Tuesday, January 10, 2012

no. 5 - thurman munson


Who is the man: The trophy looks impressive, but Thurman Munson was coming off a bigger award when this card appeared in packs. He had just won the American League Rookie of the Year award. He also received a pretty iconic baseball card for just his second year in the majors.

Can ya dig it: Munson hit .385 in 67 World Series at-bats as the Yankees reached the Series in 1976, 1977 and 1978.

Right on: It's been determined many times already, but the Athletics player being tagged by Munson is pitcher Chuck Dobson. Also, this is the first action card in a Topps set that exhibited player action cards for the first time.

You see this cat Munson is a bad mother: Munson was involved in a famed brawl with Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk in August, 1973. Munson, coming in from third base, tried to bowl over Fisk on a missed bunt attempt by Gene Michael during the ninth inning of a 2-2 game, touching off a 10-minute brawl. Munson kind of got the worst of it though, as Fisk went ballistic and started punching Munson while keeping Michael pinned down by the throat.

Shut your mouth: When my brother and I told my youngest brother that Munson had died in a plane crash, my brother refused to believe it. Not because he was sad -- we were all Yankee haters -- but because we had played so many pranks on him that he didn't believe us anymore.

No one understands him but his woman: Munson often wanted to play for the Cleveland Indians -- a terrible team in the '70s -- because he was homesick and longed to play close to his family and native Akron, Ohio.


(A word about the back): Seeing Munson without a mustache is shocking ... might I say appalling.

14 comments:

  1. Most coveted play at the plate card of ALL TIME! At least around these parts.

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  2. That is a classic card of Topps greatness

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  3. Nowdays how often do you see a pitcher sliding into the plate like that?

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  4. I inherited this card when I was much younger. I think my cousin was moving houses and had a small stack of cards and this was in there. It's easily one of the most prized cards in my collection.

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  5. Probably my favorite card of all-time.

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  6. The copy I have is kinda worn. I'd love to upgrade to a nicer version, but it is ungodly expensive. It actually has a book value (FWIW) that is higher than the high number Willie Mays card. Insane.

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  7. I have this card is fairly decent condition, but I've been holding on to it in hopes for a nice Twins card in exchange.

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  8. I was never a Munson fan (although he was the guy you loved to hate if you were a Fisk / Bench fan) but this is an AWESOME card.

    There's a very interesting chapter in Josh Wilker's book "Cardboard Gods" about Munson's death (or, perhaps more accurately, news of Munson's death.)

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  9. It was Gene Michael (future Yankee GM) involved in the altercation, not George Michael.

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  10. Did Michail Grossbardt take this photo...?

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  11. Replies
    1. Yes Micheal Grossbardt toke this picture. I know Michael Personally and he definitely toke this photo among other great photos he has in his collection. I've seen it personally

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    2. Is Isis there anyway to purchase a nice print of that Munson photo? Lord knows I'd love one...

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