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Jorge Posada had an outstanding 17-year big league career. A lifelong Yankee, he had success in both the regular- and post-season.

The Puerto Rican broke in with the Yankees in 1995. He, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Bernie Williams comprised the Yankees’ “Core Four“. Together they won five championships and made New York an almost-annual participant in baseball’s postseason. All four are immortalized at Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park.

They were each great in their own right.

When looking at those with at least 500 games caught, Posada ranks 1st in walks, 4th in OPS, and 5th in both on-base and slugging percentages. In each of his five All Star seasons he also won the Silver Slugger Award.

No catcher in big league history caught as many postseason games as Posada. The five-time World Series champ tallied 103 hits, 11 homers, and 42 RBI in October.

Rivera and Jeter are both in Cooperstown; four-time Gold Glove centerfielder and former batting champ Williams is not. Posada appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in January, 2017. He fell short of the minimum 5% and fell off the ballot.

Writers turned their back on Posada likely because of his 1,664 career hits. For more than half a century 2,000 hits has been the de facto floor for the election of position players. None who debuted after 1948 has received a plaque with less.

Though he may never receive baseball’s highest honor, Jorge Posada goes down as a Yankee legend with a World Series ring for every finger on his hand.

In the collection is this signed letter of authenticity verifying the status of a game-used bat in 2004.