Who Was Thurman Munson and Why Isn’t He in the Hall of Fame?

Wanted to clarify a few points.

First, many sporting hall of fames have a stated character requirement for entry. Munson excels here too.

He was a great player who in addition died because he went WAY out of his way to see, support and love his family by 1. learning how to pilot a plane 2. spending a lot of money on newer planes 3. dragging a very probably tired and injured body away, when resting in NYC on an off day might have been tempting, to be with his family for a relatively short amount of time.

Yankee culture was infamous for partying and living recklessly which has been well documented and part of that was a regretted neglect of family most expressed by Mickey Mantle who would have crossed paths with Munson. Munson’s family commitment may have been a little to very countercultural at the time. Also, it was the 1970’s and many families had spouses with different life experiences due to women not having real opportunities at work so many households had this major difference in work-life experience which I am sure was a challenge for many marriages. Again, Munson seems to have been exceptional in his efforts to be supportive given the culture at the time. Also, I have yet to hear a better MLB example of family commitment given the surrounding culture.

To miss Munson’s ability, leadership, accomplishments along with his character seems almost inexplicable but not on par with those actions listed in the last paragraph.

Admittedly this was written late and with emotion. The error in that paragraphs case was not differentiating the negative forces or qualifying some of them which in some cases I thought was apparent but other not.

Also, it may have seemed to take away from the Munson for HOF argument but that many of these men are in the HOF and have low character traits made another point for a Munson HOF induction.

To categorize the above list….

1. There is no comparing the worst force of human nature in recent history (WW I and WWII Germany) with anything other than a few other horrible dictatorships. My point poorly expressed was that this awful regime even effected a homegrown sport in a country far away initially committed to isolation.

1b. Castro is accused of many bad things and to be honest I know there were also huge injustices in the Cuba he overturned but my knowledge of details is not even general at best. Cuba’s struggles and challenges are far beyond the cancelling of professional baseball and restricting national team players which are very significant and emblematic of Cuba’s plight. When players are risking their lives to escape in the last decade or two, serious issues exist. All of this affected MLB but the emphasis should be on the plight of the Cuban people and their dignity.

2. Within the game there are varying degrees of negative influence which for more formidable purposes should be qualified.

My reading said Cap Anson is the one person most responsible for segregation in baseball when a few men of color played baseball professionally In the late 1800’s. He is said to have very actively and forcefully insisted on a awful unwritten rule that kept most people of color out of the game for over six decades. This is different than a still very bad “see no evil” position on the same as not just the Red Sox but others late to integrate teams like the Yankees who to New Yorkers credit pressured Yankee brass in calling up Elston Howard not much before the Red Sox finally integrated. Was Cap Anson just an example of the times? No, he did way more damage than anyone else concerning being good to people of color and should be considered for being kicked out of the HOF or, if not immediately possible, designated as skilled players who were a-holes. “See or Don’t See the New Black Eye Section of the HOF or Those Who Are Up for Being Kicked Out” should be Cooperstown’s next project announcement.

Cobb played the game with as much skill as anyone and was very racist and aggressive individually (like the rogue Dodgers who threatened to boycott Jackie Robinson, the ’47 Phillies skipper and John Rocker) which is another very bad black eye on the game.

Landis’ effect was institutional and although he was hired to help after the 1919 World Series scandal, his lack of vision hurt the game deeply. In my general knowledge of baseball history, I have never heard of an account of the culpability of Ban Johnson who created the American League which merged with MLB/NL in 1901 making baseball the leading US sport for at least a half century and who also may have initiated the World Series. Did Ban Johnson have an opportunity and power to integrate in the first decade of the 20th century? If so, another missed critical opportunity. I’ll be reading about this soon.

Tom Yawkey did and didn’t do things the hurt the game as mentioned above. To those who were effected by his mistakes (all of us essentially), the last to integrate cannot be defended or explained away. Cleveland brought up Larry Doby a few months after Jackie Robinson in 1947. Cleveland added Satchel Paige in 1948 and won their first World Series that year since 1920 two years after the Red Sox last victory. The benefits of integrating were right in front of all owners.. For an overall treatment of Yawkey, see SABR’s web site and bio of him. He treated and paid players well and had many men of color in his later years just to qualify along with going to every game and being supportive of the team in some ways which does not cancel any faults. Also, unlike the Red Sox owners he bought the team from, he improved the team by spending although limited in its scope which set the stage for eventually for players of color like Jim Rice and even Mike Torres who they recruited away from the Yankees and in the Yawkey habit paid them too. But as SABR states, he had a ton of inherited money beyond other owners and mostly drank, hunted and fished with his employees and didn’t usually check their work progress. .

Charlie Finlay was a hustler, a bully and he lied concerning ownership intentions in KC but I do not know that he was anything worse than that. He let and maybe encouraged long hair and facial hair which is a nod to individuality and expression and contrasted to the Yankees strict policies. He was very heavy handed with players and when free agency began in 1976 the A’s dynasty fled away from Findlay at record pace.

Is passing over Munson for the HOF, which obviously many have done, equal to the above negative actions. No, but juxtaposing those listed above that are in the HOF with Munson’s leadership, ability, heart and character in the face of many challenges, another vote against Munson in the HOF is even more inexcusable. Was Munson a saint? He was tough and surly at times, but how do you keep him out of the HOF? For his wife, kids, grandkids, extended family, friends, teammates, etc.,, those of you few special committee members that will have a vote on Munson’s status, do the right thing and vote him in.

Munson was my idol as a kid, he inspired me to be a catcher. I wore #15 from little league to A ball and semi pro till I was 36. I loved catching, I loved all the foul tips that caught me in exposed places, the broken toes n fingers, the bruises, especially the collisions at home plate. Because that’s what he did every day better than anyone else at the highest level. My hero, my role model. The day he died is burned into my memory, I had just finished catching a pony league game.