SF Giants World Series champ inducted into New York State Baseball Hall of Fame

Joe Panik has another accolade to add to his impressive baseball résumé. Over the weekend, the former SF Giants infielder was among 17 people to be elected to the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame.

SF Giants World Series champ inducted into New York State Baseball Hall of Fame

The group ranges from former players, coaches, managers, executives, and even a founder of a simulation baseball game that originated in the 1960’s.

Jim Kaat and the late Gary Carter were some of the notable players to be inducted. Kaat won 283 games in his 25-year career that led him being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

On the other hand, Carter was a Hall of Fame catcher who was one of the best two-way backstops in baseball history. He played primarily for the Montreal Expos and New York Mets during his 19-year career. He also had a brief stint with San Francisco in 1990.

Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees was inducted. Cashman has served in the Yankees’ front office since the 1980’s and has been the general manager since 1998.

A pair of reliable infielders were also inducted, including Frank Catalanotto and Joe Panik. Catalanatto appeared in 14 MLB seasons, and he was rarely an everyday player but he could hit.

Before Panik became a World Series champion, he grew up in New York and attended St. John’s University. He was a star in college. Rich Aurilia is another famous alum from that school.

The Giants drafted Panik in the first round of the 2011 draft and that kicked off a fruitful pro career. He was called up by the Giants in 2014 after they had exhausted all other options at second base.

Marco Scutaro spent nearly that entire year on the injured list. Brandon Hicks and Joaquín Árias spent a lot of time at second base that season. Even Dan Uggla made a cameo appearance before Panik took over.

In his rookie year, Panik posted a .711 OPS in 287 plate appearances down the stretch. Of course, he will always be remembered for turning that improbable double play in Game 7 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals.

Panik continued to add to his résumé by earning an NL All-Star nod in 2015, followed by a Gold Glove Award in 2016. The veteran infielder’s run with the Giants came to an end midway through the 2019 season. He made stops with the Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Miami Marlins before concluding his playing career after the 2021 season.

In recent seasons, Panik has returned to the Giants organization as a special assistant. This involves working with in player development, as well as serving as an guest instructor in spring training. Now, he has another cool accomplishment to boast.