Thurman Munson the beloved New York Yankee catcher, captain and tragic ending
On my trip to Canton, Ohio, with catchers mask and ball in-hand, I visited Sunset Hills Cemetery to pay my respect to legendary New York Yankee captain, Thurman Lee Munson.
Thurman was born in Akron, Ohio, the same hometown as basketball icon LeBron James. The son of a truck driver, Thurman became an exceptional three-sport athlete, earning all-city and all-state honours in football, basketball, and baseball. With college recruiters knocking on his door, Thurman chose to stay close to home and attend Kent State University on a baseball scholarship.
His decision was influenced by his desire to remain near his high school sweetheart and future wife, Diana. Fun fact: Thurman still holds Kent State’s career batting average record of .390, a mark he set during the 1967 and 1968 seasons.
Items and messages placed on Thurman’s grave from his many fans.
Thurman was the New York Yankees’ top draft pick in 1968 and quickly ascended through the minor leagues making his debut with the storied franchise on August 8, 1969.
Munson wasted no time making an impact. Known for his hard-nosed, gruff demeanor—some attributed this to his father’s influence—he was named Rookie of the Year in 1970, hitting an impressive .302. He would go on to win the American League MVP in 1976 and played an instrumental role in leading the Yankees to back-to-back World Series victories in 1977 and 1978.
Tragically, Munson’s career was cut short on August 2, 1979, when he died in a plane crash near Akron-Canton Airport, on his private Cessna plane. The reason for his flying was simple but poignant: as a devoted husband and father, Thurman deeply missed his wife, Diana, and their three children during the long baseball season. He saw flying as a way to commute home on off-days, giving him more precious time with them.
Thurman Lee Munson died near Akron-Canton airport on August 2, 1979. He was only 32.
1947-1979
“The greatest catcher I ever saw” – George Steinbrenner
