Thurman Munson

Thurman Munson (June 7, 1947 ? August 2, 1979) was a Major League Baseball player from 1969 to 1979. Munson played his entire career as catcher with the New York Yankees having been drafted by the team with the fourth pick in the first round of the 1968 amateur draft. He was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1970 for batting .302 with 7 home runs and 57 RBIs, and the American League MVP in 1976 for batting .302 with 17 home runs and 105 RBIs. In 1971 he made only one error behind the plate and went on to win Gold Glove Awards for 1973-74-75. A seven-time all-star, Munson smashed 113 home runs, 701 RBIs and had a career batting average of .292 over his ten-year career. He was also the first captain named by the Yankees since Lou Gehrig. Munson helped lead his team to three consecutive World Series (1976,'77,'78), where he batted a remarkable .373 overall.

Related Topics:
June 7 - 1947 - August 2 - 1979 - Major League Baseball - 1969 - 1979 - Catcher - New York Yankees - American League Rookie of the Year - 1970 - American League - MVP - Gold Glove Award - Lou Gehrig

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On August 2, 1979 Munson died in a plane crash. He was practicing takeoffs and landings in his new twin engine Cessna Citation jet at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. Something went wrong, causing the jet to clip a tree and fall short of the runway on a landing attempt. The plane then burst into flames, killing Munson, who was trapped inside, and injuring two other companions. His sudden death stunned the nation and especially sorrowed the baseball community. Munson's wife, Diana, and their three children survived him. Four days later, on August 6, the entire Yankee team attended his funeral in Canton, Ohio. Lou Piniella and Bobby Murcer, who were Munson's best friends as well as teammates, gave moving eulogies. That night (in front of a national viewing audience on ABC's Monday Night Baseball) the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 in New York with Bobby Murcer driving in all 5 runs.

Related Topics:
August 2 - 1979 - Cessna - Akron-Canton Regional Airport - Canton, Ohio - Lou Piniella - Bobby Murcer - ABC - Monday Night Baseball - Baltimore Orioles

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The Yankees have retired his No. 15 uniform and have placed a memorial plaque on the centerfield wall at Yankee Stadium. To this day, despite a packed clubhouse, his locker remains empty as a subtle tribute to such a great player. His number 15 is displayed on the center field wall at Munson Stadium. Munson is buried at Sunset Hills Burial Park in Canton, Ohio.

Related Topics:
Retired - Yankee Stadium - Munson Stadium - Sunset Hills Burial Park - Canton, Ohio

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He was a graduate of Canton Lehman High School and Kent State University (where he was a teammate of pitcher Steve Stone).

Related Topics:
Kent State University - Steve Stone

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