San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Posey legend continues to grow
Decision to opt out should burnish his reputation
What a wonderful week for Buster Posey. The man has won an MVP award and three World Series championships, but nothing compares with adding a couple of newborns to the family.
It’s the second time around for Posey and his wife, Kristen, who gave birth to twins nine years ago next month. Friday, Posey announced the couple adopted identical twin girls who were born prematurely a week earlier, a beautiful and heartwarming story.
Congratulations. Good for him and the family.
Oh, and in the same breath,
Posey said he’s opting out of the 2020 baseball season.
Congratulations. Good for him and the family.
The world needs more clear and bright thinkers, and Posey always seems to be the voice of reason, the guy in the room everyone looks to for direction, the person who sets the tone,
Giants:
Intensity ramped up in first intrasquad game of summer camp.
B4
leads by example and, when necessary, provides a welltimed and wellreceived statement.
That’s why Posey is so well respected as a baseball player. It’s not just the ability that made him the glue to World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014, but the character that earns him respect among teammates, opponents and fans.
Nothing about Friday’s news
changes that. In fact, it enhances it.
It’s another accolade on Posey’s extensive and decorated resume, another example of doing the right thing especially in the face of dangerously uncertain times, another reason he ought to be admired, not chastised. Years from now, when historians examine the Buster Posey career and legacy, the decision to opt out and protect his two babies during the coronavirus pandemic should do nothing but heighten his legend.
Especially because it happened in 2020. The year everyone wanted to go away. The year too many people weren’t careful and allowed COVID19 to spread. The year we all were supposed to work extra hard to follow protocols and protect families, loved ones, fellow employees and perfect strangers.
Posey is turning down a lot of money and the opportunity to play the game he loves to step away and care for his growing family, and that’s perfectly fine. Even if it hurts the team he’s leaving, no one who opts out in 2020 should be ridiculed because personal issues supersede the need to play ball in a pandemic. There was a time no ballplayer was permitted to leave his team even to witness the birth of his child. Baseball came first, and that’s how it was. Over time, fortunately, it was permitted and accepted. It got to the point that managers were able to depart for their kids’ graduation, something that would have been laughable decades ago.
Now, more than ever, a familyfirst mentality is essential, and that’s reason enough Posey’s decision to step away is honorable, a defining moment in his career and life. No one knows how Posey’s Hall of Fame candidacy will play out, especially because his production slipped the past couple of years in large part to a hip ailment that required surgery, but by missing these 60 games — if they’re even played — he shouldn’t be docked. He should be applauded.
Posey doesn’t have the career numbers that would make a Cooperstown induction a cinch, but as the common denominator to three titles in five years and man who guided many marquee pitchers during a historic stretch, he’ll have a strong case.
The record to date is sparkling.
In 2010, Posey was NL Rookie of the Year and a differencemaking catcher on San Francisco’s first championship team. He got knocked over at the plate by Scott Cousins in May 2011 and spent the rest of the season rehabbing from extensive surgery, returning in 2012 to catch Matt Cain’s perfect game, win an MVP and batting title and help the
Giants win another World Series. Two years later, he called the signs for Madison Bumgarner, who pitched the Giants to a third crown.
Through it all, Posey was named to six AllStar teams, caught three nohitters and remained an important advocate, along with his wife, in the fight against pediatric cancer through his Posey Family Foundation, which raises awareness and funds that provide for research and treatment.
And now this. After the story of his adoption became known, it wasn’t surprising that Posey opted out. Not with his genuine affection for children, especially those in need, now including two of his own.
He joined Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, David Price and several others in opting out, each with his own legitimate story, none of which should be secondguessed. Especially in these times. Posey said it was 100% his call, and that’s all we need to know.
Congratulations. Good for Posey and his family.
John Shea covers the Giants for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey