Murcer/Munson Game

I've written about this a couple of times over the last few years, and obviously nothing has changed. However, as a Bobby Murcer fan, always a day I try to recognize. I also realize you can find this information other places on the internet, like I have over the years. 

August 6, 1979 is known around the Yankees and the baseball world as either "The Bobby Murcer game" or "The Thurman Munson Game." 

The Yankees defeated the Orioles 5-4. That score doesn't tell the story at all. 

This was after the Yankees' team attended the funeral for their captain, Thurman Munson, earlier in the day. Munson was tragically killed in a plane crash on August 2. 

Bobby Murcer was a eulogist, along with Lou Pinella, at Munson's funeral. 

A famous excerpt from Murcer's eulogy was "Thurman Munson wore the pinstripes as number 15, but in living, loving, and legend, history will forever remember my friend as number one." (2:25 of clip)

In the game on August 6, Murcer drove in all five runs, with a three-run home run in the seventh inning and a walk-off two-run single in the ninth. 

Side note: I like Howard Cosell for certain reasons but he says way too much here. Let it breath. 

Yankees Manager Billy Martin had told Murcer to take the game off, but Murcer told Martin he felt like he had to play. Sometimes, that's what people need. Murcer didn't just play. He honored his friend and teammate so well. 

Bobby had some special moments over his career, but this may have been the most special, as it was about more than baseball. 

The bat that Murcer used that game, he never used it again. He gave it to Diana Munson. 

This is a date that will live in Yankees' history forever, and as a Murcer fan, a date I always think about. 

43 Years

There have been a number of baseball related items I could have written about this week. From Yankees Old Timers Day, to the anniversary of Thurman Munson's passing, to Vin Scully passing away. For one reason or another, I did not. However, August 6 is a day I didn't feel like I could not write about. 

Sure, you can find similar things written elsewhere, but I wanted to, and felt I should write about this. 

August 6, 1979 is a day Yankee fans and baseball fans know. At least the older ones who were around. Then there are people like me who know and care about baseball history. I also watch so many old games and highlights of old games. 

This was the date of what many people call "The Bobby Murcer Game."

 It was an emotional week for the Yankees with captain Thurman being killed in a plane crash on August 2. 

The Yankees honored Munson on August 3 with a pre-game ceremony. 

August 6 was the funeral for Munson, where Murcer was one of the eulogists of his friend. Murcer was one of two eulogists (2:25 of clip), along with Yankee teammate Lou Pinella (12:15 of clip). 

Murcer's famous line from his eulogy was "Thurman Munson wore the pinstripes as number 15, but in living, loving, and legend, history will forever remember my friend as number one."

That night, the Yankees were scheduled to play the Baltimore Orioles. There was a chance the Yankees were going to forfeit the game if they didn't get back from the funeral in time. However, they played. Diana Munson, Thurman's widow, told Yankees owner George Steinbrenner that they should play, that Thurman would want that. 

Manager Billy Martin was going to give Murcer the day off, but Murcer insisted on playing. He said he needed to play. 

He did not only play, he had a big game. He drove in all five runs, in a 5-4 Yankees win. 

In the seventh, down 4-0, Bobby lined a three-run home run to right field to cut the deficit to one. 

The game remained 4-3 into the bottom of the ninth. With the tying run at third and the winning run at second, Bobby stepped up to the plate. 

And delivered. 

Bobby lined a ball down the left field line off of Orioles pitcher Tippy Martinez that scored Bucky Dent to tie the game and Willie Randolph crossed the plate with the winning run. 

Bobby talked about how he never used the bat he used in that game ever again. He gave it to Diana Munson,

August 6, 2008 was also the day of Murcer's memorial service, after he passed away on July 12 of that year. 

Bobby wasn't the greatest Yankee, but in a time of tragedy, this might have been Bobby's greatest Yankee moment. 

I hope you will reach and watch more about both Thurman and Bobby. I know I will be today. 

Here's the full game from August 6, 1979. 

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Howard Cosell is on the call of the game for ABC, along with Keith Jackson. I have a liking for Howard because my uncle has called me that. However, when we talk about crowd noise, Cosell does not go by that. He honestly talks way too much as he is making the call on the game winner. In a week in which we have honored Vin Scully, be like Vin. Call the play and then be quiet. 

Missing Bobby

Bobby Murcer, former Yankee player and broadcaster, gone 14 years ago today. 

Bobby passed away on July 12, 2008, after battling brain cancer since December. 

I remember being at a family party. The party was outside in the yard but the game was on inside the house. I walked in when Bob Lorenz was announcing Bobby's passing on the post game show on the Yes Network following the Yankees game. 

There was reaction from many people, including, then-manager Joe Girardi, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Any Pettitte and Jason Giambi. 

I remember walking back out to the party and telling my dad and other family and friends. 

I've written about Bobby here before. 

He was a very good player, playing for the Yankees, as well as the Giants and Cubs. As is the name of his autobiography, he considered himself a "Yankee for Life." 

He was touted as "the next Mickey Mantle" and while he wasn't that, he deserves more recognition that he gets. He was one of a few stars during a bad stretch of Yankees baseball. 

Some highlight games include "The Thurman Munson game" in 1979 and his pinch-hit grand slam against Texas in 1981. 

Most people think about the game in '79 when after Murcer gave a eulogy at Munson's funeral, he told Billy Martin he needed to play. Not only did he play, but he drove in all five runs including a three-run home run and a walk-off two-run single. 

From his broadcasting side, he did games on PIX11, WNYW, and the YES Network. I always think of him with Michael Kay and Jim Kaat on the July 1, 2004 game vs the Red Sox. 

This game is better known as the "Jeter Dive" game where Jeter caught Trot Nixon's pop-up in shallow left field and his momentum took him into the stands. The game ended on John Flaherty's walk-off single.  

Bobby broadcasted from the day George Steinbrenner asked him to retire in 1983 (so the Yankees could bring up Don Mattingly) through basically the 2007 season as he was battling cancer. 

People always ask me why and how I got into liking Bobby, considering I never saw him play. Honestly, I'm not really sure. I enjoyed listening to him broadcast and he was a staple at Old Timers Day. 

I don't really remember when or how I got into liking him and then researching about him. I remember in Middle School doing a project on him but that was after he had passed away. 

I listened to him broadcast some games towards the end of his career, but more of the calls I have listened to are on Yankees Classics, or highlights online. 

I wish Bobby got the recognition he deserves publicly, but I am always happy to recognize and remember him. 

Remembering Bobby Murcer

Missing Bobby Ray Murcer today on the ninth anniversary of his passing.

Bobby played in the majors from 1965-1983, spending parts of 13 seasons with the Yankees and also playing with the Giants and Cubs. He missed the '67 and '68 seasons as he was serving in the military.

I remember being at a family party and the Yankees game was on. On the post-game show, Bob Lorenz announced that Murcer had passed away. I remember standing there watching it and then going outside to tell others who were at the party who were Yankee and/or Murcer fans.

I obviously never saw Bobby play but he just became my favorite player after watching highlights and Yankees Classics. He is one of the major reasons I have an interest in broadcasting as he was a Yankees broadcaster on both PIX11 and the YES Network following his playing days. I never saw him on PIX but remember hearing him on numerous games on YES.

As a player, Bobby was good, not great. He was looked at as the next Mickey Mantle. He wasn't that, but he did have a few big moments in his playing career including a pinch-hit Grand Slam in 1981 vs the Rangers and driving in all five runs in a 5-4 win vs the Orioles on August 6, 1979 after the death of teammate and friend Thurman Munson.

Bobby wrote his auto-biography called "Yankee for Life: My 40 Year Journey in Pinstripes" which details his playing career, his broadcasting career, and then his battle with brain cancer, which was what took his life.

The Yankees need to do something to honor Bobby. I know Rob Adams (who is an even bigger Murcer fan than I am) agrees. There needs to be a plaque in monument park or some recognition of Bobby's time as both a player and broadcaster for the Yankees. It is long overdue. He is very underrated.  It is always great to see Kay Murcer at Old-Timers Day and that the Murcer family is still involved.

I have other thoughts but I would just be babbling. I'm always happy to hear Bobby mentioned and love having conversations about him.