Jorge Posada belongs among the greatest catchers in Yankee history, having anchored four World Series champion teams between 1998 and 2009. His 17-year major-league career, spent entirely with the Yankees, provides him with a fascinating perspective on playing with some of the biggest superstars of his era in the intense spotlight of New York. His memoir also reveals a lot about the work ethic instilled by a hard-driving dad, who escaped from Cuba to Puerto Rico and was determined to see his son become a major-league ball player.
Here’s an excerpt from The Journey Home:
“Of all the pitchers I ever handled, Roger [Clemens] was my favorite to catch. He had his own way of going about doing things, including the signs he used: the fingers you put down didn’t just say which pitch but also which side of the plate it would go to, and his ‘Hook ‘em Horns’ sign was for his amazing hard overhand curve. He always wanted us to put down three signs, even when no one was on base, and often he would change up what sign was live throughout the game, using his own system to signal which of the three was good. The system kept me on my toes, and I loved the challenge of that. If I didn’t get a sign right, I could get hurt. Roger’s pitches, particularly his fastball, had more movement to them than a lot of people gave him credit for, and a busted thumb was a possibility if I crossed myself up.”
