Thurman Munson Hall of Fame Committee Thurman Munson The Case For His Hall of Fame Induction WWW.MUNSONHOF.COM #MUNSONHOF2019 THURMAN MUNSON: THE CASE FOR HALL OF FAME CANDIDACY TABLE OF CONTENTS A Snapshot of Munson’s Awards ..........................................................................................................page 3 The Munson Hall of Fame Committee..................................................................................................page 4 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................page 5 Munson Played Long Enough............................................................................................... ................page 6 Munson’s Intangibles............................................................................................................................page 9 The Man from Ohio...............................................................................................................................page 14 Thurman's Legacy.................................................................................................................................page 19 Appendix A: Thurman Munson Statistical Analysis............................................................................page 20 Appendix B: Munson Comparison to Bench and Fisk.........................................................................page 40 Appendix C. What they said About Thurman Munson........................................................................page 43 Appendix D. Selected Articles Advocating for Munson HOF Induction ............................................page 65 MUNSON HOF 2019 A Snapshot of 1970 1971 1973 American League American League American League Munson's Rookie of the Year All-Star (1) All-Star (2) Awards 1970-79 Gold Glove (1) 1976 1973-76 1974 1975 American League Sporting News American League American League All-Star (5) *All-Star All-Star (3) All-Star (4) Gold Glove (2) Gold Glove (3) MOST VALUABLE PLAYER 1976 1977 1978 1977 Sporting News Baseball Manager's Baseball Manager' s American League Clutch Player American League Clutch Player All-Star (6) All-Star All-Star Player of the Year Team THE SPORTING 1978 1978 1978 NEWS names American League Ohio Governor’s Father of the Year Thurman Munson All-Star (7) Award Award catcher of the decade for the 1970’s _____________ The Thurman Munson Hall of Fame Committee Adrienne Statfeld- Vice Chair Rene Leroux- Chair Larry Schnapf- Vice Chair Tom Tunison- Vice Chair Gary Kaschak- Vice Chair “Thurman Munson was one of the greatest leaders in “Thurman the history of team Munson sports. His field has always vision and blueprint been one of for success, fueled by “Thurman was the heart and soul my favorite of the Yankee championship teams an inner strength and determination, “I started watching players of all time. It was “Thurman Munson had of the 1970’s. He was widely acknowledged as the best clutch- unequaled, played out before our Thurman play in 1973, and in the way he hustled and the hardware: Most hitter in baseball and was very own eyes on the biggest stage even at the age of eight, I played every inning hard Valuable Player. Two considered by his contemporaries in baseball. He willed himself and knew I was watching that caught my attention time-World Series as one of the dominant catchers of his team to the top of the baseball someone special. I as a young boy watching Champion. Rookie of the his era. Many writers who saw him world with his tremendous skill and remember standing in line play said he was not only the best him play during the 1968 Year. Seven time all- a confidence that was something to with my dad for more than catcher in the American League behold. Thurman became known as two hours at a local season in Binghamton star. Three Gold Gloves. but also the most durable. He was one of the game's most clutch hitters shopping mall that year to a complete player. He hit for and one of its toughest competitors. get Thurman’s autograph. I Aside from being Beyond the hardware, average, had good power, was the His impact on the great game of loved watching him play enamored with Munson as batter his teammates wanted at baseball, witnessed and respected by day in and day out--which his WAR numbers are the plate with runners in scoring a young boy, the cause is often meant staying up past powerful, clear and position but was also an excellent his teammates and opponents alike, real. He has an excellent cannot be overstated. Modern day my bedtime-- and he quickly impressive. Beyond the baserunner. He was also renowned chance. His numbers show statistics are the for his handling of pitchers and statistical analysis and advanced became my hero. In softball, metrics be this out, and give us a I used to copy his batting that. And as the experience accolades, the tributes, knowledge of opposing batters. ar The conventional wisdom is that clearer picture and a better stance and play with the researching him as a the endorsements. The he did not play long enough and understanding of the historical same kind of drive and player and then a person memories burn bright. that his career statistics fall short significance and greatness of determination I observed in took its natural course, the Thurman left an for the Hall of Fame. However, his his career. His love for his family Thurman. As the years went realization of seeing impressive legacy to the accomplishments for the 10 year and friends was on full display, on and Thurman’s career Thurman Munson’s name period. From 1970-79 are while his love for children and and my understanding of game of baseball. And comparable to the best 10 years of etched on a Hall of Fame an even greater legacy others was a hidden gem, only later baseball evolved, I felt catchers in the Hall of Fame using to be discovered. This was a very certain that his was the plaque next to all the both traditional and modern as a man, father, special man and a very special autograph of a future Hall of greats of the game grew analytical metrics. Many writers husband, friend and Famer. It has been an honor exponentially. Considering and opposing players felt he was player. humanitarian. The Hall on his way to the HOF when he and a privilege to work to all aspects to the HOF of Fame meant a lot to died. Without him in the lineup, the With deepest respect for the Baseball keep Thurman’s memory Criteria for a Hall of Fame Thurman, let's bring him Yankees would not have won three HALL of FAME, there should be no alive and to promote player, and others that are home. pennants and two World Series. It question that this great institution Thurman’s candidacy for the influential, there’s no is time for Thurman Munson to be that we know and love so well would Hall of Fame.” recognized for his outstanding be better served with the inclusion of doubt in my mind he God bless you, Thurman. career and be inducted into the THURMAN LEE MUNSON.” belongs in the Hall of National Baseball Hall of Fame.” Fame.” MUNSON HOF 2019 Introduction against using traditional baseball statistic and modern baseball analytics. It was 40 years ago this summer that Thurman Munson died in a plane crash. He This is not just our opinion, though. We have included contemporary accounts of teammates, opposing players and writers who covered him which show he was played in an era before 24--hour cable, nightly highlight videos and inter-league considered one of the best catchers in the game at the time and was mentioned as play. As a result, many of Munson's truly historical contributions to the game have being a future hall of fame player (See Appendix C). We have included articles written been lost to a generation of fans and writers who did not see him play or had over the last two decades by well-respected baseball analysts and writers arguing why limited opportunity to watch him play or appreciate how great a player he was. Munson deserves to be in the Hall of Fame (see Appendix D). This paper re-introduces the career of Thurman Munson to members of the We also include a comparative analysis of Munson's' career against every catcher that Historical Overview Committee (HOC) since this year the HOC will be selecting the has been inducted into the Hall of Fame using both traditional baseball statistic and modern baseball analytics (See Appendix A). Modern baseball analytics were not players for the ballot this coming December for the so-called Modern Baseball available when Thurman Munson played nor during the 15 years when he was on Era-- the time period that Munson played-for inclusion in the Class of 2020. the BBWAA ballot. When his career is evaluated through the prism of modern analytics, it is clear that Munson is perhaps the most undervalued and under- We believe that Thurman Munson should be inducted into the National Baseball appreciated catcher s in baseball history by baseball observers (See Appendix A). Hall of Fame. We have spent six months crunching numbers, statistics, We also include a comparison of Thurman's career with Hall of Fame catchers investigating his life, interviewing hundreds of people who knew him, played with Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk, two of the very best to ever play catcher in the history him and against him as well as former Yankee beat sportswriters. When both of baseball (See Appendix B). Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk both agree that Thurman Munson should be in the Hall of Fame, who can dispute these two incredible Hall of Fame catchers. They We have also enclosed a section on Thurman Munson the man titled ""OHIO"" that played against Thurman. They battled against him. If anyone knows his discusses his life growing up in Ohio. To understand a man, it is important to know qualifications, it's Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk. about his roots. Thurman remained an Ohioan to the end and remained true to his roots, his family and his friends up until the day he passed at age 32. When considered with this fresh perspective, a review of some of his generally Munson was also one of the most durable catchers.