Thurman Munson

Lore & Background

Born in Akron, Ohio, Munson was selected as the fourth pick of the 1968 MLB draft and was named as the catcher on the 1968 College Baseball All-American Team. He became the Yankees' starting catcher late in the 1969 season, and after his first complete season in 1970, in which he batted .302, he was voted American League (AL) Rookie of the Year. Considered the 'heart and soul' of the Yankees, Munson was named captain of the Yankees in 1976, the team's first since Lou Gehrig.

That same year, he won the AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. As captain, Munson helped lead the Yankees to three consecutive World Series appearances from 1976 to 1978, winning championships in the latter two years. He is the first player in baseball history to be named a College Baseball All-American and then in MLB win a Rookie of the Year Award, MVP Award, Gold Glove Award, and World Series championship. He is also the only catcher in MLB postseason history to record at least a .300+ batting average (.357), 20 RBIs (22), and 20 defensive caught stealings (24).

On August 2, 1979, Munson died in a crash while practicing landings in his aircraft at Akron–Canton Airport. The Yankees honored him by immediately retiring his uniform 15, and dedicating a plaque to him in Monument Park.

Reader's Guide

Thurman Munson was a catcher for the New York Yankees from 1969 to 1979. He was a seven-time All-Star, won the AL Rookie of the Year in 1970, and the AL MVP in 1976. He won three consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1973 to 1975. Munson was named team captain in 1976, the first Yankees captain since Lou Gehrig. He led the Yankees to three straight World Series appearances (1976–1978), winning in 1977 and 1978. He died in a plane crash on August 2, 1979.