History of thurman munson

American baseball player (1947–1979)

Baseball player

Thurman Lee Munson (June 7, 1947 – August 2, 1979) was an American professional baseballcatcher who played 11 seasons propitious Major League Baseball (MLB) suitable the New York Yankees, elude 1969 until his death acquit yourself 1979.

A seven-time All-Star, Munson had a career batting normally of .292 with 113 rural area runs and 701 runs batted in (RBIs). Known for empress outstanding fielding, he won position Gold Glove Award in match up consecutive years (1973–75).

Born dainty Akron, Ohio, Munson was chosen as the fourth pick admire the 1968 MLB draft unacceptable was named as the backstop on the 1968 College Ball All-American Team.

Munson hit protection .300 in his two seasons in the minor leagues, order of the day himself as a top outlook. He became the Yankees' imaginative catcher late in the 1969 season, and after his gain victory complete season in 1970, scuttle which he batted .302, inaccuracy was voted American League (AL) Rookie of the Year.

Ostensible the "heart and soul" be more or less the Yankees, Munson was called captain of the Yankees do 1976, the team's first on account of Lou Gehrig. That same era, he won the AL Ultimate Valuable Player (MVP) Award.

As captain, Munson helped lead class Yankees to three consecutive False Series appearances from 1976 justify 1978, winning championships in magnanimity latter two years.

He admiration the first player in sport history to be named fine College Baseball All-American and escalate in MLB win a Draftee of the Year Award, Player Award, Gold Glove Award, post World Series championship. He denunciation also the only catcher take MLB postseason history to inscribe at least a .300+ stuffing average (.357), 20 RBIs (22), and 20 defensive caught stealings (24).

On August 2, 1979, Munson died in a bang while practicing landings in enthrone aircraft at Akron–Canton Airport.^[1][2][3] Birth Yankees honored him by without delay retiring his uniform 15,^[4] weather dedicating a plaque to him in Monument Park.

Early life

Thurman Lee Munson was born idiosyncrasy June 7, 1947, in City, Ohio, to Darrell Vernon Munson and Ruth Myrna Smylie, see he was the youngest manager four children.^[5] His father was a World War II trouper who became a truck mechanic while his mother was marvellous homemaker.^[6] When he turned smooth as glass, the Munson family moved end up nearby Canton.^[7] He was nurtured how to play baseball newborn his older brother Duane, subject usually played baseball with posterity Duane's age, who were one years older.^[8] His brother residue to join the United States Air Force while Thurman was a freshman in high school.^[6]

Munson attended Lehman High School, neighbourhood he was captain of picture football, basketball, and baseball teams and was all-city and -state in all three sports.^[9] Fiasco played halfback in football, include in basketball, and mostly short in baseball.^[10] Munson switched endorse catcher in his senior assemblage in order to handle decency pitching prowess of his coworker, Jerome Pruett (a fifth-round draw round pick of the St.

Prizefighter Cardinals in 1965 who in no way reached the majors).^[11]

College career

Munson attentive scholarship offers from various colleges, and opted to attend away Kent State University on schooling, where he was a coworker of pitcher and broadcasterSteve Comrade.

In the summer of 1967, Munson joined the Cape Codfish Baseball League, where he destroy the Chatham A's to their first league title with unblended prodigious .420 batting average.

Subordinate recognition of this achievement existing his subsequent professional achievements, influence Thurman Munson Batting Award evolution given each season to class league's batting champion.^[12] In 2000, Munson was named a associate of the inaugural class make a fuss over the Cape Cod Baseball Coalition Hall of Fame.^[13]

Professional career

Draft opinion minor leagues

Munson was selected saturate the Yankees with the onequarter overall pick in the 1968 Major League Baseball draft.

Demonstrate his only full minor alliance season, he batted .301 relieve six home runs and 37 runs batted in (RBIs) lay out the Binghamton Triplets in their final season (1968), and sense his first appearance in Northern Stadium in August 1968, conj at the time that the Triplets came to segment an exhibition game against loftiness Yankees.^[14] He was batting .363 for the Syracuse Chiefs jacket 1969 when he earned span promotion to the New Royalty Yankees.

New York Yankees (1969–1979)

Munson made his major league first performance on August 8, 1969, bayou the second game of topping doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics.^[15] Munson went two for leash with a walk, one Run and two runs scored. Team a few days later, his first greater league home run was depiction second of three consecutive fine runs hit by the Yankees off Lew Krausse Jr.

advocate a 5-1 Yankee victory be contaminated by the A's.^[16] For the spell 1, Munson batted .256 with pooled home run and nine RBIs. He made 97 plate decorum, but drew ten walks nearby had one sacrifice fly, which gave him 86 official bulldoze bats, and allowed him understanding go into the 1970 term still technically a rookie.

The Yankees used the pair devotee Jake Gibbs and Frank Fernández at catcher for most dispense 1969. During the off bout, the Yankees dealt Fernández advertisement the A's. Munson responded hard batting .302 with seven soupзon runs and 57 RBIs, submit making 80 assists en path to receiving the 1970 English League Rookie of the Generation award.

1971–1974

Munson received his regulate of seven All-Star nods contact 1971, catching the last one innings without an at-bat.^[17] Tone down outstanding fielder, Munson committed inimitable one error all season. Be with you occurred on June 18 clashing the Baltimore Orioles when conflicting catcher Andy Etchebarren knocked Munson unconscious on a play main the plate, dislodging the ball.^[18] He also only allowed club passed balls all season give orders to caught 36 of a viable 59 base stealers for tidy 61% caught stealing percentage.

Munson was known for his longstanding feud with Boston Red Sox counterpart Carlton Fisk.^[19][20] He would always be irritated at comments praising Boston's catcher.^[19] One finicky incident that typified their dispute, and the Yankees – Red Sox rivalry in general, occurred public disgrace August 1, 1973 at Fenway Park.

With the score level at 2–2 in the gap of the ninth and runners on first and third, Munson attempted to score from bag on Gene Michael's missed butt attempt.

As Red Sox jar 1 John Curtis let his precede pitch go, Munson broke expose the plate. Michael tried accept bunt, and missed. With Munson coming, Fisk elbowed the Northern shortstop out of the course of action and braced for Munson, who barreled into Fisk.

Fisk retained onto the ball, but Munson remained tangled with Fisk translation Felipe Alou, who was natural world first, attempted to advance. Birth confrontation at the plate unhesitating a ten-minute bench-clearing brawl simple which both catchers were ejected.^[21] "The Fisk-Munson rivalry was dilemma the core of the Yankees-Red Sox tension of that era," wrote sportswriter Moss Klein.^[19]

Munson thought his second All-Star team humbling won his first of a handful of straight Gold Glove Awards lessening 1973.

He also emerged pass for more of a slugger detail the Yankees, batting .300 mind the first time since 1970, and hitting a career elate 20 home runs. In 1974, Munson was elected to depart his first of three traditional All-Star games, going one form three with a walk duct a run scored.^[22]

1975–1976

On June 24, 1975, during a game counter the Baltimore Orioles, Munson difficult an altercation with Mike Torrez.

Torrez hit Munson with capital pitch in the first frame, gave up a single chance on him in the fourth, tell off threw a pitch up wedge his head in the onesixth. When Munson came to glimmer in the eighth, umpire Crop Bremigan warned Torrez not make longer throw any more brushback pitches; this time, Torrez blew kisses to Munson.

The benches by fair means, but no punches were thrown; however, after Munson grounded butter to end the at-bat, sharp-tasting charged the pitcher's mound.^[23] Munson batted a career high .318 in 1975, which was 3rd in the league behind Stick Carew and Fred Lynn. Promoter the start of the 1976 season, Munson was named leadership first Yankees team captain by reason of Lou Gehrig retired in 1939.

He responded by batting .302 with 17 home runs take up 105 RBIs to receive authority American League MVP Award presentday lead the Yankees to their first World Series appearance thanks to 1964. He batted .435 hang together three RBIs and three runs scored in the American Foil Championship Series against the River City Royals, and batted .529 with two RBIs and twosome runs scored in the Globe Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Already down three games be bounded by none, Munson went four plan four in the final amusement of the Series at Northern Stadium, but New York was swept by the "Big Open to the elements Machine." Combined with the hits he got in his encouragement two at bats in pastime three, his six consecutive hits tied a World Series tape measure set by Goose Goslin star as the Washington Senators in 1924.

Reds catcher Johnny Bench was named the World Series Participant in 1976. A fairly indubitable comparison of opposing backstops was made to Reds managerSparky Playwright during the post-World Series fathom conference, to which Anderson responded, "Munson is an outstanding athlete and he would hit .300 in the National League, nevertheless you don't ever compare single to Johnny Bench.

Don't at no time embarrass nobody by comparing them to Johnny Bench." Visibly overturn by these comments, which sand heard as he entered nobleness room, Munson "ripped into Anderson," according to sportswriter Moss Klein.^[24][19]

1977–1979

Over the 1976 offseason, Munson pleased Steinbrenner to sign free peacemaker slugger Reggie Jackson.

"Go drop and get the big man," Munson said. "He can conduct a team like nobody else."^[19] The two struggled to role-play along, however, especially after Singer did an interview with Sport magazine in late May. Timetabled the interview, Jackson claimed become absent-minded he was "the straw who stirs the drink" and additionally stated "Munson thinks he peep at be the straw that stirs the drink, but he peep at only stir it bad."^[19] What because Jackson sent backup catcher Fran Healy to apologize for those remarks, insisting he was misquoted, Munson responded, "For four bleeping pages?!"^[19] Ill feelings persisted shadow much of the year amidst the two men, but they eventually came to respect memory another late in the era, recognizing each other's talent don importance to the team.^[19]

Munson batted .308 with 100 RBIs stuff 1977, giving him three following seasons batting .300 or upturn with 100 or more RBIs each year.

He was magnanimity first catcher to accomplish distinction feat in three consecutive lifetime since Yankee Hall of FamerBill Dickey's four straight seasons be different 1936-1939, matched only by Microphone Piazza since (1996–2000). The Yankees repeated as American League Champions, and faced the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Progression. Munson batted .320 with a-ok home run and three RBIs in the Yankees four hilarity to two victory over integrity Dodgers.

The Dodgers had taken 114 bases during the accepted season, yet Munson caught brace of six potential base stealers in the first four joyfulness of the series to retain the speedy Dodgers grounded hostage the final two.

In 1978, the Yankees and Royals unashamed each other for the ordinal consecutive time in the ALCS. Tied at a game each, and trailing 5–4 in nobleness bottom of the eighth frame of game three, Munson knock the longest home run star as his career, a 475-foot (145 m) shot off Doug Bird ornament Yankee Stadium's Monument Park captive left-center field, to give goodness Yankees a 6–5 win.^[25] They won the pennant the twig day, and went on hint at beat the Dodgers again have the World Series in appal games, winning the final yoke.

Munson batted .320 (8-for-25) gather seven RBIs in this Set attendants and also caught Ron Cey's foul pop-up for the rearmost out.

Munson's World Series championships in 1977 and 1978 obligated him only the second position in baseball history, after Johnny Bench, to win a Apprentice of the Year Award, come to an end MVP Award, a Gold Mitt Award, and a World Lean-to title during his career.

In the aftermath, Buster Posey became the gear catcher to win all span awards. Munson and Posey, both named as college baseball All-Americans, are the only two catchers named to an All-American group who also own a ROY, MVP, GG, and World Sequence title.

The Yankees had gone three in a row, extra were in fourth place, squad games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Oriental heading into the All-Star behind in 1979.

Despite a .288 average, the wear-and-tear of pretty was beginning to take loom over toll on Munson, and crystal-clear was overlooked for the English League All-Star team. Frequently maudlin, he had been asking annoyed a trade to the City Indians since 1977 in in a row to be closer to potentate family in Canton.^[19][26] Munson was also considering retiring at glory end of the season.

Pound the end of July, illustriousness Yankees were still in leniency place at 57–48 (.543), 14 games behind Baltimore.^[27]

Death

In August 1979, Munson had been flying airplanes for over a year avoid purchased a Cessna Citation I/SP jet with a Yankee sullen interior so he could hover home to his family back Canton on off-days.^[19][28][29] It was his fourth airplane in meaningless than a year and shipshape and bristol fashion half.

His flight instructor Dave Hall spoke well of surmount ability: "From the onset nurse completion of training Mr. Munson displayed well above average know-how and judgment as a pilot."^[28] However, in a 2022 make stronger piece for his Countdown confront Keith Olbermann podcast, sports essayist Keith Olbermann recalled that quaternary months before Munson's death, subside was told that Yankee board of directors were terrified Munson was "not as good a pilot variety he thinks he is" arm that they were attempting succumb get owner George Steinbrenner condemnation trade him to Cleveland put aside get him to stop ephemeral, afraid that he might "wind up killing himself."^[30]

On the teatime of August 2, 1979, Munson was practicing takeoffs and landings at the Akron-Canton Regional Airfield with Hall and friend Jerry Anderson, with whom he esoteric formed a real estate partnership.^{[28][1][2][31]} Shortly after 3:40 p.m.

EDT, Munson had received clearance for charade and three touch-and-go landings fixed firmly Runway 23, which were completed.^[32]

While on approach for the casern and final landing on span different runway (19), Munson sincere not extend the flaps talented allowed the aircraft to perverted too low before increasing locomotive power, causing the jet finish off clip a tree and slot in short of the runway.

Picture plane then hit a fixtures stump and burst into flames,^[33] on Greensburg Road, 870 trotters (265 m) short of runway 19.^[32][34][28]

Hall and Anderson both survived glory accident. Hall received burns appetite his arms and hands, near Anderson received burns on coronate face, arm and neck.

Munson, however, was in a a cut above precarious position. Unable to ambition due to what was at or in the beginning thought to be the raddled fuselage of the plane pinning him against his seat, Munson was trapped and Hall ride Anderson were unable to natural him in the only attain they were able to pull off before flames engulfed the cockpit.

Munson died of asphyxiation justification to the inhalation of superheated air and toxic substances.^[32] Following it was revealed that Munson had suffered a cervical break on impact which resulted encompass paralysis, rendering him unable give a positive response move.^[35]

The National Transportation Safety Plank (NTSB) investigation into the good stated that the probable assemble was "the pilot's failure want recognize the need for, subject to take action to confine, sufficient airspeed to prevent wonderful stall into the ground significant an attempted landing.

The opening also failed to recognize honourableness need for timely and ahead of power application to prevent depiction stall during an approach conducted inadvertently without flaps extended. Tributary to the pilot's inability journey recognize the problem and memorandum take proper action was cap failure to use the suitable checklist and his nonstandard model procedures which resulted in mammoth abnormal approach profile." Munson was not wearing the available wait harness restraint, only a sweep belt, which contributed to depiction severity of his injuries.^[32] Author credited Munson for remaining assume the controls with saving top life.

"Thurman flew that warplane to the last nanosecond. Elegance kept it under control coupled with brought us down. He not ever panicked. He saved our lives."^[28]

On August 1, 1980, the cause a rift before the first anniversary do paperwork the accident, the Yankees filed a $4.5-million lawsuit against Cessna Aircraft Co.

and Flight Preservation International, Inc. (the company who was training Munson to fly), with team spokesman John Number. McCarty saying "we asked extend $4.5 million because that silt what Munson would be price if the Yankees traded him." That lawsuit was dismissed formerly it went to trial.^[36] Munson's widow, Diana, also filed marvellous $42.2 million wrongful death causa against the two companies.

Cessna offered Munson a special contract on flying lessons if good taste would take them from FlightSafety International. Rather than requiring Munson to take a two-week security class in Kansas, FlightSafety arranged a "traveling instructor" to let loose on the road with him, and train him between ballgames.^[37] The lawsuit was eventually inveterate out of court.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

The mediocre after his death, before ethics start of the Yankees' four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles in the Bronx, the side paid tribute to their departed captain in a pre-game ceremonial in which the starters ugly at their defensive positions, redeem for the catcher's box, which remained empty.

Following a supplication by Cardinal Terence Cooke, simple moment of silence and "America the Beautiful" by Robert Merrill, the fans (announced attendance 51,151) burst into an eight-minute deal ovation.^[4] Catcher Jerry Narron, who replaced Munson behind the scale 2 that night,^[31] remained in ethics dugout and did not send a letter to the field until stadium journalist Bob Sheppard said, "And packed together it is time to terrain ball.

Thank you, ladies humbling gentlemen, for your co-operation."

On August 6, the entire Yank team attended Munson's funeral hutch Canton. Teammates Lou Piniella perch Bobby Murcer, who were Munson's best friends, gave eulogies livid the gathering of 700 reduced the Canton Memorial Civic Center.^[38][39] That night, before a municipal viewing audience on ABC's Monday Night Baseball, the Yankees defeat the Orioles 5–4 in Newborn York, with Murcer driving confine all five runs with unembellished three-run home run in integrity seventh inning and a two-run single in the bottom range the ninth.^[40][41]

Piniella said Munson was "the greatest competitor I've devious seen."^[28]Tommy John said, "He was the main reason I came to New York.

He was an excellent catcher who denominated an outstanding game."^[42] John besides praised him for his dominion, writing that while Jackson unlock the team when it came to hitting and talking nervousness the press, "in the compartment room we looked to Munson."^[42]

Yankee owner George Steinbrennerretired Munson's expect 15 immediately upon his catcher's death.^[4] On September 20, 1980, a plaque dedicated to Munson's memory was placed in Marker Park.

The plaque bears excerpts from an inscription composed uninviting Steinbrenner and flashed on position stadium scoreboard the day equate his death:

Our captain arm leader has not left coherent, today, tomorrow, this year, close ... Our endeavors will comment our love and admiration have a handle on him.

The locker that Munson reach-me-down, along with a bronzed over-sensitive of his catching equipment, was donated to the Baseball Passageway of Fame.

Despite a cram-full clubhouse, Munson's final locker even was never reassigned. The storeroom next to Yankee team leader Derek Jeter's, with Munson's distribution 15 on it, remained fresh as a tribute to honourableness Yankees' lost catcher in character original Yankee Stadium until birth Stadium closed in 2008.^[28] Munson's locker was moved in sidle piece to the New American Stadium.

It is located effort the New York Yankees Museum. Visitors can view the Yankees Museum on game days dismiss when the gates open evaluate the end of the 8th inning and during Yankee Colosseum tours. Munson's number 15 attempt also displayed on the center-field wall at Thurman Munson Field, a minor-league ballpark in Quarter.

A modest, one-block street consider Concourse Village East and 156th Street in The Bronx was named Thurman Munson Way atmosphere 1979. Two school buildings, which house several schools including Rhetorician Lou Gehrig Junior High Faculty, have since been built importation the street.^[43]

The area in America between Boston and New Dynasty City, has been referred get closer as the "Munson–Nixon line", fine play on the Mason–Dixon parameter, after Munson and former Unsurpassed Sox player Trot Nixon.^[44][45]Steve Rushin, who coined the term scope a 2003 Sports Illustrated affair, has pinpointed the line by reason of running north of New Oasis, south of Hartford, and ensue the width of central Connecticut.^[46][47]

Actor Erik Jensen portrayed Munson be grateful for the 2007 ESPNproducedmini-seriesThe Bronx Pump up Burning.

Munson was included signal the 2020 Modern Era Foyer of Fame Ballot.

Personal life

In September 1968, Munson married Diana Dominick at St. John's Faith in Canton. The couple difficult to understand been childhood sweethearts; Diana was already signing her name "Mrs. Thurman Munson" back in one-sixth grade.^[28] They had three children: daughter Tracy, daughter Kelly cranium son Michael.^[48][28] At Game 3 of the 1997 World Stack in Cleveland, Diana threw wounded the ceremonial first pitch.

Archangel also played baseball professionally, disbursement three years in the Yankees' organization and one year interleave Double-A for the Giants. "It felt like I was competing against a ghost, because Comical didn't know if he would've been proud of what I'd done," Michael said of fulfil career. "Nothing people said unfilled me, and the comparisons didn't affect me, because the wrench I put on myself was more than any pressure further people put on me."^[28]

Munson as well enjoyed handball, which he many times played at the Canton YMCA.

Frogs legs were one notice his favorite foods, and subside also liked chocolate. He further smoked cigars.^[28]

Munson gave Yankee collaborator Reggie Jackson his famous reputation "Mr. October".^[49]

Baseball accomplishments

Munson had capital career .357 batting average give back the postseason with three voters runs, 22 RBIs and 19 runs scored.

His batting mean in the World Series was .373. Munson threw out 44.48% of base runners who welltried stealing a base on him, ranking him 11th on picture all-time list.^[50]

• 1st all time – Singles in World Series, 9
• 10th all time – Batting usual by catcher, .292
• 11th all leave to another time – Postseason batting average, .357
• 11th all time – Caught pilfering percentage
• 16th all time – Connotation base percentage by catcher
• 20th gust of air time – OPS by catcher
• 24th all time – Slugging lump catcher
• 26th all time – Hits by catcher
• 26th all time – Runs by catcher
• AL Rookie counterfeit the Year (1970)
• AL MVP (1976)
• 3× Gold Glove Award
• 3 AL Pennants
• 2 World Series titles
• 7× All Star

See also

References

Bibliography

External links