Jorge Rafael De Posadawas born on August 17, 1971 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. From a very young age, Jorge Posada showed a tremendous aptitude for sports and particularly for baseball. He attended the Alejandrino High School in San Juan, where he participated in basketball, volleyball, track, and baseball. As a baseball player in high school, he was named an All-Star player in the 1988-1989 season.
He went on to attend Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Alabama, where he received an Associate Degree. At Calhoun College, Jorge continued to develop his skills and was voted best hitter in 1990. A year later, he was named co-captain of the team, in addition to being selected to the All-Conference team. Jorge was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1991, where he began his professional career with the Oneonta Yankees, making his major league debut on September 4, 1995. In the year 2000, he became the starting catcher for the Yankees, a position that he has held ever since.
In 1999, Jorge married Laura Posada, an attorney from Puerto Rico. The couple has two children, Jorge Luis (age 10) and Paulina (age 7). Just ten days after birth, Jorge Luis was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis, a congenital birth defect which is the premature closure of the bones in the skull. Jorge Luis has endured numerous surgeries to correct the condition. In the 2000, the Posada family created The Jorge Posada Foundation to promote education and awareness about Craniosynostosis and provide emotional assistance to families and children affected by this condition through its Mentorship Network and fundraising to medical centers.
Jorge has received a number of awards on and off the field. In 2000, he received the Thurman Munson Award for his baseball accomplishments and philanthropic work in New York. From 2000 to 2003 he was awarded the Silver Slugger Award. He received the 2001 Milton Richman "You Gotta' Have Heart" Award by the New York Chapter of the BBWAA. He was also named one of the Diamond Dad’s Founding Fathers in 2003 and was nominated for a Roberto Clemente Award in 2005 and in 2007. Jorge received the 2004 "Good Guy" Award by the New York Press Photographers. He alsoreceived the 2007 Bart Giamatti “Caring” Award from MLB’s Baseball Assistance Team. Jorge was also honored with the 2006 Mentor of the Year Award from Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. and Fashion Delivers. Jorge also received the 2006 Puerto Rican Family Foundation Excellence Award for his commitment to children, especially those affected by Craniosynostosis. Jorge was honored at the first annual Puerto Rican Yankees Festival in 2007 at the Puerto Rican Sports Museum in Guaynabo. Furthermore, Jorge received the Parent Magazine Award in 2007 and the Ted Williams Community Award from the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2010, Jorge was honored by the New York BBWAA as the "Willie, Mickey and the Duke" Award winner. In April 2010, Jorge was featured in Sports Illustrated as part of the “Core Four.”
Professionally, Jorge is currently enjoying the best years of his career. He is a five time World Champion – 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009, as well as a five time All-Star. In 2003, he tied Yogi Berra’s record for most home runs by a Yankee catcher (30), and ranked third in the American League Most Valuable Player selection. In 2004, Jorge was one of the team's leaders in home runs and RBIs, as well as being among the top of the list of the best American League baseball players. In 2005, he recorded his 1,000th career hit with a seventh-inning double in 8/20 win at Chicago. Jorge played in 100 games at catcher in a season in which he turned 38 years old, the most games ever for a Yankees catcher in a season at that age and the most by any catcher since Benito Santiago in 2003 with San Francisco. In 2009, Jorge hit the first homerun at the new Yankee Stadium and the first homerun of the 2010 season in all of Major League Baseball. At the start of the 2010 season, Jorge made his 11th straight Opening Day start at catcher, the most consecutive starts by a Yankee at catcher on Opening Day since Thurman Munson.
The Jorge Posada Foundation | 27 W. 20th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10011 | Tel 646-330-5336 Fax 646-688-5921
*Disclaimer: This web site should not be viewed as advice on the treatment and/or diagnosis of Craniosynostosis or any other medical condition.
Advice on the treatment or care of a child suffering from CS should be obtained only through consultation with a physician who has examined that child
or is familiar with that child's medical history.
