MURCER LEFT A YANKEE LEGACY

Last week, Yankee Stadium was the site of the Major League All-Star Game. Everywhere you looked there was a tribute to the stadium. But if you looked closely, you might have seen the grand old lady shed a tear from her steel beams. Last week, Yankee Stadium also lost one of her favorite people, former Yankee player and broadcaster Bobby Murcer died of brain cancer at the age of 62.

Murcer was unfairly expected by many to be the next Mickey Mantle when he was signed by the Yankees in June of 1964. Like Mantle, he was a schoolboy star from Oklahoma. Mantle was in the twilight of his career when Murcer was signed and the Yankees were hungry anoint another superstar.

Pressure like this was not fair for Murcer, who was rushed to the Major Leagues in 1965. Murcer did not attain superstar status, nor was he the next Mickey Mantle. But he did go on to have an outstanding Major League career in New York. During his 18 years in the big leagues Murcer had a career batting average of .277 with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBI’S. He was a five time all-star, though he played on many Yankees teams that were less than stellar and never achieved the recognition he probably deserved.

Murcer was also a patriot. He took two years off during the early part of his Major League career to fulfill his military obligation in 1968 and 1969.

Following his Yankee playing days and his retirement in 1985, Murcer moved into the broadcast booth. He proved to be just as capable as broadcaster as he was as a player—the southern boy from Oklahoma became a broadcasting giant in the Big Apple.

He called Yankee games until his passing last week. Along the way he counseled and befriended many of the Yankee players that helped establish a new dynasty in the 1990’s.

Yes, they hailed Bobby Murcer as the next Mickey Mantle, how were we to know that he would turn out to be even better?

Frank Giardina