Giants shortstop Buster Posey is getting into the Bay Region Sports Hall of Fame

Lee Posey, 11, left, shakes hands with Patrick Willis as he stands with his father, Buster Posey, through a media interview just before the Bay Region Sports Hall of Fame ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco, Calif., Thursday, May perhaps 25, 2023. Class of Sports The 2023 Bay Region Hall of Famers are inducted by Julie Foudy, Gary Payton, Buster Posey, Andre Ward and Patrick Willis. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Region News Group)

SAN FRANCISCO – Buster Posey wasn’t just any athlete who came by means of town, won various championships and earned a spot Thursday evening in the Bay Region Sports Hall of Fame.

He turns out to be a legacy.

“My mom in fact lived in San Francisco when she was small,” Posey mentioned. “My grandfather was an orthopedic surgeon in the army and they have been stationed right here for various years.

Col. Jack Tippens and his wife, Lynn, “talked about truly enjoying life right here.” So is their daughter Tracy’s son, Gerald “Buster” Posey III, who was drafted by the Giants 15 years ago and served as the franchise’s cornerstone catcher from 2009-21.

That baseball legacy could a single day land Posey in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. — “We’ll see, we’ll see,” he mentioned — but Thursday evening earned him an honor at downtown San Francisco’s Bay Region Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Joining him in this year’s class are former 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis, Oakland basketball legend Gary Payton, boxing champion Andre Ward and soccer star Julie Foudy, who was in particular proud to be the lone lady in that group whose plaques will join these on show in San Francisco International Airport.

“It really is bittersweet to come back mainly because our oldest twins are right here with us tonight, and we raised them right here for their initial 11 years,” mentioned Posey (36).

Right after moving to his native Georgia final year — north of Atlanta, rather than his childhood hometown of Leesburg — Posey returned to town final week with his wife, Kristen, and their two sets of twins, ages 11 and two.

When they weren’t gathering with good friends close to their old digs in Lafayette, Posey played a handful of rounds of golf at Orinda Nation Club, and of course kept an eye on the Giants, obtaining joined their ownership group final September.

Posey classifies himself as a fan, nonetheless, and a single thrilled by the instant accomplishment fueled by rookies Casey Schmidt and Patrick Bailey.

“When you have that young injection of power, it really is palpable.” “You can really feel it by means of the Television screen,” Posey mentioned. “Hopefully it really is some thing we can ride and win a lot a lot more games.”

“That is fairly significantly what occurred in 2008, ’09, ’10 and beyond.” You want these items. Young players, a lot of the time, you hear speak about how their power can rub off on a guy who’s been undertaking it for a although. The truth is. It really is contagious.”

For positive, Posey when took more than the beginning part complete-time in 2010, when the Giants won their initial of 3 Planet Series titles in a 5-year span.

“In addition to these 3 rings, Posey’s accolades are plentiful: seven-time All-Star, 2012 NL MVP, 2010 NL Rookie of the Year, two-time NL Comeback Player of the Year (2012, 2021), 2012 NL hitting champion.”

Drafted fifth general on June five, 2008, the former Florida shortstop (freshman year) retired in November 2021. Six months later, the Giants honored him with “Buster Posey Day.” He mentioned he’s in superb well being, which is good news thinking of the ankle and hip difficulties he overcame with the Giants.

“Now I’ve had adequate time to reflect on (his profession), to be so thankful for so a lot of individuals who have helped me along the way – teammates, coaches, wife, children, parents, grandparents, it could almost certainly go on.” indefinitely,” mentioned Posey. “Having had time to consider, what does all this truly imply? It really is memories with individuals.”

Willis, 38, was thrilled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Posey and identified the timing appropriate. Drafted by the 49ers in 2007, Willis was at the height of his seven-time Pro Bowl powers although Posey was winning Planet Series titles.

“Buster Posey had him at catcher for the Giants, and then Stephen Curry came to the Bay Region (in 2009), and, about that time, I began to really feel a rhythm,” Willis recalled. “It felt fairly unique to be a single of these pillars in the Bay Region, and now it really is truly an honor to be recognized for that.”

Willis produced positive to introduce Posey not only to himself — but also to his sister and nephews — just before Thursday’s ceremony, and in return, Lee Posey shook Willis’ hand. Then the two Bay Region sports titans discussed their Southern roots — Willis is from Tennessee — and chatted amicably like old good friends for 15 minutes.

What is in shop for Posey in the subsequent 15 years?

“Oh my God, I have 4 children, so I am going day by day. I do not consider about it significantly. I truly do not know,” Posey replied. “I would say that 15 years ago I almost certainly could have answered that query a lot more succinctly, with an notion of ​​what I was hoping for.”

“Now I attempt to be in the moment, get pleasure from each and every day with the children and watch them find out and develop, attempt to teach them some of the lessons I’ve discovered along the way.”

Rather of a coach, nonetheless, he became a “tennis dad” watching his older, 11-year-old twins compete in the sport. His son Lee modestly mentioned at a reception just before Thursday’s ceremony that he was playing at a larger level against the 14-year-old. Asked if he wears his dad’s Planet Series rings, he humorously replied that he does not go to his dad’s protected as well generally.

As for these titles, ” do not consider I’d hope for 3. I would have hoped for a single, and I had hoped to have established myself as a Key League Baseball player. It is a lot more than something I could have dreamed of.”