Hip Hip, Jorge!

New York Yankees "Core Four" member Jorge Posada is planning to announce his retirement, ending what should be at least a Hall of Fame considerable career.

Jorge is retiring, but it looks like he will
enjoy the extra time off.  Wink wink!

Every once in a while Ben's actual baseball bias comes out but I will make this brief, Jorge Posada was one of my favorite players ever, as evidenced by the fact his jersey is the only Yankees jersey I even own.  I don't care about his poor throwing arm or any problems that AJ Burnett might have had with Jorge Posada as his catcher, for almost decade and a half Jorge Posada was a rock in the Yankees dynasty and undeniably the best hitting catcher in baseball.

Since Jorge Posada became the Yankees every day catcher in 1998, only Ivan Rodriguez has more fWAR (48.7 to 47.2) and only Joe Mauer and Mike Piazza have higher wRC+. While Jorge may not "seem" like one of the best catchers of all time, there is no doubt that is exactly what he has been.  Just because he didn't hit .300 or consistently smack 30 home runs a year, doesn't take away from the fact that Jorge was an offensive beast at the weakest position on the diamond.  

We now have plenty of time to debate Jorge's Hall of Fame case so I won't go there...yet, instead I'll just sit back and recall Jorge's finest moments in pinstripes. Whether it's his double off of Pedro Martinez in the 2003 ALCS (the Grady Little incident) or his solo shot (the only run scored all game) off of Barry Zito in the 2001 ALDS (the Jeter "flip" game), Jorge Posada has had a memorable career and he will surely be missed in pinstripes.