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Jorge Posada turns 56 today. If you want to know what he’s been up to lately, just check out some of the hilarious videos he and his wife Laura have been making. Like this one. Or this one.
As the Yankees struggle this season for offensive output at the catcher position, it’s another reminder of how prolific and durable Posada was in his career. And it’s quite possible his career will be viewed through a different lens soon.
Fourteen players whose career started in 1995 or later (Posada made his MLB debut in 1995) have been elected to the Hall of Fame, but only one -- Joe Mauer -- was a catcher.
Two other catchers in this category will presumably be elected to Cooperstown in the coming years. Buster Posey is eligible in 2027 and Yadier Molina the year after that. There is some sentiment that both could be first-ballot Hall of Famers.
Posada, who received less than five percent of the vote in his lone year on the ballot and thus was removed from future BBWAA ballots, must now wait for his turn with the Eras Committees. What could eventually help him there is that his statistics compare favorably with both Posey and Molina.
Posada has more career home runs and RBIs than both Posey and Molina. And he actually owns five World Series rings (including 1996, though he was not on the postseason roster). Only two catchers in Cooperstown have more championship jewelry: Yankees greats Yogi Berra (10) and Bill Dickey (eight).
Other stats in Posada’s favor: his career OPS+ (121) is higher than Hall of Fame catchers Gary Carter (115), Carlton Fisk (117) and Ted Simmons (118).
Posada’s durability behind the plate was remarkable, too. He caught 130 or more games eight times, which Molina equaled. Posey never reached that mark, topping 120 games caught only twice.
Perhaps Posada’s star didn’t shine as brightly as his teammates Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, but his contributions to the Yankees’ dynasty years were significant.
The next chance Posada could have for election under the current rotation will be on the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot in December 2028 for induction in 2029. If both Posey and Molina are inducted by then, it could prove to be a boost to Posada’s case with the committee.