Thurman Munson

From SoSH

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Red Sox Nation Villainy 3 Awards 4 Trivia 5 Transactions 6 External Links

Overall Career

Thurman Lee Munson was the New York Yankees catcher throughout most of the 70's. His promising career ended short on August 2, 1979 when he crashed his airplane and died while practicing landing.

Red Sox Nation Villainy

• August 1, 1973: The Boston Red Sox were playing the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. It was a battle for 1st place. The Yankees' Gene Michael missed a squeeze bunt in the 9th inning with Munson on third base. Munson collides with Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk at home plate. Fisk hangs onto the baseball and Munson is out. Fisk, not appreciating Munson's collision, pushes Munson. Munson then procedes to sucker-punch Fisk blackening his left eye. As the two catchers wrestle, cowardly Gene Michael punches Fisk. A bench-clearing brawl ensues. Munson and Fisk are ejected. Ironically, the coward Michael was not. The Sox scored in the bottom of the 9th inning to win the game and knock the Yankees out of 1st place.

Awards

• 1970 American League Rookie of the Year
• 1976 American League MVP
• 3-time American league Gold Glove (Catcher)
• 7-time American League All Star

Trivia

• Was the 1st captain of the New York Yankees since Lou Gehrig
• Not only is Munson's number (15) retired, but his locker in the Yankee Stadium locker room has been retired as well. It remains empty to this day. It is unknown if a locker will remain void in his memory at the New Yankee Stadium when it opens in 2009.
• A replica of Munson's locker is displayed in the Baseball Hall of Fame

Transactions

• June 7, 1968: Drafted in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 1968 amateur draft by the New York Yankees

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis