MVP Profile: Thurman Munson, 1976

Catcher, New York Yankees

Age:  29 (June 7)

7^th season with Yankees

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 190 

Prior to 1976:

A native of Akron, Ohio, Munson began playing midget league baseball before moving on to junior boys and American Legion ball. At Canton’s Lehman High School he played football and basketball, as well as baseball, where he first was utilized as a catcher, although his primary position was shortstop. After batting .581 as a senior, he was named to the All-Ohio high school team. Offered numerous college football scholarships, he instead accepted a baseball scholarship to Kent State University where he excelled and received College All-America recognition. Selected fourth overall by the Yankees in the 1969 amateur draft, Munson signed for a $70,000 bonus. Initially assigned to the Binghamton Triplets of the Class AA Eastern League he hit .301 in 71 games along with 6 home runs and 37 RBIs while also developing his skills behind the plate. Promoted to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League in 1969, he was also inducted into the Army Reserve, serving at Fort Dix in New Jersey and playing with Syracuse when possible (and compiling a .363 average in 28 games). Promoted to the Yankees in August to fill in for catcher Frank Fernandez, Munson batted .256 in 26 games and hit his first major league home run. After a brief return to Syracuse, he was called back up to the Yankees in September and threw out 7 base runners during the final month. With Fernandez traded to Oakland, Munson was set to take over the primary catching duties in 1970. Overcoming a slow start at the plate, he batted .302 with 25 doubles, 6 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a .386 on-base percentage. Cocky and talented, he quickly became popular with teammates. After the season he was a near-unanimous AL Rookie of the Year selection. During the 1971 season, Munson was knocked unconscious and hospitalized following a collision at the plate with Baltimore catcher Andy Etchebarren but missed minimal time as he demonstrated his toughness and determination. He was an All-Star for the first time on his way to batting .251 with 10 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .335 OBP. Additionally, he led AL catchers with a .998 fielding percentage and by throwing out 61 % of runners attempting to steal against him. In 1972 a long-running feud with Boston catcher Carlton Fisk was ignited when Fisk slid hard into Munson in a play at the plate (the two would ignite a major brawl the following year as their rivalry intensified). For the year, Munson continued to establish himself as a top all-around backstop as his average rebounded to .280 with a .343 OBP and 7 home runs with 46 RBIs. Defensively he placed second in the league with 71 assists. A very methodical hitter, in 1973 Munson batted .301 with 20 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .362 OBP while receiving his first Gold Glove for his defensive performance. He finished twelfth in league MVP voting. Bothered by injuries in 1974, Munson’s average dipped to .261 and his OBP to .316 while he totaled 13 home runs, 60 RBIs, and a strained forearm hindered his throwing ability. His production rebounded in 1975 to .318 with a .366 OBP, 24 doubles, 12 home runs, and 102 RBIs. He was named team captain by manager Billy Martin in 1976 in recognition of his role as a team leader.

1976 Season Summary

Appeared in 152 games

C – 121, DH – 21, RF – 9, PH – 4, LF – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 665 [14, tied with Amos Otis]

At Bats – 616 [6]

Runs – 79 [15, tied with Chris Chambliss]

Hits – 186 [4]

Doubles – 27 [19, tied with Rick Burleson & Reggie Jackson]

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 17 [14, tied with five others]

RBI – 105 [2]

Bases on Balls – 29

Int. BB – 6 [19, tied with eight others]

Strikeouts – 38

Stolen Bases – 14

Caught Stealing – 11

Average - .302 [9]

OBP - .337

Slugging Pct. - .432 [16, tied with Carl Yastrzemski & Mickey Rivers]

Total Bases – 266 [6]

GDP – 17 [8, tied with Reggie Jackson, Toby Harrah & Gene Clines]

Hit by Pitches – 9 [4]

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 10 [5, tied with Joe Rudi & Fred Lynn] 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 16, HR - 8, RBI – 50, AVG - .319, OBP - .354, SLG - .455

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 6 AB) vs. Oakland 6/4 – 11 innings, (in 4 AB) at Minnesota 6/15, (in 4 AB) at Cleveland 7/2, (in 5 AB) vs. Oakland 7/21

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 1 on seventeen occasions

HR at home – 5

HR on road – 12

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. Oakland 7/21

Pinch-hitting – 3 for 4 (.750) with 1 2B & 3 RBI

Fielding (C )

Chances – 627

Put Outs – 537

Assists – 78

Errors – 12

Passed Balls – 12

DP – 8

Pct. - .981

Postseason Batting: 9 G (ALCS vs. KC Royals – 5 G, World Series vs. Cincinnati – 4 G)

PA – 40, AB – 40, R – 5, H – 19, 2B – 2,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 5, BB – 0, IBB – 0, SO – 2, SB – 0, CS – 1, AVG - .475, OBP - .475, SLG - .525, TB – 21, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

AL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star (Started for AL at C)

Top 5 in AL MVP Voting:

Thurman Munson, NYY: 304 points – 18 of 24 first place votes, 90% share

George Brett, KCR: 217 points – 2 first place votes, 65% share

Mickey Rivers, NYY: 179 points – 1 first place vote, 53% share

Hal McRae, KCR: 99 points – 29% share

Rod Carew, Min.: 71 points – 1 first place vote, 21% share

Chris Chambliss, NYY: 71 points – 21% share

(1 first place vote apiece for Amos Otis, KCR who ranked seventh & Mark Fidrych, Det who ranked eleventh)

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The Yankees went 97-62 to finish first in the AL Eastern Division by 10.5 games over the Baltimore Orioles, while leading the league in fewest batting strikeouts (616). Returning to the renovated Yankee Stadium, the Yankees rode a 10-3 April into first place and never looked back, easily taking the AL East title. Won ALCS over the Kansas City Royals, 3 games to 2, won by a walk-off home run by first baseman Chris Chambliss in the deciding fifth game. Lost World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 0.

Aftermath of 1976:

The arrival of slugging outfielder Reggie Jackson in 1977 ignited discord between he and Munson, especially when critical comments appeared in print. The Yankees repeated as AL pennant winners and Munson batted .308 with 18 home runs, 100 RBIs, and a .351 OBP. In the World Series triumph over the Dodgers in which Jackson starred, Munson hit .320 to contribute to achieving a championship. Heading into 1978, the veteran backstop expressed a desire to be traded, preferably to Cleveland, to be closer to his Ohio home, a desire that the Yankee front office did not follow up on, not wanting to send away a popular and productive player. The ensuing season was tumultuous and ended with the Yankees beating Boston in a tie-breaking playoff to win the AL East. Munson batted .297 with 27 doubles, 6 home runs, 71 RBIs, and a .332 on-base percentage. Advancing to another World Series matchup with the Dodgers, New York won four straight games after losing the first two to take the title. Munson again hit well in the Series with a .320 average, 3 doubles, and 7 RBIs. Intense and insecure, Munson had a strained relationship with the New York media but was an effective team leader. In 1979 he was dealing with severe shoulder and knee pain but was hitting .288 with a .340 OBP when his career, and life, came to a tragic end in August when the private jet he was flying crashed while he attempted to land at Akron-Canton Airport. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Yankees, Munson batted .292 with 1558 hits that included 229 doubles, 32 triples, and 113 home runs. He scored 696 runs and compiled 701 RBIs and a .346 OBP. Appearing in 30 postseason games, he hit .357 with 3 home runs and 22 RBIs. A seven-time All-Star, he also was awarded three Gold Gloves and placed in the top 20 in AL MVP voting five times. The Yankees retired his #15 and placed a plaque in his honor in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park.

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.