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Jorge Posada Retires From the New York Yankees

By Wil Cruz | January 24, 2012 11:58am
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 24: Jorge Posada addresses the media during a press conference to announces his retirement from the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on January 24, 2012 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 24: Jorge Posada addresses the media during a press conference to announces his retirement from the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on January 24, 2012 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
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Mike Stobe/Getty Images

THE BRONX — Jorge Posada retired Tuesday from the Yankee family after 17 years of proudly wearing pinstripes.

Posada formally retired from baseball in an emotional good-bye at Yankee Stadium. He spent his entire career with the ballclub.

"I will forever be a Yankee," a tearful Posada said. "I could never wear another uniform."

He finished with 275 career home runs and more than 1,000 RBIs. He took a trip down memory lane Tuesday, thanking everyone from teammate and best friend Derek Jeter to former manager Joe Torre.

Posada, flanked by his wife and two young children, said the Yankee players, management and fans always treated him like more than just a teammate or player.

"My family away from home," Posada said.

Posada said he's hanging it up because he couldn't imagine playing for another team.

Posada, 40, won four championships with the Yankees. Perhaps his greatest moment came in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series in 2003 — when he knocked in the tying run against the hated Boston Red Sox and Pedro Martinez.

The Yankees went on to win the game and the series in dramatic fashion, locking in a trip to the World Series.

Posada was overcome with emotion several times in thanking his family and teammates. He choked up when he thanked his father and sister.

"Thank you for all of your support," he said in Spanish. "I love you."

He told Jeter, with whom he spent all those years,  to try to move on without him.

"Thank you, buddy," he said. "Hopefully, you won't miss me that much."

He thanked Torre, too, "for being a father all those years."

He also spoke about the fans, who were always there for him — even when they didn't know it.

"Thank you for the cheers," Posada said. "You've kept me going when I needed you the most."