Amelia Parreira
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Amelia Parreira is a journalism junior and Mustang News sports columnist. These views do not necessarily reflect the editorial coverage of Mustang News.
It’s the final moment of the World Series. The crowd grows completely silent, fingers crossed and eyes clenched shut. The Giants are just a strike away from the national title.
Finally, a fastball makes its way past the bat and into catcher Buster Posey’s glove, ending the series and sending the entire Giants fanbase into a joyful outburst. With this, Posey rushes over to the mound with a smile plastered across his face and embraces the pitcher with a big bear hug.
I have witnessed this three times in the past five years, and each time I realize it’s moments like these that simply make me love Posey.
And now here he is today as the new “Face of MLB,” announced last month after fan votes were tallied.
While there are many major league players who deserve the title, Posey deserves it the most.
ESPN reporters have even said that Posey is the new Derek Jeter. However, to me, he is better than that. While Jeter is known as an overconfident “ladies man,” Posey is a much more down-to-earth, happily married father of two, which shows his sense of responsibility and selflessness. I don’t know about you, but that earns him extra points in my book.
Posey is also someone not only fans look up to, but someone fellow players admire as well. A recent article on the Giants website tells about how 24-year-old catcher Andrew Susac looks up to Posey as a role model both on and off the field. Despite the minimal playing time he got in previous seasons, Susac loves being a part of the team for the mere fact of being alongside such a great mentor.
Of course, Posey has much more to show than just his personal aspects. He wouldn’t have made it this far in his baseball career if it weren’t for his incredible playing abilities.
Posey has not only found success as a Giant, though. After his last season playing ball for Florida State, he was named the 18th-best prospect for the major league, while he had also previously been named an AFLAC All-American. Along with that, he received multiple awards, including the 2008 Golden Spikes award.
This was only the beginning for Posey.
After signing with the San Francisco Giants in 2009, Posey was a fireball both at bat and behind the plate, earning the title of AFL Rising Star and then Rookie of the Year one year later.
Posey would then move on to play in two All-Star games, win an MVP award, receive the honor of a Hank Aaron award and so much more.
After a painful 2012 collision at home plate left Posey with torn ankle ligaments and a broken leg, many were left unsure that Posey’s successful career could continue with ease. However, with a lot of hard work, patience and perseverance, the young catcher pulled through and became better than ever. Later, he would be named the 2012 Comeback Player of the Year.
He achieved all of these amazing accomplishments before the age of 27 (and not to mention without the use of performance enhancing substances), which makes it all even more breathtaking.
I could go on for hours, but I think I’ve made my point.
Congrats, Posey!