Is Buster Posey Bound for Cooperstown?

Reports broke this afternoon that longtime San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey will announce his retirement tomorrow after 12 MLB seasons. 

During those 12 seasons, Posey, 34, won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2010, the NL MVP in 2012, won a batting title that same year, got a Gold Glove, earned three World Series rings, was named to 7 NL All-Star teams, received four Silver Sluggers and may very well earn a fifth after his stellar performance in 2021. 

The Georgia native opted to sit out during the COVID shortened season after adopting twin girls with his wife Kristen. After not playing since 2019, Posey didn't miss a beat hitting .304 with 18 HR and 56 RBI in 113 games as the Giants won a franchise record 107 games. Overall, Posey collected exactly 1500 hits for a lifetime batting average of .302 with 158 HR and 729 RBIs in 1371 games played.

Normally those stats wouldn't be enough to get one into Cooperstown, but Posey put up these numbers as a catcher and did so with a single team with three World Series rings to show for it. Those numbers might have been better if not for a gruesome broken leg he sustained in a home plate collision in 2011 which eventually compelled MLB to change its rules about baserunners knocking over catchers. 

Posey would be eligible to get into Cooperstown on the 2027 ballot. He might not be a first ballot Hall of Famer but I could see him sharing the stage with St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina in the Class of 2028 as he will retire at the end of next season. Posey might share the spotlight with Yadi but tomorrow will be his own special day.