Let's All Remember Thurman Munson Today

[JollyElm]

Clear as day I still remember walking home on that hot August day in 1979 and being greeted by my brother with tears in his eyes who told me The Captain had died in a plane crash. That utter shock and despair is still burned into my soul 36 years later. What a terrible, terrible shame.

I was a Mets fan who became partial to Reggie Jackson on the Yanks, but I loved Thurman Munson's grittiness as a player and his leadership of a team that was seemingly always awash in strife. He greatly helped bring the club back again to its former stature as a dominant force. What a clutch player he was!!

Rest in peace, Thurm.

[Klrdds]

I agree . I remember vividly what I was doing when I heard the news of Munson's tragic death. I believe they are called flashpoint memories or something similar .

[mybuddyinc]

Yes, a vivid memory. I was watching a game on TV with my father, got up and went to the bathroom. Came back and my father was sitting there with an odd look, and just said "Munson's dead."

[thetruthisoutthere]

I recall that day quite vividly.

I was working the midnight shift those days and awoke to the news of Thurman's death when I woke up at 10PM.

Still saddens me.

[Mountaineer1999]

Pretty amazing that 36 years have passed. I was 12 but still remember hearing the news.

[Mr. Zipper]

I was in junior high and recall it vividly as well.

I was sitting in the living room watching TV before dinner with my brother, who was and is a Red Sox fan. A scroll started across the bottom of the screen... "NY Yankees catcher Thurman..." and my brother yelled happily, "Munson's been traded!"

Obviously, a second later as the scroll continued we knew that wasn't the case. It was truly shocking. We had just seen him at Yankee stadium in late July on our first trip to the stadium.

[slipk1068]

I was 14 visiting my Grandfather and Aunt. The neighbor stopped over. She knew I was a Yankee fan and asked me if I heard a Yankee died in a plane crash. She didn't remember his name but said it was something like "Herman Munster." Obvious she meant Thurman.

RIP Captain

[kkkkandp]

I remember it vividly.

I saw the crawl on the bottom of the TV screen behind the bar at O'Leary's Pub in Northvale, NJ where we had just come in from a Thursday softball game. Though he was from Ohio, Thurman was a bit of a local hero since during a few seasons he lived nearby (for a while in Norwood, NJ - the town between Closter, where I lived, and the pub), so people would occasionally see him around. I rooted for him since his rookie season because of his blue-collar, no-nonsense style of play.

At the time, my cousin was trying to start his own baseball-related business and became friendly with a couple of the younger Yankees including Munson. While Thurman was often seen as surly by the press, my cousin said he was just a regular guy who didn't really relish all the attention.

It was a pretty sad day for all Yankee fans, but especially so for the towns around where I lived.

[ALR-bishop]

Darren-- you are a variations guy, have you come across a 71 Munson yellow less front. I have heard it mentioned and once saw a scan but have not come across it in person.

[steve B]

Every time I think of Thurman Munson I start thinking of what might have been. As a Red Sox fan one of the enjoyable debates was Munson or Fisk. I think most of the country thought Bench was the best catcher, but as far as any Sox or Yankees fan would say it was either of the two AL catchers.

The two of them were nearly equal in stats, Fisk had a bit more power, maybe....he did play in Fenway. Munson drove in more runs.... Batting average went back and forth. Both were great defensively, both got a lot out of their pitchers.

Then that debate came to a sudden and final end. Sure, we can still compare them in their primes, but I'd rather have another 14 seasons of greatness to compare.

Would he have stayed in NY? The Yanks surely wouldn't have played the games the Sox did that eventually cost them Fisk. But then he'd have had Steinbrenner. Would he have lasted another decade or more? Probably, he always seemed more durable than Fisk.

Some Yankees I truly didn't like, but Munson was never one of them He played the game "right" and was amazing. Even to a fan of the rival team.

Steve B

[batsballsbases]

I remember it like it was yesterday. My favorite player. I was just fresh off the Mantle Maris era and he became my new yankee hero.. As always rest in peace my friend....

[Runscott]

I remember thinking: "What could that guy have done if he had played longer?"

I only have one card from my 'childhood' - I sent a 1973 Topps Munson to SGC and it's in my 'never sell' box. Sure I was a 15-year old child, but now I'm a 57-year old child

[ullmandds]

great stories guys...steve and dave...hilarious!!!!

i don't remember exactly where I was or what I was doing when I heard...but as a 10 year old fanatical yankees fan...Munson was my favorite player. I was devastated. I attended Lou Pinella baseball camp the summer of 79...munson was supposed to be there...his pic is on the montage...but he never made it...and his square is the only one not autographed.

To this day I still have my munson scrapbook I made after he died...filled with newspaper clippings and pennies from his birth/death years and a 79' burger king munson card....My foul ball I caught at game 4 of the 78 world series that he touched...and all my munson cards.

[nolemmings]

I was 20, and Munson had been my favorite player for years. I was slinging blacktop for the city street department in my home town during the Summer, and the news hit me hard in the break room that afternoon. I wept alot throughout the rest of the day-- death had been a stranger to me, no funerals since I was a tot too young to understand. This truly was tough to get through.

I was lucky enough to have met Thurman in 1978--shook his hand at a bar near the team hotel in the Twin Cities. Many Yankees were relaxing there and it was a dream come true for fans of the pinstripers like me, but the sixty seconds or so talking to Munson were easily the highlight of the day and whole series I came to watch. I'll never forget.