous eight seasons (2000-07), a streak equaled only by Jason Kendall... his 1,047 games started at catcher over the last nine seasons (2000-08) are the most by any AL catcher and second most in the Majors behind Kendall's 1,268...According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Posada has homered in more ballparks (25) than any player in franchise history... has 221 career home runs for sole possession of ninth place on the Yankees' all-time list (Don Mattingly is eighth with 222)... his 213HR as a catcher rank second on the Yankees' all-time list behind only Yogi Berra (306)... became just the eighth catcher all-time to reach the 200HR plateau... with 883 career RBI, ranks 12th on the Yankees' all-time list...Has 701RBI (as a catcher) over the last nine seasons (2000-08), the most by any catcher in the Major Leagues during that span (Ivan Rodriguez is second with 574 RBI)... his 179HR (as a catcher) over that same span are also the most among Major League backstops (Mike Piazza is second with 159)...Caught just three of 37 potential base stealers in 2008... opponents were successful in their last 12 attempts...Made his ninth straight Opening Day start at catcher (2000- 2008) in 4/1 win vs. Toronto, the most consecutive starts by a Yankee at catcher on Opening Day since Thurman Munson made 10 straight starts from 1970-79... according to the Elias Sports Bureau, has now caught at least one game for the Yankees in each of the last 14 seasons (1995-2008), the longest such streak for a player with a single club since Milwaukee's Charlie Moore (14 seasons, 1973-86)...Along with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, became the first trio of teammates to play for the Yankees in each of 14 straight seasons (1995-2008), surpassing the 13 consecutive seasons of Bill Dickey, Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing (1930-42); and Whitey Ford, Elston Howard and Mickey Mantle (1955-67)... are the first Major League trio to play together as long since Jim Gantner, Paul Molitor and Robin Yount (15 years, 1978-92 with Milwaukee)-credit: Elias Sports Bureau...Was 0-for-2 with 1BB in 4/1 Opening Day win vs. Toronto, allowing three stolen bases... missed the next two games from 4/2-3 with a strained right shoulder...Made four consecutive starts at DH for the first time in his career from 4/10-14... had last started three consecutive games at DH from 6/8-10/01 vs. Atlanta... made his 13th career start at 1B-and first since 6/19/07 at Colorado-in 4/19 loss at Baltimore, going 1-for-5... was his first start in the field since 4/8 at Kansas City...Established a career high with three doubles and tied a career best with four hits in 4/23 win at Chicago (AL), going 4-for-5 with 2RBI... his ninth-inning double was the 310th of his career, surpassing Earle Combs (309) for sole possession of 12th place on the Yankees' all-time list... according to the Elias Sports Bureau, became the first Yankees catcher to collect three doubles in a game since Buddy Rosar on 4/20/41...Made first appearance on the D.L. on 4/28... in seven extended spring training rehab appearances, was 10-for-27 (.370) with 2 doubles and 6BB in 7GS (6-C/1-DH)... was returned from rehab and reinstated from the disabled list on 6/4... started at C and was 1-for-3 with 1BB in 6/5 win vs. Toronto in his first game back...4 Hit safely in eight of his first 11 games following his return from D.L., batting .379 (11-for-29) with 1 double, 2HR and 7RBI over the stretch...Made his final appearance of the season with the Yankees in 7/19 win vs. Oakland, starting at C and going 1-for-5.

2007

Hit a career-high .338 (171-for-506) in 2007, ranking fourth in the American League...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first Yankees catcher to finish a season in the top 10 in the league in batting average since Thurman Munson finished 10th in 1978 with a .297 average...Also established career-highs in hits (171) and doubles (42) along with 20HR and 90RBI in 144 games this season (125 starts at C, five at DH and one start at 1B)...Became the only player in Major League history to bat at least .330 with 40 doubles, 20HR and 90RBI in a year which he caught in at least half of his games played (credit: Elias Sports Bureau)...His batting average (.338) came in 61 points higher than 2006 (.277), the largest batting average increase for any Major Leaguer who qualified for the batting title in each of the last two seasons...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, over the last 70 years, the only Yankee to improve his batting average by 60 or more points from one season to the next was Bobby Murcer in 1971 (80 point increase from 1970)...Since 1940, only four players appearing primarily at catcher have recorded a higher single season batting average: St. Louis' Joe Torre (.363, 1971), the Dodgers' Mike Piazza (.362, 1997 and .346, 1995) and Minnesota's Joe Mauer (.347, 1997)...Led the American League with a .344 road average, ranked third with a .426 on-base percentage, fifth with a .341 average against right-handed pitching, sixth with a .341 night average, eighth with a .543 slugging percentage and tied for eighth in doubles...Average never went below .311 (on 4/29) and never went more than three games without hitting safely...his eighth-inning single on 8/16 vs. Detroit snapped an 0-for-11 stretch, his longest hitless streak of the season...did not have a hitless streak of 10 or more at-bats since going 0-for-10 from 8/15-18/06...Was his second season with 40 or more doubles (40 in 2002), joining Ivan Rodriguez (47 in 1996 and 40 in 1998) as the only two catchers in Major League history to have two seasons of 40+ doubles (credit: Elias Sports Bureau)...Is one of only eight catchers in Major League history (min: 50% of career games at C) to reach 20HR in at least seven seasons (Mike Piazza and Johnny Bench-11; Yogi Berra-10; Gary Carter-9; Carlton Fisk-8; and Lance Parrish, Roy Campanella and Jorge Posada-7)-credit: Elias Sports Bureau...According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became only the 17th player in Major League history to collect at least 300 career doubles while appearing in at least 1,000 games at catcher...Has never been placed on the disabled list in his career...has started at least 120 games behind the plate in each of the last eight seasons (2000-'07), a streak equaled only by Jason Kendall...his 1,019 games started as catcher over the last eight seasons are the most by any AL catcher and second most in the Majors (behind only Jason Kendall's 1,118)...Has 686 RBI (as a catcher) over the last eight full seasons (2000-'07), the most by any catcher in the Major Leagues during that span (Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez is second with 539RBI)...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, his 177HR (as a catcher) over that same span are also most among Major League catchers (Oakland's Mike Piazza is second with 159)...Has 218 career home runs for sole possession of ninth place on the Yankees' all-time list (Don Mattingly is eighth with 222)...his 210 HR as a catcher rank second on the Yankees' all-time list behind only Yogi Berra (306)...became just the eighth catcher all-time to reach the 200HR plateau...With 861 career RBI, ranks 12th on the Yankees' all-time list...passed Paul O'Neill (858) on 9/26 at Tampa Bay, going 3-for-6 with 1R and 3RBI...Was selected to the 2007 American League All-Star Team, the fifth All-Star selection of his career and first since 2003 (2000-'03; 2007)...went 1-for-3 with 1 double in 7/10 A.L. win, pinch hitting for Beckett in the fifth and remaining in game at C...Batted a team-high .545 with the bases loaded, ranking sixth in the majors (min. 10AB)...is a career .326 batter with the bases loaded (62-for-190)...Threw out 28-of-130 base stealers this season (21.5%)...Hit solo-HR (#1)-his second career Opening Day HR and the 199th of his career-and was 2-for-4 with 2R in 4/2 win vs. Tampa Bay...was his eighth straight Opening Day start at catcher (2000-2007), the most consecutive starts by a Yankee at catcher on Opening Day since Thurman Munson made 10 straight starts there from 1970-'79...With two hits on Opening Day and three the following game, started the season with a pair of multi-hit games for the first time in his career...Hit two-run HR (#2)-the 200th of his career-and was 1-for-3 with 3RBI and 1SF in 4/17 win vs. Cleveland...Did not play in 4/21 loss at Boston (bruised left thumb)...suffered the injury catching an Andy Pettitte pitch the previous night in Boston...Hit safely in 21 of 23 games from 5/1-27, batting a Major League-leading .427 (32-for-75) over the span with 14R, 9 doubles, 3HR and 11RBI...Hit safely in a career-high 15-game hitting streak from 5/3-20, batting .448 (26-for-58) with 13 R, 7 doubles, 3 HR and 8 RBI...was the longest hitting streak for a Yankees catcher since Bob Geren hit safely in 15 straight games in 1989...Ranked second in the Majors with a .394 average (37-for-94) and led the team with 19 runs scored in the month of May...in 26 games, had 11 doubles, 3 HR and 15 RBI...was the third highest calendar-month batting average of his career...hit .406 (28-for-69) in June 2001 and .395 (30-for-76) in September 2007...Hit solo HR (#8) and was 1-for-2 with 2R, 1RBI and 2BB in 6/13 win vs. Arizona, making second start of season at DH...was his 206th career home run, moving him ahead of Dave Winfield (205) for sole possession of ninth place on the Yankees' all-time home run list.

2006

Continued to cement his name as one of baseball's most talented and durable catchers, hitting .277 (129-for-465) with 23HR and 93RBI in 143 games (121 starts at catcher, two starts at designated hitter)...has now hit at least 20 home runs and driven in at least 80 runs in six of his last seven seasons...ranked 10th in the American League with 1RBI every 5.0 at-bats...Has 603 RBI (as a catcher) over the last seven full seasons (2000-'06), the most by any catcher in the Major Leagues during that span (Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez is second with 476 RBI)...his 159 HR (as a catcher) over that same span ties Oakland's Mike Piazza (159) for most in the Majors...has started at least 120 games behind the plate in each of the last seven seasons (2000-'06), a streak equaled only by Jason Kendall (also 2000-'06)...His 894 games started as catcher over the last seven seasons (2000-06) are the most by any AL catcher and second most in the Majors (behind only Jason Kendall's 989)...has 197 career home runs for sole possession of 12th place on the Yankees' all-time list (Bill Dickey is 11th with 202)...his 190 HR as a catcher rank third on the club's all-time list behind only Yogi Berra (306) and Bill Dickey (200)...threw out 38-of-102 base stealers this season (37%)...In 4/3 win at Oakland, made his seventh straight Opening-Day start at catcher (2000-'06)...it is the most consecutive starts by a Yankee at catcher on Opening Day since Thurman Munson made 10 straight starts there from 1970-'79...hit two-run "walk-off" home run (#6) and was 2-for-3 with 2R, 2RBI, 1BB and 2SF in 5/16 win vs. Texas...was his second career "walk-off" home run (also on 5/5/00 vs. Baltimore)...also batted fourth in the lineup for the first time since 10/2/04 at Toronto...Missed two games (5/20-21) with tightness in upper back...suffered tear in hamstring tendon behind left knee on 5/23 at Boston and missed next four games (5/24-28)...hit two-run HR (#8) and was 1-for-3 with 1BB in 6/11 loss vs. Oakland...was his first home run of the season as a right-handed batter and first since 9/22/05 vs. Baltimore (a span of 58AB)...hit solo home run and was 2-for-5 in 6/20 win at Philadelphia...According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Posada has now homered in more ballparks (25) than any player in franchise history...hit solo-HR (#11) and was 2-for-3 with 2R, 1 double and 2BB in 7/1 win vs. NY Mets...the home run was the 186th of his career, surpassing Paul O'Neill (185) for sole possession of 13th place on the Yankees' all-time ist...was scratched from 7/19 lineup (vs. Seattle) with a bruised right index finger...threw out three runners on 8/8 at Chicago for the second time in his career (also 8/6/02 vs. Kansas City)...Snapped career-high 0-for-25 stretch with second-inning single in 8/14 win vs. LAA...hit in a season-high seven straight games from 9/1-9, batting .462 (12-for-26) with 7R, 3HR and 11RBI during the stretch (also hit in seven straight games from 7/16-23)...hit two three-run HRs (#18 and 19) in back-to-back at-bats in the sixth and eighth innings and was 2-for-3 with 3R and a season-high 6RBI and 1BB in 9/6 win at Kansas City...was his second multi-home-run game of the season (also 4/9 at Los Angeles) and the 13th of his career (all two-home-run games)...hit .500 (7-for-14) with 1HR and 2RBI in four Division Series games vs. Detroit.

2005

Hit .262 (124-for-474) with 19HR and 71RBI in 142 games (122 starts at catcher, three starts at designated hitter)...threw out 39-of-129 would-be base stealers (30%)...homered from both sides of the plate in 5/24 win vs. Detroit, hitting solo-HR in the fourth and three-run HR in the fifth...accomplished the feat for the sixth time in his career and first time since 3/31/04 vs. Tampa Bay at Tokyo Dome, and is now third on the club's all-time list (behind only Mickey Mantle, 10; and Bernie Williams, 8)...was his first multi-home run game of the season and 10th of his career...Did not strike out in 32 straight plate appearances before fanning in third inning of 6/3 loss at Minnesota, one shy of the longest such streak of his career (went 33 PA without a strikeout in 1997)...had season-high 10-game hitting streak from 6/4-18, batting .378 (14-for-37) with 7R, 2HR and 7RBI during the stretch...hit three home runs in four-game span, 7/17-20...Recorded his 1,000th career hit with a seventh-inning double in 8/20 win at Chicago (was 1-for-2 with 2R and 2BB)...did not play in 9/10 loss vs. Boston (jammed right shoulder)...hit solo-HR (#18) and three-run HR (#19) in 9/22 win vs. Baltimore...was his second multi-HR game of the season (also 5/24 vs. Detroit) and 11th of his career...hit .231 (3-for-13) with 1HR, 2RBI and 6BB in five games vs. the Angels in the Division Series...had his streak of 68 consecutive postseason starts snapped in Game Three of the ALDS (had started each of the Yankees' postseason games since Game Four of the 1999 World Series).

2004

Batted .272 (122-for-449) with 21HR and 81RBI in 137 games (126 starts at catcher)...led the American League in games caught for the second time in his career (became the first Yankee to lead the league in games caught more than once since Thurman Munson in 1970, 1972 and 1973)...was tied for third in the American League with 88 walks and ranked fourth with a .400 on-base percentage...Homered from both sides of the plate (three-run homers in the fifth and seventh innings) and was 2-for-5 with 6RBI in 3/31 win vs. Tampa Bay at Tokyo Dome...accomplished the feat for the fifth time in his career, tying Roy White for third place on the club's all-time list (behind only Mickey Mantle, 10; and Bernie Williams, 8)...Equaled single-game career high with four hits in 5/8 win at Seattle, going 4-for-4 with two run-scoring doubles...missed four games after suffering broken nose in 5/12 game vs. Anaheim (was hit in the nose by a ball thrown by Angels' shortstop Alfredo Amezaga in a double-play attempt in bottom of the second inning)...was taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital where he was seen by Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, Dr. Hector Rodriguez...he suffered a fractured nose, and surgery was performed to set the fracture...Drew at least one walk in a career-high 13 straight games from 5/9-29 (had three previous streaks of eight games)...hit solo-HR and was 2-for-2 with 2RBI in 7/11 win vs. Tampa Bay before being removed in the third for PR with a sprained right ankle (precautionary X-rays were negative)...hit first-inning grand slam in 7/26 win at Toronto, his first grand slam of the season and the seventh of his career to tie Charlie Keller for ninth place on the club's all-time list...missed three games from 8/6-8 with bruised right thumb...missed two games on 8/14-15, suffering from low-grade viral infection. 4 Hit pinch-hit solo-HR (#17) off Jason Frasor in the ninth inning of 8/29 loss at Toronto...was his second career pinch-hit HR (also on 6/16/01 vs. Baltimore off Mike Trombley)...in 9/13 loss at Kansas City, batted fourth for the first time since 9/21/03 (at TB) and was 0-for-3 with 1RBI and 1HP...hit .244 (11-for-45) with 2RBI in 11 postseason games...caught every inning of the postseason for the Yankees.

2003

Fortified his status as one of baseball's elite catchers, ranking third in the American League Most Valuable Player voting behind Texas' Alex Rodriguez and Toronto's Carlos Delgado...batted .281 (135-for-481) and established career-highs with 30HR and 101RBI in 142 games (131 starts at catcher, two at designated hitter)...his 30HR tied the Yankees' single-season record for home runs by a catcher (Yogi Berra hit 30 in 1952 and 1956)...has 364 RBI in the last four seasons (2000-2003), the most RBI by a catcher in the Major Leagues during that span...his 98HR over that same period trail only Mike Piazza (110HR)....earned his second consecutive Silver Slugger Award, honoring the best offensive players at each position in each league, as voted by Major-League managers and coaches...ranked fifth in the American League with a .405 on-base percentage and sixth with 93 walks...was elected to start 2003 All-Star Game at catcher for second straight season, his fourth consecutive All-Star selection (was 0-for-2)...made fourth straight Opening-Day start at catcher on 3/31 at Toronto...hit two-run HR (#1) in 4/1 win at Toronto, snapping longest HR drought of his career (140AB/37G since last HR on 8/17/02)...with seven home runs in April, tied his highest HR total for any single month (also hit 7HR in April 2000 and May 2002)...was ejected in the eighth inning of 5/24 loss vs. Toronto by 2b Umpire Fieldin Culbreth for arguing interference call...tied career high with four walks in 7/9 win at Cleveland, going 0-for-2 with 1R (also walked four times on 5/30/00 vs. Oakland)...missed 8/8-9 games vs. Seattle with stiff neck...tied career high with four hits (ninth time) in 8/12 win at Kansas City, going 4-for-5 with 2R, 1 double and 2RBI...hit two home runs (#25, #26) and was 2-for-5 with 2R and 3RBI in 8/30 win at Boston, snapping an 0-for-17 stretch...was the eighth multi-home-run game of his career and first since 6/28/02 vs. NY Mets...hit grand slam (#28) and was 3-for-4 with 2R, a career-high 7RBI and 1BB in 9/10 win vs. Detroit...with the grand slam, tied a single-season high with 28HR...the 7RBI were the most by a Yankee since Bernie Williams also collected 7RBI on 6/17/00 vs. Chicago...was his sixth career grand slam and first since 7/13/02 at Cleveland...batted .222 (14-for-63) with 1HR and 7RBI in 17 postseason games.

2002

Has evolved into one of the game's most productive catchers, batting .268 (137-for-511) with 20 HR and a career-high 99 RBI in 143 games (131 starts at catcher, five at designated hitter and at first base)...hit a career-high 40 doubles, establishing the franchise record for most doubles by a catcher in a single season (previous high was 35 by Bill Dickey in 1937)...the 40 doubles were the most by a catcher since Texas' Ivan Rodriguez had 45 in 1996...his 99 RBI were the most by any catcher in the Majors this season and his 266 over the last three seasons trail only Mike Piazza (279) for most RBI by a catcher over that same span...earned his first Silver Slugger Award, honoring the best offensive players at each position in each league, as voted by Major-League managers and coaches...was elected to his third consecutive All-Star Game on 7/9 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, WI. (also 2000, '01)...started at catcher and was 0-for-3...made third straight Opening-Day start (and appearance) at C on 4/1 at Baltimore...tied a career-high with four hits, hit solo-HR and was 4-for-5 with 2 doubles and 2RBI in 5/12 win at Minnesota...of his 25 hits in the month of May, 17 were for extra bases (10 doubles, 7HR)...hit two-run HRbhis second in as many games and fourth in five-game spanbin 5/17 win vs. Minnesota...tied a career high with four runs and was 3-for-6 with 1 double and 1RBI in 6/19 win at Colorado...homered from both sides of the plate (#s 12, 13) and was 2-for-5 with 5RBI in 6/28 win vs. NY Mets...hit 3-run homer from the left side in the third and hit 2-run shot in the fifth from the right side...was his first multi-HR game of the season (seventh of his career) and fourth time he homered from both sides of the plate in the same game...hit grand slam (#14) and was 1-for-3 with 1BB in 7/2 win vs. Cleveland...was his first grand slam of the season and fourth of his career...hit 2-run HR, the 100th of his career, and was 1-for-3 with 1BB in 7/5 win vs. Toronto...hit second grand slam of the seasonband fifth of his careerband was 3-for-5 with 2R, 1 double and 6 RBIbtying his career highbin 7/13 win at Cleveland...missed 7/15 game at Toronto to be with wife, Laura, for birth of their second child, Paulina, born that morning in New York...was 1-for-2 in 7/23 loss at Cleveland before being removed from game in fifth with laceration of the left ear (missed 7/24 game at Cleveland)...did not homer in the season's last 40 regular season games (134 AB) since 8/17 at Seattle, the longest homerless stretch of his career...hit .235 (4-for-17) with 1HR and 3RBI in four Division Series games.

2001

Has evolved into one of the game's most productive catchers, batting .277 with 22 HR and a careerhigh 95 RBI in 138 games (126 starts at catcher, six at designated hitter and one at first base)...hit a 3-run HR (#1) - his first on Opening Day - and was 3-for-4 with 1 R, 1 double and 4 RBI in 4/2 win vs. Kansas City...was his second straight Opening-Day start for the Yankees at C...hit first career grand slam in 4/8 win vs. Toronto...homered in third straight game for first time in his career in 4/9 win at Kansas City, going 3-for- 5 with 3 R and 4 RBI...had gone 87 AB without HR before two-run shot on 5/23 vs. Boston, the second longest homerless stretch of his career (went 100 AB without a homer between the 1999 and 2000 seasons)...before double on 5/18 at Seattle, went 42 consecutive AB without extra-base hit (the longest such streak of his career)...hit 3-run HR (#9) in the second and solo-HR (#10) in the sixth and was 3-for-4 with 1 double and 5 RBI in 6/2 win vs. Cleveland...has six career two home-run games...did not appear at catcher for seven games (6/4-10) because of sprained ligament in left thumb (3-DH; 3- DNP; 1-PH)...pinch-hit for Greene in the eighth and hit game-winning grand slam (#11) in 6/6 win vs. Baltimore...was his second career grand slam and second of the season (also 4/8 vs. Toronto)...was his first career pinch-hit home run and the first by a Yankee in 2001...was the 21st pinch-hit grand-slam in Yankee history (last by Glenallen Hill on 7/28/00 at Minnesota)...on 6/9 vs. Atlanta hit the 20th home run (in the regular season) into the "batter's eye" section of the center-field bleachers since the remodeled Yankee Stadium opened in 1976...compiled 18 RBI on 13-game homestand, 6/1- 6/14 (appearing in just 10 games with eight starts)...batted .406 (28-for-69) with 5 HR and 25 RBI in 23 games in June...had career- high 11-game hitting streak snapped in 7/4 win at Baltimore when he went 0-for-1 with 3 BB...equaled career high with four hits in 7/17 win at Philadelphia, going 4-for-6 with 1 R, 1 HR and 3 RBI...was selected to his second All-Star Game, going 1-for-1 in the American- League's 4-1 win on 7/10 in Seattle...missed three straight games (7/31-8/2) with stomach illness...was ejected from 9/3 win by HP Umpire Andy Fletcher in the ninth after being called out on strikes for second time...appealed six-game suspension by MLB and had sentence reduced by one game (served five-game suspension from 9/26b 10/1)...hit third grand slam of the season (and career) and tied a season high with 5 RBI in 9/18 win at Chicago...in 9/20 loss at Chicago, snapped his streak of at least one strikeout in 12 straight games, the longest such streak by a Yankee since Jim Leyritz also fanned in 12 straight games in 1995...batted .273 (15-for-55) with 2 HR and 3 RBI in 17 post-season games...became only the 10th player in post-season history--and second Yankee-- to hit a home run in 1-0 game in Game Three of the ALDS on 10/13 at Oakland (also Tommy Henrich in Game One of the 1949 World Series at Yankee Stadium).

2000

Had a breakout season as the Yankees everyday catcher, setting career highs in every major offensive category...batted .287 with 28 HR and 86 RBI in 151 games (136 starts at catcher, eight at first base and three at DH)...with 107 BB, drew more walks in a single season than any other Yankee catcher (Wally Schang had 78 BB in 1921)...had 95 BB while appearing in games at catcher in 2000, breaking the club record for most walks in a single season by a catcher (Wally Schang, 1921; and Bill Dickey, 1939; drew 77 BB at catcher)...with 26 home runs as a catcher, fell four home runs shy of tying Yogi Berra for the most home runs in a single season by a Yankees' catcher (Berra hit 30 home runs in 1952 and '56)...threw out 34-of-104 would-be base stealers (33%)...team posted a 4.67 ERA in games he caught (1182.0 IP, 613 ER)...was selected to his first All-Star game by Manager Joe Torre and was 0-for-2...in 13 games batting from the second spot in the order, hit .364 (20-for-55) with 12 R, 3 HR and 10 RBI...tied his career high in hits on 4/5 at Anaheim, going 4-for-4 with 3 R...homered from both sides of the plate (#4 and 5) for the third time in his career on 4/23 at Toronto, going 3-for-5 with 2 R and 3 RBI...along with OF Bernie Williams, became the first pair of players in Major-League history to hit switch-hit home runs in the same game...was also his fourth career multi-HR game...hit three-run "walk-off" home run (#7) in the ninth and was 4- for-5 with 4 RBI in 5/5 win vs. Baltimore...his four hits tied a career high...made third career start at 1 B (first of 2000 season) and was 1-for-2 with 1 double and 2 BB on 5/20 at Cleveland...set career high with 4 BB (previous high was 3 BB, done six times) and was 0-for-1 on 5/30 vs. Oakland...established a career high with 4 R, hit 2-run HR (#13) and was 2-for-4 with 2 BB in 6/19 win at Boston...was ejected on 7/1 at Tampa Bay for fighting and served a onegame suspension on 7/17 vs. Philadelphia...hit his 17th homer of the season (tying a career high established in 1998) and was 4-for-4 with 3 R, 2 doubles, 3 RBI and 1 IBB on 7/28 at Minnesota...batted second for first time in his career, tied a career high with four hits (sixth time) and was 4-for-5 with 2 R, 2 doubles and 4 RBI on 8/4 vs. Seattle...hit two home runs (#18, 19) establishing a single-season career high and was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI in 8/ 5 loss vs. Seattle...was the fifth multi-HR game of career (second of 2000)...hit game-tying 2-run HR (#24) and drove in a season-high five runs on 8/23 vs. Texas...his 29 RBI in August were fourth most in the A.L. behind only Mike Sweeney (31), Carlos Delgado (31) and Frank Thomas (30)...also was tied with Rafael Palmeiro for third in the A.L. with 24 BB, trailing only Jim Thome (28) and Greg Vaughn (28)...batted .204, tied a team high with four doubles and had 5 RBI in 16 post-season games.

1999

Batted .245 with 12 HR and 57 RBI in 112 games...made 98 starts at catcher, one at designated hitter and one at first base...threw out 20 of 95 would-be base stealers (21%)...team posted a 4.20 ERA in games he caught...did not play in the three-game series at Detroit (4/16-18) after being scratched from the lineup before 4/16 game with sore right calf (suffered when doubled off first base in sixth inning in 4/15 loss vs. Baltimore)...on 4/28 at Texas hit upper-deck home run to snap an 0-for-25 streak from the left side of the plate to begin the season...drove in a season-high five runs in Game 1 of 5/22 double-header at Chicago after driving in 10 runs in his first 88 at bats of the season...collected his first career triple on 6/23 at Tampa Bay...on 6/11 win at Florida hit a three-run home run and drove in five runs (for the second time in '99)...was 1-for-3 with an RBI double on 6/25 at Baltimore before leaving the game in the seventh with a mild contusion of his left thumb and did not play on 6/26 or 6/27 due to the injury...hit two home runs and was 2-for-5 on 7/10 at New York--the third multi-HR game of his career...he became only the second catcher in baseball history to have switch- hit homers in two separate games (Todd Hundley also five times)...had a career-high four hits (4-for-6) with 3 R and 3 RBI on 7/24 vs. Cleveland...was a single shy of hitting for "the cycle" on 8/22 at Minnesota...was 4-for-5--the second four hit game of his career--on 9/7 at Kansas City...batted .182 with 1 HR and 3 RBI in six post-season games (five starts at catcher)...hit two-run home run in pennant-clinching win at Boston on 11/18 (Game Five).

1998

Saw increased playing time and established himself as the Yankees' primary catcher by year's end...batted .268 with 17 HR and 63 RBI in 111 games...made 91 starts (85 at C, 5 at DH and 1 at 1B)...threw out 29 of 76 would-be base stealers (38%)...team posted a 3.83 ERA in games he caught (792.0 IP, 337 ER)...recorded career highs in every offensive category but stolen bases...had seven three-hit performances, tying his career high (now done 10 times)...hit the Yankees' first home run of '98 in his first start of the season on 4/5 at Oakland (was 3-for-5 with 2 R and 2 RBI in the 9-7 win)...caught David Wells' perfect game on 5/17 vs. Minnesota...made his first career start at first base on 6/26 at New York (NL) and went 3-for-5 with 1 R, 1 double and 1 RBI in the Yankees' 8-4 win...had the first multi-homer game of his career in a 5-2 win on 7/31 at Seattle (two solo homers)...posted back-to-back three-hit games for the first time in his career on 8/7 and 8/8 vs. Kansas City...had a career-high 6 RBI in a 14-1 win on 8/8 vs. Kansas City...became only the sixth Yankee ever to homer from both sides of the plate in recording the second multi-home run game of his career (and season) on 8/23 at Texas...batted .227 with 2 HR and 4 RBI in nine post-season games, six starts (all at C)...belted his first career post-season home run in the Yankees' 7-2 victory in Game 6 of the ALCS vs. Cleveland (a solo shot off Chad Ogea)...batted .333 (3-for-9) with 1 HR and 2 RBI in the World Series vs. San Diego...hit his first career World Series home run in the Yankees' 9-3 victory in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium (a two-run homer off ex-Yankee Brian Boehringer).

1997

Hit .250 with 6 HR and 25 RBI in his first full season in the Majors...played 60 games, making 52 starts (all at C)...team posted a 4.71 ERA in games he caught (479.1 IP, 251 ER)...threw out 9 of 48 would-be base stealers (19%)...was the only rookie on the Yankees' 25-man Opening-Day roster...won the James P. Dawson Award, given annually to the Yankees' top rookie in spring training (.357, 2 HR, 11 RBI)...became the Yankees' second switch-hitting catcher--to appear in at least two games--in the last 50 years (also Butch Wynegar, 1982-86)...hit his first Major-League home run on 5/4 at Kansas City, a solo shot off Jim Converse...was 3-for-5 with 2 R and 1 RBI in that game, the first three-hit performance of his career...had two other three-hit games in '97 (6/15 at Florida, Gm2 and 9/17 vs. Detroit)...was 3-for-4 with 1 R, a double, HR and a season-high 4 RBI in a 6-2 win on 9/17 vs. Detroit...made a season-high 11 consecutive starts behind the plate from 9/5-16/Gm1...had a season-high five-game hitting streak from 9/15-19, batting .368 (7-for-19) with 1 HR and 5 RBI...appeared in two games of the Division Series vs. Cleveland, going 0-for-2...hit .224 (17-for-76) with 2 HR and 13 RBI for Santurce of the Puerto Rican Winter League.

1996

Hit .071 (1-for-14) in eight games with the Yankees...had four stints in the Majors in '96 (4/3-5/11, 5/22-24, 6/29-7/6 and 9/2-end)...batted .271 with 11 HR and 62 RBI at Triple-A Columbus...caught a team-high 94 games...led the International League with 79 walks...was the International League's Player-of-the-Week from 5/6-12...was named to the International League All-Star Team for the second straight season.

1995

Spent the season at Triple-A Columbus, batting .255 with 8 HR and 51 RBI in 108 games...started 93 games behind the plate.

1994

Hit .240 with 11 HR and 48 RBI in 92 games at Triple-A Columbus...caught 79 games...hit .188 with 5 HR vs. LHP and .277 with 6 HR vs. RHP...tied for the International-League lead for errors by a catcher (11)...threw out 18 of 83 would-be base stealers (22%)...season was cut short due to an injury sustained on 7/25 vs. Norfolk...suffered a fractured left fibula and dislocated left ankle after a collision at home plate with Pat Howell...hit .429 in four games prior to the injury and had 16 hits in his last 50 at-bats (.320 BA)...was added to the Yankees' 40-man roster on 11/18.

1993

Combined to hit .260 in 118 games at Class-A Prince William and seven games at Double-A Albany...was named to the Carolina League All-Star Team after hitting .259 with 17 HR, 61 RBI and 17 stolen bases at Prince William...ranked second on the team in HR and RBI behind Tate Seefried (21 HR, 89 RBI)...hit a grand slam on 7/16 off Lynchburg's Joel Bennett...committed 15 errors in 107 games at catcher and one at third base...played for Ponce of the Puerto Rican Winter League, batting .234 with 6 HR and 25 RBI...was a non-roster invitee to 1994 spring training.

1992

Made a successful transition from second base to catcher and hit .277 with 12 HR and 58 RBI in 101 games at Class-A Greensboro...had a 15-game hitting streak from 4/25-5/25...played 41 games at catcher and five at third base.

1991

Batted .235 with 4 HR and 33 RBI in 71 games, playing his first professional season at Short-A Oneonta...led New York-Penn League second basemen in double plays turned (42).