[Deathwatch] Bobby Murcer, athlete, 62

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Again, credit to Brad Saul for this submission!

Ex-Yankees star Bobby Murcer dies at 62

By BEN WALKER

Bobby Murcer succeeded Mickey Mantle, played in pinstripes with Don
Mattingly and watched proudly from the broadcast booth when the New
York Yankees returned to power.

A cherished link from former Yankees greats to the club's current
stars, Murcer died Saturday due to complications from a malignant brain
tumor, the team said. He was 62.

In his final moments, Murcer was surrounded by family at Mercy Hospital
in his hometown of Oklahoma City, the Yankees said. A five-time
All-Star outfielder, he spent nearly four decades with New York as a
player, executive and announcer.

"Bobby Murcer was a born Yankee, a great guy, very well-liked and a
true friend of mine," owner George Steinbrenner said. "I extend my
deepest sympathies to his wife Kay, their children and grandchildren. I
will really miss the guy."

Murcer was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Christmas Eve 2006 after
having headaches. He had surgery that week in Houston and doctors later
discovered the tumor was malignant. Determined to be around his beloved
Yankees, Murcer returned to the broadcast booth last year and briefly
this season.

The only person to play with Mantle and Mattingly, the popular Murcer
hit .277 with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBIs in 17 seasons with the
Yankees, San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs. He made the All-Star team
in both leagues and won a Gold Glove.

"All of Major League Baseball is saddened today by the passing of Bobby
Murcer, particularly on the eve of this historic All-Star game at
Yankee Stadium, a place he called home for so many years," commissioner
Bud Selig said. "Bobby was a gentleman, a great ambassador for
baseball, and a true leader both on and off the field. He was a man of
great heart and compassion."

Always a fan favorite in New York and known for his folksy manner as a
broadcaster, Murcer won three Emmy Awards for live sports coverage. His
most dramatic words came during his time as a player on one of the
saddest days in Yankees history.

Murcer delivered one of the eulogies in Ohio after captain Thurman
Munson was killed in a plane crash in August 1979. The team flew home
after the funeral and, that night, Murcer hit a three-run homer and
then a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to beat Baltimore 5-4.


A tearful Murcer fell into the arms of teammate Lou Piniella after the
game and gave his bat to Munson's wife.

"There is no way to explain what happened," Murcer said. "We used every
ounce of strength to go out and play that game. We won it for Thurman."


The Yankees learned of Murcer's death Saturday after a 9-4 victory in
Toronto. Visibly upset, players such as Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and
Andy Pettitte spoke softly about how much Murcer meant to them.

"He touched everybody," Rivera said.

"One of the greatest Yankees of all-time," Alex Rodriguez added. "One
of the greatest human beings I ever met."

It was the second consecutive summer that the Yankees lost a former
star and beloved broadcaster. Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto died
in August 2007.

Now, the Yankees are mourning Murcer.

"If there's a Hall of Fame for people, he's in it," Reggie Jackson
said. "He was such a good person, and he was appreciative of the people
who cared so much for him."

Touted by many in New York as the next Mantle ? they were both from
Oklahoma, played shortstop and came with strokes fit for Yankee
Stadium's short right-field porch ? Murcer made his major league debut
as a 19-year-old player in 1965.

After serving in the U.S. Army during the 1967-68 seasons, Murcer
homered on opening day in front of President Nixon in 1969 at
Washington to launch a career as a full-time player.

Murcer moved from shortstop to third base to begin that year, but soon
was in center field, Mantle's old spot. Murcer also took over Mantle's
locker.

"That was supposed to be the tag. You know, he was going to follow
Mantle and do it with ease," said Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe
Torre, who managed the Yankees from 1996-2007. "He certainly understood
it. It's not easy, but he wore the mantle with a lot of class and never
shied away from the responsibility.

"Bobby was a great human being. He really zeroed in on the person he
was with, and he was a lot of fun. A lot of class. He's going to be
missed."

Murcer spent most of his career in pinstripes. He was traded to San
Francisco for Bobby Bonds after the 1974 season and was with the
Chicago Cubs when the Yankees won the World Series in 1977 and 1978.

He came back to the Yankees during the 1979 season. He had a pinch-hit
grand slam in the 1981 opener and was a part-time player when he
reached the World Series for the only time later that year, with New
York losing to the Dodgers.

"Just a wonderful person, a great teammate and a heck of a baseball
player," Piniella said in Chicago after managing the Cubs to a victory
over San Francisco. "It's a sad day."

During his career, Murcer had a three-homer game, hit for the cycle and
once homered in four straight at-bats.

Smart at the plate, he beat out Willie Mays in 1971 to lead the majors
in on-base percentage. The next year, Murcer set career highs with 33
homers and 96 RBIs, and led the AL in total bases and runs. He finished
with more career walks (862) than strikeouts (841).

Murcer made the All-Star team for five straight seasons, starting in
1971.

"He was a tough man," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, fighting back
tears. "He was a great Yankee, but probably more importantly he was a
great friend. He always put others first. He played the game the right
way. He got what life was about, and that was making life better for
the people around you."

Murcer retired in June 1983 and moved into the broadcast booth that
season, working as a color analyst on radio. He served one year as
assistant general manager of the Yankees, returned as an announcer in
1989 and stayed in the booth as New York won four World Series titles
from 1996-2000.

"He always had that bright smile and that positive spin on everything,"
Yankees slugger Jason Giambi said. "He was the type of guy who never
had a bad day."

Murcer also served as chairman of B.A.T., the Baseball Assistance Team
charity that provides financial help and other support to players in
need.

"I've never met a more genuine person," Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay
said. "What he went through the last couple of years no one should ever
have to go through, but he went through it with such grace. He was an
amazing, amazing guy. He was a piece of work in the best way possible."


A family service will be held within the next several days in Oklahoma
City. In addition, a celebration of Murcer's life will be held at a
date to be determined, the Yankees said.

Murcer is survived by his wife, his children, Tori and Todd, and his
grandchildren. 

Many thanks to Deathwatch Central for posting this obituary