Bobby Murcer was the bridge between a Yankees great like Mantle and a star to come like Thurman Munson. It seemed as if he was friends with anyone that wore the Pinstripes.
He was the lone bright spot during a tough period for the Yankees. Never won a World Series with the Yankees, but was a huge part of the Yankees family.
As a Yankees fan, I pray for him and his family.
He was the lone bright spot during a tough period for the Yankees. Never won a World Series with the Yankees, but was a huge part of the Yankees family.
As a Yankees fan, I pray for him and his family.
Back in the mid 70's when spending my summer in California I went to see the Pittsburg Pirates play San Fransico at Candlestick Park shortly after Murcer joined the Giants that year..I'll never forget it because Murcer hit a homerun to the left field bleachers right where I was sitting..I had my hand on the ball but couldn't quitle reel it in. I sure would like to have caught a homerun ball from one Oklahoma boy to the other..
Bushay--He wore #1 and then wore #2 when he came back to the Yanks in 1979 (because Billy Martin was wearing #1). The sincerity being shared by Yankees and former Yankees, as well as people throughout MLB and his fans, are just saying such wonderful things about Bobby Murcer. He was truly a good person.
ope:
Bobby Murcer was the real deal and a legitimate center fielder for any MLB team.
Bobby Murcer was a very good player in his prime:
5x All-Star selection (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)
Gold Glove Award winner (1972).
He hit had a career .277 batting average, finishing with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBIs.
An excellent clutch hitter Bobby hit .301 with runners on third base.
In the 1970s, Murcer drove in 840 runs, the 9th most in the major leagues during that span.
Murcer's 119 outfield assists led all major league outfielders for that decade.
Statistical oddity:
Against Hall of Fame pitchers, Murcer hit .291 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs in 447 at bats. If Tommy John and Bert Blyleven (both possible Hall of Famers) are inducted, Murcer's numbers total 553 at bats with 20 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .297 average, seemingly stellar numbers versus an elite group of pitchers. Bobby Murcer was at his best against the best, how can you not admire that.
The Scott Crull game
On August 8, 1977, Murcer (now a Cub) promised to try and hit a home run and a double for terminally ill fan Scott Crull who he had spoken to by phone. That night, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Murcer hit two home runs. Broadcasting the game nationally on ABC, Keith Jackson told the country how Murcer had fulfilled the dying boy's last wish. However, no one had told the young man he was dying. Murcer, however, denied he made an outright promise to Crull, as ABC had reported during the game.
Scott's mother told the AP, "It's wonderful that he got to talk to one of the players, and by Murcer hitting the home runs...he was thrilled." The AP later reported comments from Kenneth Crull, the young boy's uncle said "Bobby Murcer did a wonderful thing for Scotty . . . it was the highlight of his whole life." Linda Crull, the boy's aunt added, "What Bobby Murcer did was great.
The Thurman Munson game:
Murcer gave one of the eulogies at catcher Thurman Munson's funeral on August 6, 1979, in Canton, Ohio in which he quoted the poet and philosopher Angelo Patri: "The life of a soul on earth lasts longer than his departure. He lives on in your life and the life of all others who knew him." Afterward, the team flew home to play the first-place Baltimore Orioles in a game which was broadcast nationally on ABC-TV. Yankee manager Billy Martin wanted to give Murcer the day off, but Murcer insisted on playing—and play he did. Murcer practically won the game single-handedly, bringing the Yankees back from a 4–0 deficit with a 3-run homer in the 7th, then hitting a walk-off 2-run single down the left-field line in the bottom of the 9th, causing Howard Cosell to exclaim what a heroic performance Murcer had put on for the deceased Yankee captain Munson, who had died in a plane crash 4 days earlier. Murcer never used the bat from the game again and gave it to Munson's widow, Diana.
On July 2, 2004, the Seattle Times reported that Diana Munson put the bat, along with other items of Munson's, up for auction. Mrs. Munson said she wants to use the proceeds to open trust funds for her grandchildren. "You reach an age when you think about the future," she said.
In August 2007, the YES Network replayed the game for a new generation of Yankee fans due to a switch of the copyright of the game from ABC to Major League Baseball. About the game, Murcer says that he was playing on "shock adrenaline" and that the game has become "part of my legacy".
RIP. Bobby Murcer.
wil.
Bobby Murcer was a very good player in his prime:
5x All-Star selection (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)
Gold Glove Award winner (1972).
He hit had a career .277 batting average, finishing with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBIs.
An excellent clutch hitter Bobby hit .301 with runners on third base.
In the 1970s, Murcer drove in 840 runs, the 9th most in the major leagues during that span.
Murcer's 119 outfield assists led all major league outfielders for that decade.
Statistical oddity:
Against Hall of Fame pitchers, Murcer hit .291 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs in 447 at bats. If Tommy John and Bert Blyleven (both possible Hall of Famers) are inducted, Murcer's numbers total 553 at bats with 20 home runs, 76 RBIs and a .297 average, seemingly stellar numbers versus an elite group of pitchers. Bobby Murcer was at his best against the best, how can you not admire that.
The Scott Crull game
On August 8, 1977, Murcer (now a Cub) promised to try and hit a home run and a double for terminally ill fan Scott Crull who he had spoken to by phone. That night, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Murcer hit two home runs. Broadcasting the game nationally on ABC, Keith Jackson told the country how Murcer had fulfilled the dying boy's last wish. However, no one had told the young man he was dying. Murcer, however, denied he made an outright promise to Crull, as ABC had reported during the game.
Scott's mother told the AP, "It's wonderful that he got to talk to one of the players, and by Murcer hitting the home runs...he was thrilled." The AP later reported comments from Kenneth Crull, the young boy's uncle said "Bobby Murcer did a wonderful thing for Scotty . . . it was the highlight of his whole life." Linda Crull, the boy's aunt added, "What Bobby Murcer did was great.
The Thurman Munson game:
Murcer gave one of the eulogies at catcher Thurman Munson's funeral on August 6, 1979, in Canton, Ohio in which he quoted the poet and philosopher Angelo Patri: "The life of a soul on earth lasts longer than his departure. He lives on in your life and the life of all others who knew him." Afterward, the team flew home to play the first-place Baltimore Orioles in a game which was broadcast nationally on ABC-TV. Yankee manager Billy Martin wanted to give Murcer the day off, but Murcer insisted on playing—and play he did. Murcer practically won the game single-handedly, bringing the Yankees back from a 4–0 deficit with a 3-run homer in the 7th, then hitting a walk-off 2-run single down the left-field line in the bottom of the 9th, causing Howard Cosell to exclaim what a heroic performance Murcer had put on for the deceased Yankee captain Munson, who had died in a plane crash 4 days earlier. Murcer never used the bat from the game again and gave it to Munson's widow, Diana.
On July 2, 2004, the Seattle Times reported that Diana Munson put the bat, along with other items of Munson's, up for auction. Mrs. Munson said she wants to use the proceeds to open trust funds for her grandchildren. "You reach an age when you think about the future," she said.
In August 2007, the YES Network replayed the game for a new generation of Yankee fans due to a switch of the copyright of the game from ABC to Major League Baseball. About the game, Murcer says that he was playing on "shock adrenaline" and that the game has become "part of my legacy".
RIP. Bobby Murcer.
wil.
Last edited:
