04/25/24
August 02, 2004
'Are you guys OK?': The last words of Thurman Munson, who died 25 years ago today.
I loved watching Thurman when I was a kid. My dad was a former catcher and always had a fondness for catchers, and I think I picked it up from him. I'd always rather see Thurman get a hit than Reggie Jackson. In a "millionaire franchise", you wouldn't think that the position of team captain would matter, but somehow it still does. With Thurman Munson's legacy, I think for the Yankees, it probably always will. Rest in peace.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:37 AM on August 03, 2004
Reading today about the crash, which I vividly recall from my childhood, I wasn't aware of how fluky his death was. He appears to have died because they hit a stump near the runway.
posted by rcade at 07:14 AM on August 03, 2004
that Outside the Lines piece was tough to watch, seeing guys like Sparky Lyle and Lou Piniella get choked up. it's sucks that the only reason i remember my cousin's birthday every year is that she shares it with Thurm's death (he was her favorite player too).
posted by goddam at 08:56 AM on August 03, 2004
Thurman Munson was the first famous person I knew that died (Elvis didn't mean **** to me back then). I was only 8, and was collecting baseball cards and had a Thurman Munson card. I remember reading about his plane crash and death in the newspaper. I don't think I was really sad, just confused as to why a baseball player would die in a private plane crash. Shouldn't he just be playing baseball and letting other people fly the planes? It wasn't until I saw the outpouring of emotion from the NY fans and players (on TV) that I realized this was a really sad moment.
posted by grum@work at 11:51 AM on August 03, 2004
This year I changed my jersey number from 14 to 15 in honor of Thurman Munson. I feel cheated that I never got the chance to appreciate his impact as a ballplayer. Outside the Lines with Jeremy Schaap just did a piece on this. If Thurman had not passed away the Yankees could have won two, three, or four more series. Or Munson might have left them for Cleveland to be closer to home then how might he have impacted that city and franchise when they were at their worst? 32 years old when he died. Thanks for the post goddam.