On this date in 1979, Yankee captain Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash near his home in Ohio. On the 30th anniversary of his passing, I thought we'd share some memories of the great No. 15 ...
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I briefly thought of posting a photo of the crashed plane with this blog today, but quickly decided against it. It always runs in the newspapers in New York on this anniversary, and it was on ESPN today as well. But that's not how I want to remember Thurman. I choose to remember him as a guy who won the Rookie of The Year and the American League MVP award for the New York Yankees. I choose to remember him as the guy who helped the team return to greatness and win three pennants and two World Championships. I choose to remember him as the guy who hated the Red Sox, and in the very last World Series before he died, he caught the final out behind home plate to give the Yankees the win against the Dodgers. I choose to remember him as the leader and The Captain.
As for the day he died, I remember everything very well. My Little League team had just played in the Kingston World Series, and mini-football practice for the Kingston Huskies has just begun that week. When my Mom picked me up at after football practice (an empty field where the Kingston Recreation Center is now located) she told me that Thurman had been killed. I recall her telling me that she had just heard it on radio, and was so stunned she pulled off the road. Two days later, my Little League team went to Cooperstown on a trip, and I can still recall seeing a huge photo of Thurman on display in the entrance, as soon as you walked into the Hall of Fame. The thing that struck me was I don't think it was put there because Thurman had just been killed. Photos of the big contemporary stars of the game were there anyway, and Thurman's was very, very prominent. That's how big of a star he was.The flags at the Hall of Fame were at half mast.
On Monday, the day of the funeral and the famous Bobby Murcer game, I was in Atlantic City with my family and watched the Monday Night Baseball Game in the hotel room with my grandmother. Can still remember Howard Cosell's call, "On the day they buried their captain and leader ... the Yankees, still the World Champions ... won this game on emotion."
Heavy, unforgettable stuff.
I recently read that George Steinbrenner told Cosell during ABC's broadcast that the Yankees had considered canceling the game. But Diana Munson, Thurman's widow, told the Yankee owner the game should go on - her husband had played through injuries and was not a quitter.
Sure would be nice to see a 62-year old Thurman come out to Old Timer's Day once a year and get the ovation he deserves. The man lost his life simply because he wanted to be able to see his family more. What an unbelievable tragedy for the Yankees, and especially for his wife and children.
August 2, 2009 12:25 PM
Both Jeter and Posada have spoken about Thurman with great reverence. Nice to see today's players have respect for the past.
Thurman was also proud of the history. He liked the linkage of great Yankee catchers - Dickey, Berra, Howard - and was proud to be a part of it.
Thurman was my favorite Yankee growing up. At my diminutive size (especially in Little League) I actually caught many games, because I studied and emulated him as well as I could.
So, this is a weird anecdote. I was 10.
I was in my elementary school baseball field, catching a close friend, who was a monster pitcher (and to me a monster - about a foot taller than me!).
We went through all kinds of game scenarios. He threw very hard. My hands were sore as hell but Thurman would never show pain so I trudged on.
We finish up and my friend's little sister comes running up to us as we enter the backyard, screaming, " Herman Munster died! Herman Munster died!!!"
We thought that was novel and went in to watch the TV reports and POW!
It was my hero. I cried instantly. Floored. (needless to say I was pretty pissed at his sister, being that I was only 10 and he was my hero, but obviously I got past it...LOL)
I smirk at the mistake now a little but it still made me well up with emotion and tears when I typed this up....He was a great Captain.
Mike Greenberg from ESPN's "Mike & Mike" show was talking about this today. He said he was 11 years old when this happened, just like I was, and both he and Gullick were talking about how people still remember where they were when they heard. For this to happen, in the middle of the season, to the captain of the World Champions, is still pretty unbelievable.
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