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Posey caught [[Matt Cain]]'s [[perfect game]] on June 13, 2012, the 22nd in Major League history. He stated afterwards that the game had him feeling "as nervous as I've ever been on a baseball field."<ref>[http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120614&content_id=33280936&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf]</ref> Posey played in the [[2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]], his first, on July 10, going 0-2 with a walk and a run at [[Kauffman Stadium]]. On September 21, Posey received the 2012 [[Willie Mac Award]] from the Giants organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_21603046/buster-posey-is-giants-willie-mac-award-winner|title=Buster Posey is Giants' Willie Mac Award winner|publisher=MercuryNews.com|date=September 21, 2012|accessdate=September 21, 2012}}</ref>
Posey caught [[Matt Cain]]'s [[perfect game]] on June 13, 2012, the 22nd in Major League history. He stated afterwards that the game had him feeling "as nervous as I've ever been on a baseball field."<ref>[http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120614&content_id=33280936&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf]</ref> Posey played in the [[2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]], his first, on July 10, going 0-2 with a walk and a run at [[Kauffman Stadium]]. On September 21, Posey received the 2012 [[Willie Mac Award]] from the Giants organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_21603046/buster-posey-is-giants-willie-mac-award-winner|title=Buster Posey is Giants' Willie Mac Award winner|publisher=MercuryNews.com|date=September 21, 2012|accessdate=September 21, 2012}}</ref>


Posey led both leagues in batting in 2012 with an average of .336, and won the [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|National League batting title]], becoming the first catcher to lead the league in hitting since [[Ernie Lombardi]] of the [[Atlanta Braves|Boston Braves]] in 1942, and only the fourth major league catcher to do so in the modern era. He also became only the second San Francisco Giant to win the batting championship, following [[Barry Bonds]] in 2002 and 2004.<ref name="haft1003">{{cite web |last=Haft |first=Chris |url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121004&content_id=39470466&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf |title=Batting title highlights Posey's amazing comeback |publisher=Major League Baseball |work=[[MLB.com|Giants.MLB.com]] |date=October 3, 2012 |accessdate=october 4, 2012}}</ref> Posey's .433 batting average against left-handed pitching (71 for 164) led all batters in the major leagues in 2012.<ref>[http://giants.mlb.com/documents/5/3/0/39537530/2012_Postseason_Notes_f1woc8s6.pdf 2012 Postseason Notes - SF Game Information]. sfgiants.com Retrieved October 6, 2012.</ref>
Posey led both leagues in batting in 2012 with an average of .336, and won the [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions|National League batting title]], becoming the first catcher to lead the league in hitting since [[Ernie Lombardi]] of the [[Atlanta Braves|Boston Braves]] in 1942, and only the fourth major league catcher to do so in the modern era. He also became only the second San Francisco Giant to win the batting championship, following [[Barry Bonds]] in 2002 and 2004.<ref name="haft1003">{{cite web |last=Haft |first=Chris |url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121004&content_id=39470466&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf |title=Batting title highlights Posey's amazing comeback |publisher=Major League Baseball |work=[[MLB.com|Giants.MLB.com]] |date=October 3, 2012 |accessdate=october 4, 2012}}</ref> Posey's .433 batting average against left-handed pitching (71 for 164) led all batters in the major leagues in 2012.<ref>[http://giants.mlb.com/documents/5/3/0/39537530/2012_Postseason_Notes_f1woc8s6.pdf 2012 Postseason Notes - SF Game Information]. sfgiants.com Retrieved October 6, 2012.</ref> In the decisive game 5 of the NLDS against the Reds, he hit a grand slam to put up the Giants 6-0 in the 5th inning.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

Revision as of 18:36, 11 October 2012

Buster Posey
Posey in July 2010
San Francisco Giants – No. 28
Catcher/First Baseman
Born: (1987-03-27) March 27, 1987 (age 37)
Leesburg, Georgia
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
debut
September 11, 2009, for the San Francisco Giants
Career statistics
(through 2012 season)
Batting average.314
Hits350
Home runs46
Runs batted in191
On base percentage.380
Slugging percentage.503
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Posey playing catcher with the Giants in September 2010

Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III[1] (born March 27, 1987) is an American professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Giants with the fifth overall pick in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. Posey made his major league debut on September 11, 2009; he was named the Giants' regular catcher on June 30, 2010.

As a rookie, he hit .305, slugged 18 home runs and had 67 runs-batted-in.[2] He was a key to the Giants winning the 2010 World Series. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year.

Posey finished the 2012 season with a .336 batting average to win the 2012 NL Batting Champion. He became the seventh Giants player to win a batting title, the second San Francisco Giant, and the first since Barry Bonds won the batting championship in 2004. [3][4]

Early years

Posey, the eldest of four children, was born to Gerald "Demp" Dempsey Posey II and Traci Posey on March 27, 1987, in Leesburg, Georgia.[5] His nickname, "Buster," came from his father's childhood nickname. He played football, soccer, and basketball along with baseball growing up, but baseball was his main sport.[6] As a junior at Lee County High School, Posey (playing shortstop and pitching) had 9 doubles, 3 triples, and 7 home runs while setting school records for batting average (.544) and runs batted in (RBI) (46). Meanwhile, he had a 10–1 record and a 1.53 earned run average (ERA). He batted .462 with 40 RBI as a senior while setting a school record with 14 home runs. Meanwhile, he had a 12–0 record (in 13 starts) with a 1.06 ERA and 108 strikeouts. That year, he was named the Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, the Louisville Slugger State Player of the Year, an EA Sports All-American, and a Baseball America All-American. Posey had a 3.94 GPA in high school while graduating fourth in his class (out of 302 students), and although he was drafted in the 50th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, he chose to enroll in college instead of signing.[5]

College career

Posey played college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles under coach Mike Martin. He began his freshman year at FSU playing shortstop, starting all 65 games for the Seminoles, and was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. He finished his freshman season with a .346 batting average, four home runs and 48 RBI.[5] As a sophomore, he moved from shortstop to catcher on the suggestion of assistant coach Mike Martin, Jr.[7] He batted .382 with three home runs and 65 RBI. After just one season of playing the position, Posey finished second to Ed Easley in Johnny Bench Award voting.[8][9]

In 2008, as a junior, he hit .463 with 26 home runs and 93 RBI, won the Johnny Bench Award, and garnered the Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year award.[9][10] On May 12, he played all nine fielding positions in a game against Savannah State University, including pitcher where he struck out both batters he faced; he also hit a grand slam in the 10–0 victory.[11][12] Posey was awarded the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award at the end of the year.[13][14]

During the college offseason, Posey started at shortstop for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in 2006 when they won the Cape Cod Baseball League championship. He started at catcher in 2007 when they won another championship.[15]

Professional career

Draft and minor leagues

Posey was considered by Baseball America to be the best catcher available in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.[16] He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants with the fifth overall pick.[17] On August 16, the Giants signed Posey shortly before the signing deadline for draftees, giving him a $6.2 million bonus, the largest up-front bonus in Giants' history.[18] He was invited to the Giants Spring Training in 2009. Following 2009 Spring Training, Posey was assigned to the San Francisco Giants Class A Affiliate San Jose Giants.

On July 13, 2009, he was promoted to the Giants' Triple A team, the Fresno Grizzlies. With an injury to Giants starting catcher Bengie Molina, Posey was called up to the majors for the first time on September 2, 2009.[19] He made his major league debut on September 11, 2009 as a pinch hitter, striking out. Posey got his first Major League hit on September 19 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After again appearing in the Giants' spring training camp, Posey began the 2010 season at Fresno, batting .349 in 47 games.

2010 (Rookie Season)

Posey in April 2011

Posey was called up to the major leagues on May 29, 2010, and started at first base against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Posey drove in the first runs of his major league career, going three for four with three RBI.[20] He appeared primarily at first base through the end of June. Posey hit his first career home run against Aaron Harang of the Cincinnati Reds on June 9, 2010.[21] Following Molina's trade to the Texas Rangers on June 30, 2010, Posey became the starting catcher for the Giants.[22][23]

Posey hit his first career grand slam against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 7, 2010, en route to a two-home run, four-hit, six-RBI night. That came during a July hitting streak—all of which was played on the road—in which Posey batted .514, had 19 hits, 6 home runs, and 13 RBIs to set a record for rookies during any 10-day stretch in the history of the National League, per the Elias Sports Bureau.[24] This performance also earned Posey the National League (NL) Player of the Week honors for the week of July 5–11, 2010.[25] Posey also had a 21-game hitting streak that ended July 29 when Anibal Sanchez of the Florida Marlins threw a one-hitter against the Giants. During the streak, which fell one game short of tying the San Francisco Giants' rookie mark set by Willie McCovey and five short of the team record, Posey batted .440 with 37 hits, six home runs, and 23 RBIs.[26][27] Posey was awarded both the NL Player of the Month and NL Rookie of the Month awards for his excellent July.[28] On July 10, on the road against the Washington Nationals, Posey was inserted into the Giants' batting order as the clean-up hitter, which became his regular position in the lineup.

On September 21, 2010, Posey hit an 8th-inning home run against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field to win the game, 1-0, the only time in major-league history the feat has been accomplished by a rookie on a first-place team in a September pennant race.[29] He hit another 8th-inning home run, his 18th, in the final game of the year to help secure the NL West Division championship, 3-0.[30]

Posey was named by his peers as the NL Players Choice Awards Outstanding Rookie. He was also named the catcher on Baseball America's All-Rookie Team.[31]

Posey helped lead the Giants to the 2010 World Series to face the Texas Rangers, hitting .282 with three runs batted in during the first two rounds of the playoffs. In Game 4, Posey hit his first postseason home run to center field off of Darren O'Day. The Giants would go on to win the series, 4-1. He became the fifth rookie catcher to win a World Series. During the series he hit .300 with a home run and two runs batted in.

On November 15, 2010, Posey was named National League Rookie of the Year, taking 20 first place votes to second place finisher Jason Heyward's nine.[32] Posey joins Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Gary Matthews and John Montefusco as the 6th Giant to win the Rookie of the Year award. He became the sixth catcher in National League history to win the award.[33] He was also named the catcher on the 2010 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.[34]

2011

On May 25, 2011, during a game against the Florida Marlins, Posey was injured during a collision with Scott Cousins at home plate as Cousins scored the winning run in the 12th inning of a 7–6 Giants' loss. Posey suffered a fractured fibula and torn ligaments in his ankle, requiring season-ending surgery to repair.[35][36] Cousins, who was not disciplined, said he hit Posey in order to score. "If you hit them, you punish them and you punish yourself, but you have a chance of that ball coming out."[37] He expressed regret over injuring Posey, saying "I certainly didn’t want him to get hurt."[38] Cousins received threats from fans, but Posey denounced them: "I appreciate the continued support of Giants fans and others as I begin the process of working my way back ... But in no way do I condone threats of any kind against Scott Cousins or his family. As I said last week, I'm not out to vilify Scott."[39]

2012

Posey caught Matt Cain's perfect game on June 13, 2012, the 22nd in Major League history. He stated afterwards that the game had him feeling "as nervous as I've ever been on a baseball field."[40] Posey played in the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, his first, on July 10, going 0-2 with a walk and a run at Kauffman Stadium. On September 21, Posey received the 2012 Willie Mac Award from the Giants organization.[41]

Posey led both leagues in batting in 2012 with an average of .336, and won the National League batting title, becoming the first catcher to lead the league in hitting since Ernie Lombardi of the Boston Braves in 1942, and only the fourth major league catcher to do so in the modern era. He also became only the second San Francisco Giant to win the batting championship, following Barry Bonds in 2002 and 2004.[4] Posey's .433 batting average against left-handed pitching (71 for 164) led all batters in the major leagues in 2012.[42] In the decisive game 5 of the NLDS against the Reds, he hit a grand slam to put up the Giants 6-0 in the 5th inning.

Personal life

Posey's younger sister, Samantha, plays softball for Valdosta State University. On April 18, 2011, she hit a home run cycle in a doubleheader.[43]

Posey married his high school sweetheart, Kristen, in January 2009.

On Sunday, August 14, 2011, Buster and Kristen became the parents of twins (a boy and a girl); Lee Dempsey Posey and Addison Lynn Posey.[44]

Further reading

  • Baggarly, Andrew. A Band of Misfits: Tales of the 2010 San Francisco Giants. Chicago: Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-60078-598-6.

References

  1. ^ Baggarly, p. 10
  2. ^ Buster Posey Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com
  3. ^ "San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey wins N.L. batting title". Mercury News. October 3, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Haft, Chris (October 3, 2012). "Batting title highlights Posey's amazing comeback". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved october 4, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ a b c "Player Bio: Buster Posey". FSU Seminoles. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  6. ^ Baggarly, p. 20
  7. ^ Scott Ostler (January 7, 2011). "Coach's bright idea helped turn Posey into star". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  8. ^ "Mississippi State's Easley wins Johnny Bench Award". USA Today. June 28, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Buster Posey Recipient Of Johnny Bench Award". FSU Seminoles. June 27, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  10. ^ "Buster Posey Named Collegiate Baseball Player Of The Year". Seminoles.cstv.com. May 29, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  11. ^ Carter, Andrew (13 May 2008). "Florida State's Buster Posey plays all 9 positions in single game". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  12. ^ Brinson, Will (13 May 2008). "Buster Posey Played All Nine Fielding Positions…In One Game". AOL News. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  13. ^ "Seminoles' Posey Wins Dick Howser Award As Top Collegiate Baseball Player". FSU Seminoles. June 14, 2008. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  14. ^ "FSU catcher Posey takes home Golden Spikes Award". USA Today. July 17, 2008. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  15. ^ Sherlock, Don (22 February 2011). "PLAY BALL!". Wicked Local. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  16. ^ "First Round Recap". Baseball America. June 5, 2008. Retrieved Sep. 24, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  17. ^ "Giants take catcher with top pick". Insidebayarea.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  18. ^ Haft, Chris (August 16, 2008). "Giants lock up top Draft pick Posey". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  19. ^ By Chris Haft / MLB.com. "Giants bring up top prospect Posey". Sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  20. ^ By Chris Haft / MLB.com (May 30, 2010). "Giants' Posey drives in three in '10 debut". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  21. ^ Schulman, Henry (June 10, 2010). "Posey hits first homer in Giants' loss". The San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  22. ^ "Press Release: Giants acquire RHP Chris Ray and RHP Michael Main for catcher Bengie Molina". Sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  23. ^ By Chris Haft / MLB.com. "Posey gets call to catch Sanchez". Sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  24. ^ "Posey's sizzling bat sets NL rookie mark". San Francisco Giants.com. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  25. ^ Haft, Chris (July 13, 2010). "Posey wins NL Player of the Week". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  26. ^ Kruth, Cash. "Posey's hitting streak ends in quiet loss". SFGiants.com. Retrieved Jul 30, 2010.
  27. ^ Shea, John. "Streak ends". SFChronicle.com. Retrieved Jul 30, 2010.
  28. ^ Singer, Tom (August 4, 2010). "Posey, Davis named Rookies of the Month". Giants.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  29. ^ Kurkjian, Tim. "Phils emerging as NL favorite". espn.com. Retrieved 2010-09-24.
  30. ^ One and done: Giants win West on final day
  31. ^ Eddy, Matt (October 19, 2010). "Future Big League Stars Highlight All-Rookie Team". Baseball America. Retrieved 2010-10-21.
  32. ^ "2010 Rookies of the Year". Baseball Writers Association of America. November 15, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  33. ^ Haft, Chris (November 15, 2010). "Posey catches NL Rookie of the Year honors". MLB.com. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  34. ^ "Valencia awarded with rookie honor". Mlb.com. November 29, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  35. ^ Haft, Chris (26 May, 2011). "Surgery likely for Posey's torn ankle ligaments". Giants.MLB.com. Retrieved 29 September, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  36. ^ "Buster Posey out for year after surgery". ESPN.com. May 30, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  37. ^ Navarro, Manny. "A day later, emotional Scott Cousins is still upset over hurting Buster Posey". The Miami Herald. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  38. ^ Calcaterra, Craig (May 26, 2011). "Scott Cousins feels bad about Buster Posey's injury". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  39. ^ The Associated Press (June 4, 2011). "Buster Posey speaks out against threats". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  40. ^ [1]
  41. ^ "Buster Posey is Giants' Willie Mac Award winner". MercuryNews.com. September 21, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  42. ^ 2012 Postseason Notes - SF Game Information. sfgiants.com Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  43. ^ Mandell, Nina (2011-04-21). "Giants' catcher Buster Posey's sister, Samantha Posey, hits home run cycle in doubleheader". The New York Daily News. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  44. ^ "Buster Posey, wife Kristin celebrate birth of twins". Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. August 15, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
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