I was 7, so I don't have a perfect recollection. But, I remember the news being on and I heard his name, perked up and saw a video of a park named after him (I think). When it clicked what the story was about, I broke down and cried. I wish I remembered that 1st game back, with his best friend, Murcer, being the hero.
went to sleep away cam up in Western Mass. and the camp had a heavy contingent of New Englanders obviously and the rivalry was fierce back then- Munson vs. Fisk. We always would joke with each other "Hey last night the Yanks/Redsox team plane crashed, the whole tam died" Well we were at a camp prgram and a friend leans over and whispers "Thurman Munson died in a plane crash" I chuckled like yeah right!. He looked at me with a dead on stare and said No I'm serious! It was just so hard to comprehend or fathom.
apologies to anyone who has important events on this day.
Unfortunately at the time he died Thurman was already in decline as a player from all those games behind the plate. His knees were shot. I'm not sure how much longer he would have played but I wish it would have been his choice.
If you were lucky enough to be a Yankee fan in the 1970's Thurman Munson was a baseball god. Yankee fans wouldn't have traded him for anyone.
Guidry to Munson in 1978 was the greatest baseball I ever saw in person. They were electric days in The Bronx.
RE: His death left the team reeling for a few years
Obviously, the rest of that year was crushing. But, they had no real answer at C for quite some time.
I don't know that I agree with that. Sure '79 was DOA, but it probably was any way. They won 103 games in '80, and made the WS in '81. Sure they lost to the Royals and Dodgers, teams they always beat with Thurman but they were damn good baseball teams and we weren't going to beat them forever. I though Rick Cerrone had his best year in '80. Sure Thurm was the captain and heart and soul, but I'd hardly say they were few seasons.
that had just witnessed 2 straight championships. Thurman was not my favorite Yankee though. Bucky Dent was because I also played SS. I was crushed by the news nevertheless.
went to sleep away cam up in Western Mass. and the camp had a heavy contingent of New Englanders obviously and the rivalry was fierce back then- Munson vs. Fisk. We always would joke with each other "Hey last night the Yanks/Redsox team plane crashed, the whole tam died" Well we were at a camp prgram and a friend leans over and whispers "Thurman Munson died in a plane crash" I chuckled like yeah right!. He looked at me with a dead on stare and said No I'm serious! It was just so hard to comprehend or fathom.
That reminds me of when the Challenger exploded. We were in the middle of midterms in JHS. Everyday at lunch there were similar jokes about Mets and Yankees. The last one I remember was Mookie Wilson dying. Then someone says the space shuttle blew up and nobody believed him. He must have heard from staff, because within a minute, an announcement came over the PA.
RE: RE: His death left the team reeling for a few years
Obviously, the rest of that year was crushing. But, they had no real answer at C for quite some time.
I don't know that I agree with that. Sure '79 was DOA, but it probably was any way. They won 103 games in '80, and made the WS in '81. Sure they lost to the Royals and Dodgers, teams they always beat with Thurman but they were damn good baseball teams and we weren't going to beat them forever. I though Rick Cerrone had his best year in '80. Sure Thurm was the captain and heart and soul, but I'd hardly say they were few seasons.
Maybe that's just my recollection as a 7 year old that I was devastated. I agree that Cerone had his best year in 80. But, the next few years with him and Wynegar were not great, even though they had decent teams.
To be honest, I haven followed the Yankees as closely since that day..
...was a die hard kid, watched most games, went to some - me and my best friend used to bike over to Teterboro, hoping to spot Thurm or his plane - back then, you could bike out in the hangar parking lots, nobody gave a crap.
Munson was one of the coolest players I ever saw, and the magic of that 70's team evaporated with his death. A huge hole spiritually and good god they could not replace his skills.
coming off the field when a friend told me he just heard it on the radio. I was devestated and I was due up to bat. Unbelievable player and character. One of a kind.
and we used to go up to Yankee Stadium to watch afternoon games. I was pretty broke but bleecher seats were $2.50; the subway was $1.50; and, a couple of beers made for a great afternoon.
A friend of mine loved Thurman and on his birthday we got upper deck seats and snuck down in the later innings (pretty empty stadium) and started screaming happy birthday to him. He turned around and waved with a big smile on his face. A couple of months later he was gone.
The funny thing, is that in my memory, it was only a couple of days later. But it is a long time ago.
is my favorite piece on Munson. It was written in 1999 for the 20 year anniversary. Link - ( New Window )
Thanks for this. I had never read that before. Somewhere in the middle, when the writer is interviewing old teammates, I got goosebumps and briefly returned to that 7 year old kid from 1979.
is my favorite piece on Munson. It was written in 1999 for the 20 year anniversary. Link - ( New Window )
Thanks for this. I had never read that before. Somewhere in the middle, when the writer is interviewing old teammates, I got goosebumps and briefly returned to that 7 year old kid from 1979.
The video embedded in that article is great. Messer and White jut talking about the team in pre-game until the memorial for Thurman. Great listen.
time I ever openly wept for another human - including my parents.
My two sports heroes were Muhammad Ali and Thurman Munson. I was 12 or 13 when he came up and replaced Jake Gibbs as catcher. I was washing my brand new Camaro Z28 when I found out.
It was never written, but in order to have broken his neck, he must not have been wearing his seat belt. The other two people got out easily.
time I ever openly wept for another human - including my parents.
My two sports heroes were Muhammad Ali and Thurman Munson. I was 12 or 13 when he came up and replaced Jake Gibbs as catcher. I was washing my brand new Camaro Z28 when I found out.
It was never written, but in order to have broken his neck, he must not have been wearing his seat belt. The other two people got out easily.
From what I understand, both him and especially Billy Martin years later would've walked away from their accidents if they had been properly belted in.
Sam Kinison's crash too. He did internal damage hitting the steering wheel with his chest. If he was bucked up, he'd have walked right out of the car no worse for wear. It wasn't that much of a high speed collision
when I heard the news over the radio. I was so saddened, that I turned my car around and went back home. I couldn't work that day.
When I was in college in Cincinnati, my older brother and I somehow made it onto the field at Riverfront when the Yankees arrived for BP against the Reds for WS 1976. Something that would be literally impossible to do today. They had just come from their victory over Kansas City after Chris Chambliss had hit a HR to end the series. I remember being on the field and my older brother put his hand on Thurman's shoulder and said "hi Thurm". Munson gave him a look that effectively said "if you don't move your hand off my shoulder, I'm going to break it". I still remember his expression to this day. Always loved him as a player. Very sad day when he passed away.
WPIX and they broke in with the news. I cried and my Mother came in to see what I was crying about and then she cried too. Munson and Nettles were my favorite Yankees
May have been the only time I've cried over a non-family member dying.
I'm 53 its amazing how he is basically every Yankees fan in my age range favorite player of all time including my brother and I.
Link - ( New Window )
Unfortunately at the time he died Thurman was already in decline as a player from all those games behind the plate. His knees were shot. I'm not sure how much longer he would have played but I wish it would have been his choice.
If you were lucky enough to be a Yankee fan in the 1970's Thurman Munson was a baseball god. Yankee fans wouldn't have traded him for anyone.
Guidry to Munson in 1978 was the greatest baseball I ever saw in person. They were electric days in The Bronx.
I don't know that I agree with that. Sure '79 was DOA, but it probably was any way. They won 103 games in '80, and made the WS in '81. Sure they lost to the Royals and Dodgers, teams they always beat with Thurman but they were damn good baseball teams and we weren't going to beat them forever. I though Rick Cerrone had his best year in '80. Sure Thurm was the captain and heart and soul, but I'd hardly say they were few seasons.
Such a sad day.
Quote:
Obviously, the rest of that year was crushing. But, they had no real answer at C for quite some time.
I don't know that I agree with that. Sure '79 was DOA, but it probably was any way. They won 103 games in '80, and made the WS in '81. Sure they lost to the Royals and Dodgers, teams they always beat with Thurman but they were damn good baseball teams and we weren't going to beat them forever. I though Rick Cerrone had his best year in '80. Sure Thurm was the captain and heart and soul, but I'd hardly say they were few seasons.
Munson was one of the coolest players I ever saw, and the magic of that 70's team evaporated with his death. A huge hole spiritually and good god they could not replace his skills.
RIP Thurm.
A friend of mine loved Thurman and on his birthday we got upper deck seats and snuck down in the later innings (pretty empty stadium) and started screaming happy birthday to him. He turned around and waved with a big smile on his face. A couple of months later he was gone.
The funny thing, is that in my memory, it was only a couple of days later. But it is a long time ago.
Quote:
is my favorite piece on Munson. It was written in 1999 for the 20 year anniversary. Link - ( New Window )
Thanks for this. I had never read that before. Somewhere in the middle, when the writer is interviewing old teammates, I got goosebumps and briefly returned to that 7 year old kid from 1979.
My two sports heroes were Muhammad Ali and Thurman Munson. I was 12 or 13 when he came up and replaced Jake Gibbs as catcher. I was washing my brand new Camaro Z28 when I found out.
It was never written, but in order to have broken his neck, he must not have been wearing his seat belt. The other two people got out easily.
Thanks for posting. Great piece.
My two sports heroes were Muhammad Ali and Thurman Munson. I was 12 or 13 when he came up and replaced Jake Gibbs as catcher. I was washing my brand new Camaro Z28 when I found out.
It was never written, but in order to have broken his neck, he must not have been wearing his seat belt. The other two people got out easily.
From what I understand, both him and especially Billy Martin years later would've walked away from their accidents if they had been properly belted in.
Sam Kinison's crash too. He did internal damage hitting the steering wheel with his chest. If he was bucked up, he'd have walked right out of the car no worse for wear. It wasn't that much of a high speed collision
When I was in college in Cincinnati, my older brother and I somehow made it onto the field at Riverfront when the Yankees arrived for BP against the Reds for WS 1976. Something that would be literally impossible to do today. They had just come from their victory over Kansas City after Chris Chambliss had hit a HR to end the series. I remember being on the field and my older brother put his hand on Thurman's shoulder and said "hi Thurm". Munson gave him a look that effectively said "if you don't move your hand off my shoulder, I'm going to break it". I still remember his expression to this day. Always loved him as a player. Very sad day when he passed away.
May have been the only time I've cried over a non-family member dying.