"I always said that New Yorkers got Thurman. They understood him" - Diana Munson...
The tragic plane crash that occurred 27 years ago today taking the life of Yankee catcher Thurman Munson, left his wife Diana a widow at 31. It also left behind Tracy Lynn, Kelly and Michael Munson, the three children of Thurman and Diana. New Yorkers were stunned when they heard about it, I know I was when my son Robert called with the news. I mean Thurman was only 32, too young to die. He was also the heart and soul of that Yankee team. That's why they made him captain...
Munson was piloting his own jet, practicing take-offs and landings near his home in Canton (OH) during an off-day for the Yankees, when he crashed. Trapped in the plane and unable to get out he would die as the plane caught fire. Lou Piniella did an article for the New York Post the following day, paying tribute to Thurman: "People sometimes get the wrong impression of Thurman, that he was grumpy, that he was a tough guy. He wasn't like that at all. To me he was friendly, witty, charming, a real good friend. We were teammates since 1974. He was my closest friend on the team". Diana recalls her favorite memory of Thurman on the field: "It was running from first to third, chugging along with that body"...
The Yankees retired Munson's number 15 uniform and have a memorial plaque in centerfield at Yankee Stadium for their captain. His locker remains empty, serving as a small, silent tribute to the fallen catcher. Two years ago 30-year old Michael Munson proposed to his girlfriend, kneeling down in front of his dad's plaque in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. It was on the 25th anniversary of his father's death...
Ten Timeline Memories...
1824] Manhattan's Fifth Avenue is opened (is there a more famous street in the world ?)...
1876] "Wild Bill" Hickock is killed when he's shot from behind while playing poker in Deadwood (SD). Jack McCall was later hanged for the shooting (Ya gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em)...
1921] A jury in Chicago acquits several former members of the Chicago White Sox (referred to as the Black Sox) and two others of conspiring to defraud the public by throwing the World Series...
1943] PT-109, commanded by Lt. John F. Kennedy, sinks after being sheared in two by a Japanese destroyer off the Solomon Islands. Kennedy is credited with saving members of the crew...
1961] The Beatles begin their engagement as regular headliners at Liverpool's Cavern Club. They performed about 300 shows over the next 2 years...
1962] Robert Zimmerman legally changes his name to Bob Dylan...
1987] "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" is re-released (the film is 50 years old at the time of its re-release)...
1990] Iraq invades the oil-rich country of Kuwait. Iraq claims that Kuwait had driven the price of oil down by exceeding production quotas set by OPEC (as good a reason as any to invade right ?)...
1992] Under a hot, blistering sun (sound familiar ?), "The Franchise", George Thomas Seaver of the Mets, enters the Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown (NY) with the highest percentage (98.84%) of votes in history...
2000] Republicans nominate Texas Governor George W. Bush and Dick Cheney for president and vice president...
#1 on this date: 1960] "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" - Brian Hyland...1971] "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" - Bee Gees...1981] "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield...
Wedding Bells...1992] Kevin Bacon's relationship with Kyra Sedgwick sizzles (sorry but I had to use that) as the couple exchange marriage vows, putting only 1-degree of separation between Kyra and Kevin...
In Memory...2005] It's hard to believe but the legendary Rock writer (and introducer of the Beatles to Bob Dylan) Al Aronowitz passed away one year ago on August 1st...
[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...
Pete Sampras (35), Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (40), SNL former dizzy blonde Victoria Jackson (47), Butch (Eddie Munster) Patrick (53), Infamous O.J. judge Lance Ito (56), Joanna Cassidy (61), Kathy Lennon (63), Hollywood Director Wes Craven (67), The Band's Garth Hudson (69) and Peter O'Toole (74)...
[Timeline countdown: 34 days until Labor Day, 38 days until NFL kickoff, 63 days until MLB playoffs and 151 days remaining in 2006]
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