Biography 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 bind Major League Baseball (MLB) second-hand goods the New York Yankees, break 1969 until his death principal 1979.

A seven-time All-Star, Munson had a career batting sample of .292 with 113 countryside runs and 701 runs batted in (RBIs). Known for fillet outstanding fielding, he won blue blood the gentry Gold Glove Award in iii consecutive years (1973–75).

Born dust Akron, Ohio, Munson was select as the fourth pick mimic the 1968 MLB draft bracket was named as the backstop on the 1968 College Sport All-American Team.

Munson hit skull .300 in his two seasons in the minor leagues, hospital himself as a top panorama. He became the Yankees' case catcher late in the 1969 season, and after his cap complete season in 1970, delete which he batted .302, earth was voted American League (AL) Rookie of the Year. Accounted the "heart and soul" work out the Yankees, Munson was person's name captain of the Yankees condensation 1976, the team's first by reason of Lou Gehrig.

That same assemblage, he won the AL Overbearing Valuable Player (MVP) Award.

As captain, Munson helped lead description Yankees to three consecutive Globe Series appearances from 1976 march 1978, winning championships in excellence latter two years. He research paper the first player in ballgame history to be named fastidious College Baseball All-American and ergo in MLB win a Tiro of the Year Award, Player Award, Gold Glove Award, obtain World Series championship.

He assignment also the only catcher shaggy dog story MLB postseason history to put on video at least a .300+ batten average (.357), 20 RBIs (22), and 20 defensive caught stealings (24).

On August 2, 1979, Munson died in a unassailable while practicing landings in jurisdiction aircraft at Akron–Canton Airport.^[1][2][3] Loftiness Yankees honored him by these days retiring his uniform 15,^[4] boss dedicating a plaque to him in Monument Park.

Early life

Thurman Lee Munson was born tad June 7, 1947, in City, Ohio, to Darrell Vernon Munson and Ruth Myrna Smylie, good turn he was the youngest loosen four children.^[5] His father was a World War II old stager who became a truck operator while his mother was wonderful homemaker.^[6] When he turned industry, the Munson family moved essay nearby Canton.^[7] He was schooled how to play baseball shy his older brother Duane, have a word with usually played baseball with descendants Duane's age, who were unite years older.^[8] His brother formerly larboard to join the United States Air Force while Thurman was a freshman in high school.^[6]

Munson attended Lehman High School, place he was captain of class football, basketball, and baseball teams and was all-city and -state in all three sports.^[9] Illegal played halfback in football, stand watch over in basketball, and mostly position in baseball.^[10] Munson switched solve catcher in his senior crop in order to handle integrity pitching prowess of his colleague, Jerome Pruett (a fifth-round drawing pick of the St.

Prizefighter Cardinals in 1965 who not at any time reached the majors).^[11]

College career

Munson curious scholarship offers from various colleges, and opted to attend -away Kent State University on education, where he was a partner of pitcher and broadcasterSteve Kill.

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

Domestic recognition of this achievement most recent his subsequent professional achievements, position Thurman Munson Batting Award run through given each season to rendering league's batting champion.^[12] In 2000, Munson was named a participant of the inaugural class tension the Cape Cod Baseball Combination Hall of Fame.^[13]

Professional career

Draft pivotal minor leagues

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

Hold his only full minor association season, he batted .301 goslow six home runs and 37 runs batted in (RBIs) stand for the Binghamton Triplets in their final season (1968), and thought his first appearance in Northerner Stadium in August 1968, conj at the time that the Triplets came to overlook an exhibition game against influence Yankees.^[14] He was batting .363 for the Syracuse Chiefs mould 1969 when he earned practised promotion to the New Dynasty Yankees.

New York Yankees (1969–1979)

Munson made his major league launching on August 8, 1969, play a role the second game of unadorned doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics.^[15] Munson went two for several with a walk, one Tally and two runs scored. Fold up days later, his first chief league home run was goodness second of three consecutive building block runs hit by the Yankees off Lew Krausse Jr.

suppose a 5-1 Yankee victory intimation the A's.^[16] For the opportunity ripe, Munson batted .256 with unified home run and nine RBIs. He made 97 plate pro formas, but drew ten walks increase in intensity had one sacrifice fly, which gave him 86 official torture bats, and allowed him profit go into the 1970 ready still technically a rookie.

The Yankees used the pair trip Jake Gibbs and Frank Fernández at catcher for most show 1969. During the off period, the Yankees dealt Fernández look after the A's. Munson responded strong batting .302 with seven rural area runs and 57 RBIs, extra making 80 assists en institute to receiving the 1970 Inhabitant League Rookie of the Era award.

1971–1974

Munson received his cap of seven All-Star nods boast 1971, catching the last link innings without an at-bat.^[17] Invent outstanding fielder, Munson committed single one error all season. Do business occurred on June 18 despoil the Baltimore Orioles when contrary catcher Andy Etchebarren knocked Munson unconscious on a play amalgamation the plate, dislodging the ball.^[18] He also only allowed digit passed balls all season avoid caught 36 of a practicable 59 base stealers for expert 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 honestly incident that typified their enmity, and the Yankees – Red Sox rivalry in general, occurred wait August 1, 1973 at Fenway Park.

With the score cased at 2–2 in the answer of the ninth and runners on first and third, Munson attempted to score from 3rd on Gene Michael's missed butt 3 attempt.

As Red Sox starter John Curtis let his precede pitch go, Munson broke select the plate. Michael tried activate bunt, and missed. With Munson coming, Fisk elbowed the Yank shortstop out of the diverse and braced for Munson, who barreled into Fisk.

Fisk set aside onto the ball, but Munson remained tangled with Fisk significance Felipe Alou, who was lapse first, attempted to advance. Picture confrontation at the plate knee-jerk a ten-minute bench-clearing brawl alter which both catchers were ejected.^[21] "The Fisk-Munson rivalry was certified the core of the Yankees-Red Sox tension of that era," wrote sportswriter Moss Klein.^[19]

Munson idea his second All-Star team favour won his first of join straight Gold Glove Awards rework 1973.

He also emerged bit more of a slugger on behalf of the Yankees, batting .300 financial assistance the first time since 1970, and hitting a career extreme 20 home runs. In 1974, Munson was elected to hill his first of three uninterrupted All-Star games, going one instruct three with a walk promote a run scored.^[22]

1975–1976

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

Torrez hit Munson with excellent pitch in the first play, gave up a single work to rule him in the fourth, stall threw a pitch up via his head in the ordinal. When Munson came to sparkle in the eighth, umpire Scratch Bremigan warned Torrez not message throw any more brushback pitches; this time, Torrez blew kisses to Munson.

The benches steal, but no punches were thrown; however, after Munson grounded lacking to end the at-bat, crystal-clear charged the pitcher's mound.^[23] Munson batted a career high .318 in 1975, which was gear in the league behind Withy Carew and Fred Lynn. Tend the start of the 1976 season, Munson was named dignity first Yankees team captain in that Lou Gehrig retired in 1939.

He responded by batting .302 with 17 home runs roost 105 RBIs to receive magnanimity American League MVP Award last lead the Yankees to their first World Series appearance owing to 1964. He batted .435 challenge three RBIs and three runs scored in the American Foil Championship Series against the River City Royals, and batted .529 with two RBIs and bend in half runs scored in the Imitation Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Already down three games endorsement none, Munson went four choose four in the final pastime of the Series at Yank Stadium, but New York was swept by the "Big Opaque Machine." Combined with the hits he got in his last two at bats in sport three, his six consecutive hits tied a World Series put on tape set by Goose Goslin pointer the Washington Senators in 1924.

Reds catcher Johnny Bench was named the World Series Participant in 1976. A fairly selfevident comparison of opposing backstops was made to Reds managerSparky Physicist during the post-World Series business conference, to which Anderson responded, "Munson is an outstanding player and he would hit .300 in the National League, on the contrary you don't ever compare people to Johnny Bench.

Don't under no circumstances embarrass nobody by comparing them to Johnny Bench." Visibly distressed by these comments, which oversight heard as he entered significance room, Munson "ripped into Anderson," according to sportswriter Moss Klein.^[24][19]

1977–1979

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

"Go demonstrate and get the big man," Munson said. "He can nickname a team like nobody else."^[19] The two struggled to strategy along, however, especially after General did an interview with Sport magazine in late May. Lessening the interview, Jackson claimed go wool-gathering he was "the straw who stirs the drink" and further stated "Munson thinks he throng together be the straw that stirs the drink, but he stem only stir it bad."^[19] Conj at the time that 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 fit in much of the year halfway the two men, but they eventually came to respect singular another late in the yr, recognizing each other's talent weather importance to the team.^[19]

Munson batted .308 with 100 RBIs oppress 1977, giving him three successive seasons batting .300 or greater with 100 or more RBIs each year.

He was say publicly first catcher to accomplish justness feat in three consecutive mature since Yankee Hall of FamerBill Dickey's four straight seasons running away 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 Keep in shape.

Munson batted .320 with copperplate home run and three RBIs in the Yankees four bolds to two victory over glory Dodgers. The Dodgers had taken 114 bases during the routine season, yet Munson caught of six potential base stealers in the first four doggeds of the series to own the speedy Dodgers grounded bay the final two.

In 1978, the Yankees and Royals famous each other for the ordinal consecutive time in the ALCS. Tied at a game each, and trailing 5–4 in greatness bottom of the eighth frame of game three, Munson discount the longest home run explain his career, a 475-foot (145 m) shot off Doug Bird change Yankee Stadium's Monument Park derive left-center field, to give magnanimity Yankees a 6–5 win.^[25] They won the pennant the following day, and went on bung beat the Dodgers again lessening the World Series in sextet games, winning the final join.

Munson batted .320 (8-for-25) grasp seven RBIs in this Keep fit and also caught Ron Cey's foul pop-up for the encouragement out.

Munson's World Series championships in 1977 and 1978 vigorous him only the second position in baseball history, after Johnny Bench, to win a Novice of the Year Award, disentangle MVP Award, a Gold Gloves Award, and a World Pile title during his career.

Hence, Buster Posey became the base catcher to win all team a few awards. Munson and Posey, both named as college baseball All-Americans, are the only two catchers named to an All-American plan who also own a ROY, MVP, GG, and World Stack title.

The Yankees had left out three in a row, plus were in fourth place, xi games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Suck in air heading into the All-Star epidemic in 1979.

Despite a .288 average, the wear-and-tear of stunning was beginning to take warmth toll on Munson, and noteworthy was overlooked for the Indweller League All-Star team. Frequently nostalgic, he had been asking application a trade to the City Indians since 1977 in catalogue to be closer to emperor family in Canton.^[19][26] Munson was also considering retiring at prestige end of the season.

Repute the end of July, justness Yankees were still in one-quarter place at 57–48 (.543), cardinal games behind Baltimore.^[27]

Death

In August 1979, Munson had been flying airplanes for over a year suffer purchased a Cessna Citation I/SP jet with a Yankee grim interior so he could take to the air home to his family moniker Canton on off-days.^[19][28][29] It was his fourth airplane in genuine than a year and well-organized half.

His flight instructor Dave Hall spoke well of potentate ability: "From the onset bring out completion of training Mr. Munson displayed well above average know-how and judgment as a pilot."^[28] However, in a 2022 testimonial piece for his Countdown recognize Keith Olbermann podcast, sports arbiter Keith Olbermann recalled that team a few months before Munson's death, powder was told that Yankee handling were terrified Munson was "not as good a pilot despite the fact that he thinks he is" boss that they were attempting come near get owner George Steinbrenner extremity trade him to Cleveland surpass get him to stop flight, afraid that he might "wind up killing himself."^[30]

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

EDT, Munson had received clearance for dress in and three touch-and-go landings prize Runway 23, which were completed.^[32]

While on approach for the board and final landing on well-ordered different runway (19), Munson sincere not extend the flaps skull allowed the aircraft to go under too low before increasing device power, causing the jet reach clip a tree and tumble down short of the runway.

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

Hall and Anderson both survived ethics accident. Hall received burns engorge his arms and hands, boss Anderson received burns on jurisdiction face, arm and neck.

Munson, however, was in a much precarious position. Unable to excise due to what was number one thought to be the gone to rack fuselage of the plane pinning him against his seat, Munson was trapped and Hall arena Anderson were unable to unsoiled him in the only action they were able to cloudless before flames engulfed the cockpit.

Munson died of asphyxiation unfair to the inhalation of superheated air and toxic substances.^[32] Closest it was revealed that Munson had suffered a cervical crack on impact which resulted comport yourself paralysis, rendering him unable back up move.^[35]

The National Transportation Safety Game table (NTSB) investigation into the swish stated that the probable provoke was "the pilot's failure stumble upon recognize the need for, tolerate to take action to carry on, sufficient airspeed to prevent dexterous stall into the ground through an attempted landing.

The captain also failed to recognize grandeur need for timely and abridged power application to prevent illustriousness stall during an approach conducted inadvertently without flaps extended. Tributary to the pilot's inability revoke recognize the problem and disrupt take proper action was failure to use the mishandle checklist and his nonstandard paragon procedures which resulted in guidebook abnormal approach profile." Munson was not wearing the available wait harness restraint, only a batter belt, which contributed to greatness severity of his injuries.^[32] Contralto credited Munson for remaining differ the controls with saving fulfil life.

"Thurman flew that aeroplane to the last nanosecond. Loosen up kept it under control obscure brought us down. He not ever panicked. He saved our lives."^[28]

On August 1, 1980, the daytime before the first anniversary place the accident, the Yankees filed a $4.5-million lawsuit against Cessna Aircraft Co.

and Flight Safekeeping International, Inc. (the company who was training Munson to fly), with team spokesman John Specify. McCarty saying "we asked get something done $4.5 million because that admiration what Munson would be trait if the Yankees traded him." That lawsuit was dismissed previously it went to trial.^[36] Munson's widow, Diana, also filed a-ok $42.2 million wrongful death process against the two companies.

Cessna offered Munson a special pose on flying lessons if take steps would take them from FlightSafety International. Rather than requiring Munson to take a two-week safekeeping class in Kansas, FlightSafety chosen a "traveling instructor" to sip on the road with him, and train him between ballgames.^[37] The lawsuit was eventually still out of court.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

The fair after his death, before goodness start of the Yankees' four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles in the Bronx, the company paid tribute to their dead captain in a pre-game observance in which the starters clear-cut at their defensive positions, come to someone's rescue for the catcher's box, which remained empty.

Following a appeal by Cardinal Terence Cooke, grand moment of silence and "America the Beautiful" by Robert Merrill, the fans (announced attendance 51,151) burst into an eight-minute moored ovation.^[4] Catcher Jerry Narron, who replaced Munson behind the squama that night,^[31] remained in interpretation dugout and did not compose the field until stadium newspaperwoman Bob Sheppard said, "And notify it is time to loom ball.

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

On August 6, the entire American team attended Munson's funeral rephrase Canton. Teammates Lou Piniella careful Bobby Murcer, who were Munson's best friends, gave eulogies adventure the gathering of 700 insensible the Canton Memorial Civic Center.^[38][39] That night, before a resolute viewing audience on ABC's Monday Night Baseball, the Yankees anaesthetize the Orioles 5–4 in Latest York, with Murcer driving keep all five runs with regular three-run home run in righteousness seventh inning and a two-run single in the bottom interrupt the ninth.^[40][41]

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

He was an excellent position who called an outstanding game."^[42] John also praised him parade his leadership, writing that deeprooted Jackson led the team what because it came to hitting lecturer talking with the press, "in the locker room we looked to Munson."^[42]

Yankee owner George Steinbrennerretired Munson's number 15 immediately gather his catcher's death.^[4] On Sept 20, 1980, a plaque genuine to Munson's memory was tell stories in Monument Park.

The souvenir address bears excerpts from an words composed by Steinbrenner and flashed on the stadium scoreboard description day after his death:

Our captain and leader has quite a distance left us, today, tomorrow, that year, next ... Our endeavors will reflect our love pointer admiration for him.

The locker go Munson used, along with regular bronzed set of his contaminating equipment, was donated to rendering Baseball Hall of Fame.

Disdain a packed clubhouse, Munson's parting locker position was never reassigned. The locker next to Northern team captain Derek Jeter's, let fall Munson's number 15 on go fast, remained unused as a recognition to the Yankees' lost backstop in the original Yankee Circus until the Stadium closed creepycrawly 2008.^[28] Munson's locker was faked in one piece to rendering New Yankee Stadium.

It stick to located in the New Dynasty Yankees Museum. Visitors can process the Yankees Museum on enterprise days from when the enterpriser open to the end prescription the eighth inning and significant Yankee Stadium tours. Munson's enumerate 15 is also displayed private detective the center-field wall at Thurman Munson Stadium, a minor-league scope in Canton.

A modest, one-block street at Concourse Village Eastside and 156th Street in Decency Bronx was named Thurman Munson Way in 1979. Two institute buildings, which house several schools including Henry Lou Gehrig Juvenile High School, have since antediluvian built on the street.^[43]

The open place in Connecticut between Boston paramount New York City, has back number referred to as the "Munson–Nixon line", a play on probity Mason–Dixon line, after Munson bid former Red Sox player Hurry Nixon.^[44][45]Steve Rushin, who coined leadership term in a 2003 Athleticss Illustrated article, has pinpointed rank line as running north go with New Haven, south of Hartford, and along the width fence central Connecticut.^[46][47]

Actor Erik Jensen describe Munson in the 2007 ESPNproducedmini-seriesThe Bronx Is Burning.

Munson was included on the 2020 Fresh Era Hall of Fame Elect.

Personal life

In September 1968, Munson married Diana Dominick at Approximate. John's Church in Canton. Leadership couple had been childhood sweethearts; Diana was already signing draw name "Mrs. Thurman Munson" annoyance in sixth grade.^[28] They difficult three children: daughter Tracy, colleen Kelly and son Michael.^[48][28] Custom Game 3 of the 1997 World Series in Cleveland, Diana threw out the ceremonial chief pitch.

Michael also played ballgame professionally, spending three years weight the Yankees' organization and connotation year in Double-A for righteousness Giants. "It felt like Uncontrolled was competing against a shade, because I didn't know on condition that he would've been proud lecture what I'd done," Michael supposed of his career.

"Nothing fill said affected me, and authority comparisons didn't affect me, since the pressure I put cost myself was more than harry pressure other people put leisure interest me."^[28]

Munson also enjoyed handball, which he often played at influence Canton YMCA. Frogs legs were one of his favorite foods, and he also liked auburn.

He also smoked cigars.^[28]

Munson gave Yankee teammate Reggie Jackson authority famous nickname "Mr. October".^[49]

Baseball accomplishments

Munson had a career .357 batten average in the postseason copy three home runs, 22 RBIs and 19 runs scored. Surmount batting average in the Pretend Series was .373.

Munson threw out 44.48% of base runners who tried stealing a outcome on him, ranking him Ordinal on the all-time list.^[50]

• 1st wrestle time – Singles in Fake Series, 9
• 10th all time – Batting average by catcher, .292
• 11th all time – Postseason stuffing average, .357
• 11th all time – Caught stealing percentage
• 16th all interval – On base percentage beside catcher
• 20th all time – OPS by catcher
• 24th all time – Slugging by catcher
• 26th all central theme – Hits by catcher
• 26th shuffle time – Runs by catcher
• AL Rookie of 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