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Eli Manning and Derek Jeter are different in obvious ways. One plays football and the other baseball. Manning is settled into married life. Jeter continues to enjoy the bachelorhood life of a New York City superstar, having dated supermodels and A-list actresses.

In more ways, the two are wholly similar. Both have reached the pinnacle of success in their respective professions. Both lead and inspire with quiet confidence in lieu of bluster or blistering braggadocio. Both have been a world champion; the only difference is Jeter’s five rings compared to Manning’s one – which will increase if the Giants defeat the Patriots (again) at Super Bowl XLVI. Both are comfortable in their own skin, adeptly handling the intense media glare of the Big Apple with aplomb. In a society

Jorge Posada's playing career may be over, but The Jorge Posada Foundation's efforts to raise money research into craniosynostosis is still going strong.

During his retirement announcement, Posada was lauded by Lisa Niederer, an ambassador for the Foundation. Like Jorge Posada Jr., who underwent nine operations, Niederer's son, Brett, has dealt with a disease since the age of two that causes bones in the skull to fuse prematurely.

"As the years went on and Brett had more surgeries, I had the urge to help in any way I could," Niederer said. "As I started to mentor families it became clear to me that Jorge nd Laura were driven not only to help families new to the diagnosis, but to educate all doctors on the condition, including medical students."

Posada thanked many for their contributions

In what was a nice touch to Jorge Posada’s retirement ceremony, Diana Munson was invited and helped pay tribute to a competitor that greatly resembled her late husband Thurman, a down-and-dirty gamer who served as team captain and on-field general during his 11 seasons as a Yankees catcher. Munson’s heart and courage warmed fans to his gruff exterior. He played the game right and played with passion, just like Posada did throughout his 17-season career.

Munson recalled the first time she met Posada. Appearing nervous, Posada introduced himself and told her about a clipping of a quote from Thurman that he keeps in his locker. Diana didn’t believe him, but Posada said he was telling the truth. Then Posada got up and left, which left Diana wondering if he had taken offense

The Yankees released a collection of statements on the retirement of Jorge Posada

“I want to congratulate ‘Jorgito’ on an outstanding career. He was one of the greatest catchers of his era, and one of the best Puerto Rican players to ever play the game. He was a great teammate, is a great friend and human being, and will always be a great Yankee. I was honored to take the field with him every day for so many years, and I cherish all the memories we have together, topped off by those World Series championships. Frankly, I can’t believe that ‘Jorgito’ is actually announcing his retirement before I do. Seriously, I wish him, Laura, and the kids happiness and success in their future. He will be missed by the Yankees family, all of his teammates, coaches,

Jerome Preisler is at Yankee Stadium covering today's press conference at Yankee Stadium. YES is airing the conference live and  you can follow Jerome on twitter (@Jerome_Preisler) for real-time, behind-the-scenes updates as Jorge Posada officially announces his retirement after 17 seasons in Major League Baseball. Posada will be flanked at the podium by his wife, Laura, and children Jorge Jr. and Paulina. Word also has it that Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera will attend. In a nice touch, Diana Munson, the widow of Posada's idol Thurman Munson, is in attendance.

There's already been debate over Posada's Hall of Fame credentials. He certainly has the resume: a .273 batting average with 275 home runs and 1,065 RBIs while helping the Yankees win five World Championships. He worked 1,574

When Jorge Posada officially announces his retirement on Tuesday (YES, 11 a.m.) he will join a list of players who spent their entire career in pinstripes (minimum 10 seasons).

Lou Gehrig (1923-1939)
Earle Combs (1924-1935)
*Bill Dickey (1928-1943, 1946)    
Frank Crosetti (1932-1948)
*Tommy Henrich (1937-1942, 1946-1950)
*Joe DiMaggio (1936-1942, 1946-1951)    
*Phil Rizzuto (1941-1942, 1946-1956)    
*Whitey Ford (1950, 1953-1967)    
Gil McDougald (1951-1960)
Mickey Mantle (1951-1968)
Bobby Richardson (1955-1966)    
Roy White (1965-1979)
**Thurman Munson (1969-1979)
Ron Guidry (1975-1988)
Don Mattingly (1982-1995)
Bernie Williams (1991-2006)
Jorge Posada (1995-2011)

*Careers interrupted by serving in World War II
**Tragically,

Jorge Posada will officially announce the end of his 17-year career -- all with the Yankees -- during a news conference 11 a.m. Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. The YES Network will air the conference live.

Here's a snapshot look at Posada's career provided by the Yankees:

Posada, 40, finishes his 17-year Major League career with a .273 batting average (1,664-for-6,092) with 900 runs, 379 doubles, 275 home runs and 1,065 RBI in 1,829 games—all with the Yankees.  Of the 13 former Major League catchers in the Hall of Fame (Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra, Roger Bresnahan, Roy Campanella, Gary Carter, Mickey Cochrane, Bill Dickey, Buck Ewing, Rick Ferrell, Carlton Fisk, Gabby Hartnett, Ernie Lombardi and Ray Schalk), only Berra has better numbers in batting average, home runs and RBI (.285, 358

It was on a Saturday afternoon in early January, 2012, when WFAN’s Sweeny Murti first reported that Jorge Rafael Posada decided to retire. I was mostly out of pocket this past weekend, at a show on Saturday and watching the Giants smash the Atlanta Falcons Sunday afternoon. While at the show, I turned to my wife and told her the Posada news. She’s a layperson when it comes to sports, but knows enough about the Yankees – her education was ratcheted a few levels the day we met – to reply that it wasn’t a surprise.

In October I penned a tribute to Posada, explaining why he was always tough enough. It was a month after the Yankees were eliminated from the Division Series on their turf. Even before Posada, a Yankees institution, stood before his locker, trying