The LuLac Edition #2705, August 2nd, 2014

THURMAN MUNSON'S DEATH @ 35

Classic Munson photo from his last year with the Yankees. (Photo: SI.com)

It was a muggy Thursday afternoon in August. The news came late in the afternoon that Yankee Catcher and Captain Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash. Munson was the gritty, determined Yankee MVP and All Star that snarled and battled his way through the tumultuous pennant years of 1976 through 1978. By the time 1979 rolled around Munson was making noises about going to Cleveland.
His death essentially made him a tragic Yankee immortal. There is speculation that at the time of his death Munson might have played first base and perhaps might have attained a Hall of Fame career. That we can only guess about.

Cartoon by Bill Gallo in Friday August 3rd, 1979 edition of New York Daily News. (Photo: New York Daily News). 

The day after his death, Munson’s position was behind home plate was vacant. Jerry Narron took his place when the game began. Munson was buried the following Monday. The team played the ABC TV Monday Night Baseball Game of the week against the Orioles. Behind most of the game the Yankees came back to win 5-4 behind the bat of Munson’s team mate Bobby Murcer who earlier in the day gave one of the eulogies. Here is that historic game.

Like Lou Gehrig, Munson is frozen in time. Forever young at the age of 32, Forever The Captain. For people of a certain age, this date is significant because that was the day the battle scarred mortal Munson, through tragedy became immortal. 

Yankee teammates standing at attention in memory of Munson on the night of August 3rd, 1979. (Photo: NotinHallofFame.com)