WHY I THINK THURMAN MUNSON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK THURMAN MUNSON SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Thurman Munson was easily the best AL catcher of the 1970s and one of the best of all time. Munson was often compared with Johnny Bench (whom he outhit .292 to .267), and with good reason. Munson had the strongest throwing arm in the league for his whole career (?) and won three Gold Glove awards. Not only was Munson a good defensive catcher, but he could hit, too. He had five full seasons over .300 and one at .297 while also hitting for relatively good power, accumulating 113 home runs in just over ten full seasons. He also hit 20 or more doubles six times. Munson started his career by hitting .256 with a pair of triples in 26 games in 1969. He hit .302 in 1970 and won the AL Rookie of the Year Award. He slumped in 1971 but came back to hit .280 in 1972. Munson hit .301 and had 74 RBI’s on 20 homers in 1973 before falling to .261 and 13 homers in 1974. The heart of Munson’s career came in the three following seasons, as he batted .318, .302 and .308 and had 102, 105 and 100 RBI’s in the period. He also deservedly won the AL MVP Award in 1976. Munson hit .297 in 1978 and .288 in 97 games in 1979 before tragedy struck. He was practicing landing in a small plane in Ohio when he crashed into the ground. He broke his neck as a result, and later died of asphyxiation. The most important thing about Thurman Munson was that he was one of the last great Yankee captains, and with his shocking death in 1979 many thought that there would never be another. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS

Games career: 1,423 season high: 157 in 1975 

At Bats career: 5,344 season high: 617 in 1978 

Hits career: 1,558 season high: 190 in 1975 

Doubles career: 229 season high: 29 in 1973 

Triples career: 32 season high: 5 in 1977 

Home Runs career: 113 season high: 20 in 1973 

Runs career: 696 season high: 85 in 1977 

Runs Batted In career: 701 season high: 105 in 1976 

Stolen Bases career: 48 season high: 14 in 1976 

Walks career: 438 season high: 57 in 1970 

Strikeouts career: 571 season high: 70 in 1978 

Batting Average career: .292 season high: .318 in 1975 

On Base Percentage career: .346 season high: .386 in 1970 

Slugging Percentage career: .410 season high: .487 in 1973 

Total Bases career: 2,190 season high: 275 in 1977 

Sacrifice Hits career: 21 season high: 5 in 1970 

Fielding Percentage career: .982 season high: .998 in 1971 led AL C: .998 in 1971 

Double Plays career: 85 season high: 14 in 1975 led AL: C 11 in 1973, 14 in 1975

Putouts career: 6,342 season high: 743 in 1974 

Assists career: 742 season high: 95 in 1975 led AL C: 80 in 1970 and 1973, 75 in 1974

DID YOU KNOW?

-nicknamed “Tugboat”, “Squatty Body” and “The Walrus”

-owns a .445 career caught stealing percentage, which is the 11th highest of all time 

-played on three pennant winners and two World Series champions

-also played second, third, DH and outfield

-holds the record for the most runners thrown out stealing in an LCS career (12)

-holds the record for the most singles in a four game World Series (nine in 1976)

-is the only AL player with seven consecutive hits in World Series play

-was a seven time all-star

-won two Player of the Week awards

-led the AL in singes in 1975

-led the AL in games caught in 1970, 1972 and 1973 

-led the AL in caught stealing percentage in 1971 (.610) and 1975 (.504)

-had career totals of 30 games, 19 runs scored, 46 hits, nine doubles, three home runs, 22 RBI’s, one stolen base, five walks, 19 strikeouts and a .357 batting average in postseason play 

-has the 11th highest postseason batting average ever 

-went 2-for-3 with two RBI’s on his MLB debut 

-finished seventh in the AL MVP race in both 1975 and 1977 

-number 15 is retired by the Yankees and he is honored with a plaque in Monument Park

fix did you know? section