Let's All Remember Thurman Munson Today...

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Was a Met fan, so Thurman meant little to me as a player, but I can still remember the devastating feeling " . . . a baseball player can die all of a sudden? Like that?" Major dose of reality to a 15 year old kid.

That is exactly how I felt. I was 9 years old and visiting my grandma with my little 7 year old brother when it was announced. I was shocked and didn't understand. My grandma helped me buy a bunch of local newspapers and we went to Hallmark and she bought me a blank scrapbook. I pasted the articles and a bunch of his cards into that scrapbook and wrote all my 9 year old thoughts on the subject. I still have that scrapbook, found it in the attic a month or so ago and read through it. I got a kick out of some of my comments I wrote after reading that he was sort of belligerent...I obviously had no idea at 9 he had any type of attitude and it bothered me people were writing about that. To me he was a YANKEE and an amazing catcher I got to see on TV every once in a while and I loved his cards.

RIP Thurman...

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

That is exactly how I felt. I was 9 years old and visiting my grandma with my little 7 year old brother when it was announced. I was shocked and didn't understand. My grandma helped me buy a bunch of local newspapers and we went to Hallmark and she bought me a blank scrapbook. I pasted the articles and a bunch of his cards into that scrapbook and wrote all my 9 year old thoughts on the subject. I still have that scrapbook, found it in the attic a month or so ago and read through it. I got a kick out of some of my comments I wrote after reading that he was sort of belligerent...I obviously had no idea at 9 he had any type of attitude and it bothered me people were writing about that. To me he was a YANKEE and an amazing catcher I got to see on TV every once in a while and I loved his cards.

RIP Thurman...

same here...I was 9...I was/am a yankees fan and munson was my fave! I made a scrapbook when he was died...I still have it. He was supposed to attend lou pinella baseball camp that I attended. We were all given a large photo montage autographed by all attendees...except thurman.

I'm thankful I got to see him play at the stadium many times before he passed. And I will always cherish my foul ball I caught at the 78 world series...that thurman handled.

RIP #15.

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

same here...I was 9...I was/am a yankees fan and munson was my fave! I made a scrapbook when he was died...I still have it. He was supposed to attend lou pinella baseball camp that I attended. We were all given a large photo montage autographed by all attendees...except thurman.

I'm thankful I got to see him play at the stadium many times before he passed. And I will always cherish my foul ball I caught at the 78 world series...that thurman handled.

RIP #15.

Pete- I'll pay you for that foul ball!! Munson was a class act, and one of my all time favorites. When you are talking about stars taken away from life way too early, any sports, there is Munson and Clemente....Both class acts, what a shame it was for such a short period....

[Snapolit1]

Kevin - not trying to pick a fight, but Munson in the same breath as Clemente as a "class act"? Mmmmm. Munson was tough as nails. He was also -- quite admittedly - surly most of the time and never went out of his way for fans or sportswriters. Not saying he was a bad person, but I've heard my whole life he was a great teammate but not warm and fuzzy dude or someone doing was Clemente was doing.

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Kevin - not trying to pick a fight, but Munson in the same breath as Clemente as a "class act"? Mmmmm. Munson was tough as nails. He was also -- quite admittedly - surly most of the time and never went out of his way for fans or sportswriters. Not saying he was a bad person, but I've heard my whole life he was a great teammate but not warm and fuzzy dude or someone doing was Clemente was doing.

Steve- yes, perhaps, but there is always more to the story. Yes, Clemente was the man. Both were great guys, and by the way, I have heard stories about Clemente avoiding autographs and media......Just for the record....

[Snapolit1]

I don't doubt that. They are complex people just like all of us. The unique heartbreaking circumstances of Clemente's terrible death has obviously put his memory into the realm of more mythical than real life, ordinary man warts and all.