The Bronx Bomber: Catcher of The 2000s Decade

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Catcher of The 2000s Decade

Artist: GL

As Jorge Posada throws out the ceremonial first pitch in tomorrow's home opener, one could only wonder the wave of emotions that will soar through his pinstripe soul. I'm confident the house the "Boss" built, the fans and his brethren alike, will set the stage for an unforgettable moment. Posada has certainly earned the accolades, as he has been a great Yankee.

Having caught 1,518 games in his 17-year career, Jorge has amassed a wealth of experience and a comprehensive understanding of the game's strategies; knowledge that will serve him well if he decides to embark on a career in coaching that will eventually lead to managing at the Major League level. Currently, about 36% of Major League Baseball managers are former catchers.

Posada has been the most productive catcher of the 2000s decade:

Most Home Runs: 208

Most RBIs: 819

Most Wins Shares: 214

Most Runs Created: 827

Most Doubles: 288

Most Base Stealers Caught: 302

Five All Star Selections (2000-03, 07)

Five Silver Slugger Awards (2000-03, 07)

Games Caught In The Decade: 1,217

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Geo Ginrosge
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Email: Ginrosge@yahoo.com

The Babe: Apex Hitter
"A true home run hitter in an era of wits, bunt single, base on balls."
"The Babe was a performer who love every moment of his performances."
"Babe Ruth altered the sport of baseball - forever."
"He was the first sports figure in history to be packaged like a product."
"He'd exploded onto the landscape with his restless, roving energy."
'A long ball magician whose tape-measure home runs soon became a kind of national hunger, an addiction that latched onto baseball and never let go."
"Ruth remains a commanding influence on American culture decades after his death, a name synonymous with awe-inspiring home runs and larger-than-life appetites."

The lefty's winning percentage (236-106) is best among 20th century pitchers with 200 or more decisions. He holds many World Series pitching records, including 10 wins and 94 strikeouts. He had a 33-inning scoreless streak spanning his four starts in the 1960 and 1961 series and his first inning in '62.
'I din't cheat when I won the twenty-five games in 1961. I don't want anybody to get any ideas and take my Cy Young award away."
"You would be amazed how many important outs you can get by working the count down to where the hitter is sure you're going to throw to his weakness, and then throw to his power instead."

Greatest Living Yankee
In the vernacular of the sport, Yogi is an American Icon.
He is revered universally. At 5'7" and 185 pounds, Yogi had immense power and endurance contained within a deceptively miniature frame.
During his prime from 1950 to '56, Berra "played catcher at a sustained level of greatness perhaps unsurpassed in baseball history."
On his super endurance: "Yogi Berra started at catcher in both games of a doubleheader 117 times. Seven times during that stretch he started both games of a doubleheader on back-to-back days."
"I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, If I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?"

"To play eighteen years in Yankee Stadium is the best thing that could ever happen to a ballplayer."
The Mick was the most powerful switch hitter in baseball.
Prior to the Mick, switch hitters made little contributions in the home run, slugging, and RBI departments.
The Mighty '56 Triple Crown Year: .353BA 52HRs and 103RBIs. Mantle's .705 SLG and 376 TBs were tops. In the Clutch: .444/.582/.861 with RISP, .392/.508./.764 with Men On, and .373/.481/.791 Late & close.
Mantle's prolific long balls were the genesis of the term "Tape Measure Shot."