Jorge Posada On Retiring As A New York Yankee: “i Knew In My Head It Was Just Time. It Was The Right Time.”

Jorge Posada announced his retirement this week on his own terms with the only team he’s ever known. After 17 seasons in pinstripes, Posada decided he would rather hang up his catcher’s gear than try to squeeze out another year of his career with another squad. An interesting note from his retirement press conference was the fact that No.20 made his decision to retire during this past season and the only people he told were his wife Laura and Derek Jeter.Posada was part of a “Core Four,” of New York Yankees that includes Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera that took home 5 World Series titles from while appearing in 7 World Series. He is one of only five catchers in baseball history to compile at least 350 doubles, 250 home runs, and 1000 RBIs. There is no denying that Posada is in the Hall of Fame discussion, but one thing is for certain: He will always be remembered as a Yankees catching legend who had a ton of heart.

Jorge Posada joined WFAN in New York with Mike Francesa to discuss his retirement press conference being emotional, how difficult his retirement decision was for him personally, his postseason performance changing his retirement decision, the ups and down of his final season with the Yankees, his future plans in retirement and staying in a Yankees uniform for his entire career.

That was very emotional and hard on you today. Wasn’t it?

“It was tough. It was really tough. A lot of coverage. A lot of media throughout the room. Overwhelming. I really..my emotions took over.”

How hard was this decision today? How hard was this?

“It was tough. I kept thinking about it. I kept thinking about it. I didn’t want to make the wrong decision, but I knew at the end of last year that it was tough for me to play one more year not because of anything, just because I knew in my head it was just time. It was the right time.”

You had so many good postseason at-bats. I was wondering if it might change your decision? I’m sure a couple of times it did. Right?

“Yeah it did. You kind of fight back and fourth about it, but every day you kept going by the momentum the more and more I knew I wanted to stay home with the kids and have a summer with them.”

You’ve been such a prideful and fired up player. How tough was last year? How tough was not playing and being benched during the Red Sox series early in the year? How hard was it?

“It’s tough. Any time you get to that point that you feel like it’s almost ending. It’s tough. It’s tough as a player, as anybody, as a human being. It’s tough to be put in a spot. You feel like you are not welcome or you are not part of the team. It was tough for me.”

What do you want to do now? Do you see yourself in baseball? What do you see in your future?

“I don’t know. I would like to stay around baseball. I don’t see myself in a uniform yet, but I want to stay around baseball and really be a part of a team and teach and really help out, but we’ll see. I am going to take it easy and see what comes my way first.”

Was it a big factor for you to stay in one uniform?

“Yeah, it was good. It was knowing that I was only with one team and the best team ever. I’m happy. I’m content. It helped with my retirement.”