2021 UPDATE: Since I have written this, i have been able to get an inside look at the life of Thurman Munson through former Yankee batboy Ray Negron and his play ‘Batboy’! Diana Munson is played the amazing Gigi Cormio on stage. I am forever grateful Ray has let me inside this part of his life through his play and friendship !
This day always reminds me how grateful I am to have been taken into the Yankee family by George Steinbrenner himself over 20 years ago!
Just last February 2020, I had the honor of going to the Thurman Munson awards dinner and met Diana Munson, Thurman’s beloved widow.
Akron, Ohio native Thurman Munson was and always will be a Yankees legend. Though his 11 year career in Major League Baseball was tragically cut short by his love of flying 34 years ago today on August 2nd, 1979, his 11 years were spent strictly in Pinstripes. During those years, he became the feisty leader for equally feisty George Steinbrenner’s squad, and was humbly named the captain, a first at the time since the Iron Horse Lou Gehrig had the honor bestowed upon him in 1939.
He was a leader when the Bronx Bombers took the World Series title back-to-back years in 1977 and 1978. There is no surprise the Yankees not only retired his #15, but preserved the 7-time All Star catcher’s locker at the old Yankee Stadium.
- 34 years later, his leadership always remembered.
The Writings of Alex Garrett 