Posey & Munson HOF

BY KEVIN KERNAN

Here at BallNine we look back and forward at the game, that is how it should be done in the baseball world.

January is the month for Hall of Fame announcements — and Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were elected by the Baseball Writers Association of America, the Cooperstown class of 2026.

Let’s look ahead, though, to the Class of 2027. There will be a lockout and the Hall of Fame may be the only game in town. Buster Posey is the big new name on the ballot and likely will be elected by the writers; if that is indeed the case the Classic Baseball Era Committee had better wake up because there will no longer be any excuses not to elect Thurman Munson when he is eligible again to be on their ballot in late December of 2027.

Munson died on August 2, 1979 at the age of 32, in the crash of a plane that he was piloting. That day remains one of the saddest days in Yankees history. Munson’s career was cut short, ending in his 11th season after 1,423 games. Thurman was beloved.

Critics maintain that Munson’s career is too short to merit the Hall of Fame. I have always felt that Munson is a Hall of Famer and that he checks all the boxes, including character and leadership. He had a 10-year span that was off the charts – more on that later when I bring in two baseball historians – but first, let’s get back to Posey.

His achievements mirror Munson’s achievements across the board and there are some categories where Munson has better numbers than Posey.

How in the world can Posey be considered a sure-fire Hall of Fame candidate and Munson not be considered the same?

It makes no sense.

Let’s compare the two. First off, as we all know, they are both All-Star catchers whose arrival signaled a World Series turnaround for their respective teams.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Yankees becoming the Yankees again by winning the American League pennant in 1976, something they had not done since 1964. Then in 1977 and ’78, with George Steinbrenner spending the money to bring in Reggie Jackson, the Yankees and Thurman Munson won back-to-back World Series.

In many ways, Munson was indeed the straw that stirred the drink.

Posey was the catching catalyst that helped the San Francisco Giants win three World Series in 2010, ’12 and 2014.

For both Munson and Posey, bringing their teams back to World Series glory is a huge accomplishment. The Yankees had not won a World Series since 1962. The Giants had not won a World Series since 1954 when they were still the New York Giants.

And in 1976, Munson was at his best in October. He batted .435 in the ALCS against the Royals, and .529 against the Big Red Machine in the World Series.

Both men were stars and true leaders and strong defensive catchers, I can still see in my mind’s eye Munson’s lightning-quick release to nail runners at second base.

As for lifetime numbers, consider this: Posey finished with exactly 1,500 hits over his 12-year career. Munson had more hits, 1,558 over his 11 seasons. Munson produced 701 RBIs, Posey had 729.

Both right-handed hitters, Posey hit .302 lifetime, Munson hit .292. Posey had 293 doubles; Munson produced 229 two-baggers. Posey hit 158 home runs to Munson’s 113, but don’t forget that Munson hit at Yankee Stadium when it truly was Death Valley in left to center. Munson had 32 triples to Posey’s nine.

As for strikeouts, Munson struck out 571 times over 5,905 plate appearances while Posey K’d 721 times over 5,607 plate appearances.

In the postseason, Munson batted an amazing .357 over 30 games, Posey hit .252 over 58 games.

Both men were stars and true leaders and strong defensive catchers, I can still see in my mind’s eye Munson’s lightning-quick release to nail runners at second base.

If Posey is a Hall of Famer, and I think he is — and I was fortunate enough to cover many of his games, especially in the postseason — Munson is a Hall of Famer, too. Early in my writing career I was around for Munson’s games. I followed his career from the moment he was drafted in the first round of the 1968 draft, fourth overall. Posey was the fifth overall pick of the 2008 draft. Again, both men were true leaders that guided their teams to World Series success and that cannot be overstated, especially in the grueling position of catcher.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Munson winning the AL MVP award. In 2012 Posey won the NL MVP and the NL batting title, hitting .336. Munson was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1970; Posey was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2010. Posey won one Gold Glove; Munson won three Gold Gloves.

Again, the careers of these two catchers mirror one another. They’re cut from the same baseball cloth and that is a testament to both men.

Posey is on the ballot for the first time next year and if he doesn’t make it then he will most certainly make it the next year. Munson should be on the Classic Era Committee Ballot in December of 2027 for the Class of 2028. Those who vote on that committee need to understand that Munson is a Hall of Fame player whose career was tragically cut short. To look at Munson’s success all they have to do is to look at Posey’s success. It is a no-brainer.

This could not be any easier for that future committee. And the timing is perfect, the summer of 2028 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Yankees 1978 World Championship.

I would love to see Reggie Jackson placed on that 16-person Classic Era committee and promote Munson, who will need 12 votes.

That would be something special and a full circle moment for Reggie.

This year’s veteran’s committee, the Contemporary Era committee, voted in Jeff Kent who will join Beltran and Jones this July in Cooperstown.

Baseball historians Rene LeRoux and Lawrence Schnapf have long endorsed Munson as a Hall of Famer and have extensive numbers to back up their arguments. LeRoux noted Thurman’s numbers compare to Posey’s numbers and pointed out that Munson has “the hardware, too’’ to enter Cooperstown.

“Thurman has two World Championships, an MVP, Rookie of the Year, and three Gold Glove awards,’’ LeRoux, the founder and executive director of the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame, told BallNine. “Andruw Jones just got in because he has 10 Gold Gloves. Hardware matters. I believe that Munson had a lot of intangibles that were positive too.’’

Munson was inducted into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame back in 2019. That Hall was established in 2010.

Munson and Aaron Judge are the only Yankees to win the Rookie of the Year award and an MVP. Seven years ago, I wrote a long piece on Munson and at the time Schnapf pointed out: “Thurman was one of the best clutch hitters of all time … He has two world championships, so he has the hardware. When you look at Munson’s WAR compared to other Hall of Fame catchers, he is right there. In 1998, he was voted by the Sporting News as the American League catcher of the decade in the 1970s.’’

Back then Schnapf also pointed out these facts about Munson:

Munson is one of three catchers in history with three consecutive seasons with a .300-plus batting average and 100-plus RBIs in 1975-77. The other two are in the Hall: Bill Dickey and Mike Piazza.

Nine consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus innings caught and 100-plus complete games caught — not one Hall of Fame Catcher can match.

First all-time (all players) in postseason batting average .357 (minimum 129 at-bats).

Only catcher with a .300-plus batting average, 20-plus RBIs and 20-plus runners caught stealing in the postseason.

From 1970-1979, Munson had more innings caught, games started at catcher, complete games caught, assists, runners caught stealing, at-bats, hits and a higher batting average than both Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk, two Hall of Famers.

Here we are now in 2026, the 50th anniversary of Munson leading the Yankees back to the World Series and with Posey on the HOF ballot next year with all signs pointing to his Hall of Fame induction, it is time again for me to strongly back Thurman Munson for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

And this time, I am using Posey as Munson’s Cooperstown guidepost.

Schnapf, a longtime successful New York lawyer, offered this final closing argument.

“If Posey gets in the Hall of Fame and Munson is not inducted,’’ Schnapf told me on Monday, “that just shows you that it is a popularity contest, not about the merits.’’