Fansided

MLB Draft: Top 10 steals of all time

By David Salituro

ANAHEIM, CA - May 25: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels bats during the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on May 25, 2019 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - May 25: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels bats during the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on May 25, 2019 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 10
Next
New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada discusses a pitch selection with Andy Pettitte during the third inning in Game 3 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium in New York, Monday, October 18, 2010. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT via Getty Images)
New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada discusses a pitch selection with Andy Pettitte during the third inning in Game 3 of the ALCS at Yankee Stadium in New York, Monday, October 18, 2010. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT via Getty Images) /

9. Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada

This is technically two players, but Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte became so intertwined in their careers they belong together on this list. It started with the 1990 MLB Draft. The New York Yankees selected Pettitte in the 22nd round with the 594th overall pick. Two rounds later they drafted Posada with the 646th overall selection.

Both Pettitte and Posada debuted for the Yankees in 1995. In 1996, just his second year in the big leagues, Pettitte led the American League with 21 wins and finished second in Cy Young voting. He pitched for the Yankees from 1995 to 2003 before spending three years in Houston, returning to New York in 2007 before retiring in 2013. He finished his career with 256 wins and more than 100 games above .500.

Posada, meanwhile, became the Yankees regular starting catcher in 1998. He spent his entire 17-year career in New York, making five All-Star Game appearances and hitting more than 20 home runs eight times. He retired in 2011 with 275 career home runs and a .273 average.

Regular season accolades aside, it was in the postseason where they proved most valuable. Pettitte and Posada, along with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, formed the cornerstone of a Yankees franchise that won four of five World Series titles between 1996 and 2000 and a fifth in 2009. Pettitte started 44 postseason games and won 19, both marks the most all-time, with a 3.81 ERA. In eight World Series appearances, seven with the Yankees and another with the Astros, he made 13 starts, second all-time, and won five.

Posada’s 416 career at-bats in the postseason rank third all-time behind teammates Jeter and Bernie Williams. He’s fourth all-time with 103 hits. He hit .248 in the playoffs with 11 home runs and 42 RBI.

The Yankees retired both of their numbers in 2015 and honored them with a plaque in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium.

Home/MLB