Bleeding Yankee Blue: #15

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

#15

Interesting that we live our lives by way of numbers. Statistics, bank accounts, bills, salaries, and sizes- we can’t escape numbers and what they mean to us and perhaps our livelihood. Recently, we memorialized some amazing players via numbers in movies- 42 and 61*- Jackie Robinson and Roger Maris respectively. Although #42 is currently only worn by one player today, Mariano Rivera’s number will be a retired one for the Yankees- and after him, one day, #2, our current captain- Derek Jeter. Sandwiched between our current day players and our old-time players of the early part of the 20th century, we have our 1970-1980s players, and in those years, we reached the World Series three times and won two championships. Our captain at the time, #15, Thurman Munson.

More than 30 years ago we lost this icon, a legend of the game. “Thurman Munson was a larger-than-life character, the star catcher who was the captain -- the team's first since Lou Gehrig -- and unquestioned leader. Among his teammates, nobody was more respected and admired,” stated Star Ledger reporter (HERE) who covered the Yankees for many years, Moss Klein. I remember the tragic August 2nd when he died, we were at a family barbecue. I ran inside to grab a ringing telephone, because, of course, there was no voicemail or machines to answer it. It was my grandmother, die hard Dodger and Met fan, calling me to tell me that we lost our captain- Thurman Munson in a plane crash. He was only 32.

I remember watching him behind the plate and later in his career at first base. When Munson was hitting, we were winning. It was that simple. And like a character in literary classics, Munson was colorful. He had words with the best of them including his manager, the equally colorful Billy Martin, Reggie “straw that stirred the drink” Jackson and the “Goose” Rich Gossage. He wasn’t afraid to tell others how he felt about them or a particular situation- his editing filter was probably damaged from too many hits in the head behind the plate. Even some of the ticket collectors from the old Yankee Stadium remember Munson’s commentary. He often chatted with the old guys, never really having a kind word, but always a witty statement.

At the time, he played with some of the best catchers in history- Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench. He and Sparky Anderson once had words at a press conference when the media compared Munson to Bench. But, beyond his somewhat controversial disposition, Munson was an outstanding catcher, leader and captain, perhaps paving the way for future catchers and captains of the Yankees.

Men like Rick Cerone, Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada and now young Fran Cervelli have Munson-like qualities. They all have that hustle, that dynamic, cerebral way of thinking about the game, calling it, driving it and believing in it. Sometimes I liken Munson to Girardi in the way he sees the game. Although he is not a hall of famer, he should be. For everything he gave us- a winning team, one we hadn’t seen since Mickey Mantle retired in the late 1960s. We often found ourselves in last place in those days. But Thurman Munson lifted us up.

According to an article featuring long time security guard for the New York Yankees known as John published in Long Island Baseball Magazine (HERE) this year, “Thurman was one of the greatest postseason hitters in baseball history Victoria” said Grandpa John. “He batted .357 in 30 playoff games. However his best work was in the World Series. Thurman always knew when to turn up the heat. He batted .373 in 16 World Series games. Heck, he batted .529 in the 1976 World Series.”

So, as we look back at the great numbers of the game, we can never overlook #15 for all he gave us that is still with us. Legendary gritty come from behind wins, rich rivalries with the Sox, undying will to win and leadership beyond the field. Yep, Thurman did that and much more and we are grateful for his good work and his forever wit he brought to the House that Ruth Built.