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Bonne Daddy´s 1979 New York Yankees Baseball Card Collection Pieces

DOG COMMENTARY:

The 1979 New York Yankees season was the 77th season for the franchise in New York and its 79th season overall. The season was marked by the death of their starting catcher, Thurman Munson, on August 2. The team finished with a record of 89-71….finishing fourth in the American League East….13.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles….ending the Yankees’ three-year domination of the AL East.  New York was managed by Billy Martin and Bob Lemon…. playing at Yankee Stadium.

During the off-season on November 10, 1978 the Yanks sent Sparky Lyle, Domingo Ramos, Mike Heath, Larry McCall, Dave Rajsich and cash to the Texas Rangers for Dave Righetti, Juan Beníquez, Mike Griffin, Paul Mirabella and Greg Jemison (minors)….then on November 13, 1978, they signed Luis Tiant as a free agent….then on November 21, 1978 the signed Tommy John as a free agent.  In January 1979, the Yankees attempted to acquire first baseman Rod Carew from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Chris Chambliss, Juan Beníquez, Dámaso García, and Dave Righetti….but the deal fell through….and Carew was later traded to the California Angels.

On August 6, the Yankees flew to Ohio to attend Thurman Munson’s memorial service….then flew back to New York play the Orioles on Monday Night Baseball….as Bobby Murcer hit a three run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning….then drove in two more runs in the ninth with a single off former Yankee Tippy Martinez to account for all five Yankee runs in a 5-4 win.  After the game, Murcer gave the bat to Munson’s widow.

Thurman Munson was frequently homesick throughout the season….and took flying lessons so that he could fly home to his family in Canton on off-days.  On August 2, 1979, he was practicing takeoffs and landings in his new Cessna Citation I/SP jet at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport.  On the fourth touch-and-go, Munson failed to lower the flaps for landing….allowing the aircraft to sink too low before increasing engine power….causing the jet to clip a tree and fall short of the runway. The plane then hit a tree stump and burst into flames, killing Munson (who was trapped inside)….and injuring two other companions. It is believed that the inability to get out of the plane and the ensuing asphyxiation is what killed Munson….rather than injuries sustained on impact or burns (the two passengers survived). He was 32 years old.

Munson’s sudden death was major news across the nation and especially sorrowed the baseball community.  Munson was survived by his wife, Diana, and their three children. The day after his death….before the start of the Yankees’ four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles in the Bronx….the Yankees paid tribute to their fallen captain in a pre-game ceremony during which the starters stood at their defensive positions….save for the catcher’s box….which remained empty. At the conclusion of Robert Merrill’s musical selection, the fans (announced attendance 51,151) burst into a 10-minute standing ovation.

Words cannot really describe the devastation to the Yankees team that occurred after the loss of their Captain….for Thurman Munson was a catcher that personified the Yankees spirit and attitude…..tough to get out….and tough to out play….hard nosed with his command of his pitchers and his positioning of the defense….for there is no telling what the Yankees could have done with Thurman Munson developing a legacy that would rival “Mr. Yankee” Yogi Berra….as the core group of Reggie, Murcer, Gamble, Blair, Pinella and Rivers in the outfield…..Nettles, Dent, Randolph and Chambliss in the infield….Guidry, Hunter, John, Kaat, Righetti, Tiant & Gossage on the mound….and Thurman Munson behind the plate….that sounds mighty strong.

 

Sports Collection Pics 2084
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograh 1979 New York Yankees OF Roy White
Sports Collection Pics 2082
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograph 1979 New York Yankees 2B Willie Randolph
Sports Collection Pics 2012
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograph 1979 Minnesota Twins / New York Yankees Pitcher Roger Erickson
Sports Collection Pics 2010
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograph 1979 Philadelphia Phillies / New York Yankees Catcher Barry Foote
Sports Collection Pics 2933
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 Seattle Mariner / New York Yankees Pitcher Shane Rawley
Sports Collection Pics 2932
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 Chicago Cub / New York Yankees OF Bobby Murcer
Sports Collection Pics 2931
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 Toronto Blue Jays / New York Yankees Catcher Rick Cerone
Sports Collection Pics 2930
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 Minnesota Twins / New York Yankees SS Roy Smalley
Sports Collection Pics 2929
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 Yankees Prospects – 2B Brian Doyle – Catcher Mike Heath – Pitcher Dave Rajsich
Sports Collection Pics 2928
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1978 Stolen Base Leaders – A.L. Detroit Tigers OF Ron LeFlore & N.L. Pittsburgh Pirates / New York Yankees OF Omar Moreno
Sports Collection Pics 2927
MLB – Original Baseball Cards 1978 Leading Firemen – A. L. New York Yankees P Goose Gossage – N.L. San Diego Padres P Rollie Fingers
Sports Collection Pics 2925
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 Cincinnati Red / New York Yankees OF Ken Griffey
Sports Collection Pics 2924
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 Detroit Tigers / New York Yankees OF Steve Kemp
Sports Collection Pics 2923
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 San Diego Padres / New York Yankees OF Oscar Gamble
Sports Collection Pics 2922
MLB – Original Baseball Card All-Time Record Holders – Home Runs – SEASON New York Yankees OF Roger Maris – CAREER Atlanta Braves OF Hank Aaron
Sports Collection Pics 2921
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 Texas Rangers / New York Yankees 3B Tody Harrah
Sports Collection Pics 2920
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 San Diego Padres / New York Yankees Pitcher Bob Shirley
Sports Collection Pics 2919
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Ron Guidry tribute to setting the 1978 A. L. record of strikeouts by a lefthander in 9 innings.
Sports Collection Pics 2918
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 N Y Mets / New York Yankees SS Tim Foli
Sports Collection Pics 2917
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 Minnesota Twins / New York Yankees Catcher Butch Wynegar
Sports Collection Pics 2915
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees 2B Willie Randolph
Sports Collection Pics 2914
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees OF Roy White
Sports Collection Pics 2913
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees OF Lou Pinella
Sports Collection Pics 2912
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees OF Mickey Rivers
Sports Collection Pics 2911
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Dick Tidrow
Sports Collection Pics 2910
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles
Sports Collection Pics 2909
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees DH-1B Jim Spencer
Sports Collection Pics 2908
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees OF-1B Gary Thomasson
Sports Collection Pics 2906
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees All Star OF Reggie Jackson
Sports Collection Pics 2905
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Paul Lindblad
Sports Collection Pics 2904
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Catcher Thurman Munson
Sports Collection Pics 2903
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter
Sports Collection Pics 2902
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees OF Jay Johnstone
Sports Collection Pics 2901
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Andy Messersmith
Sports Collection Pics 2900
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Don Gullett
Sports Collection Pics 2899
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Catcher Cliff Johnson
Sports Collection Pics 2898
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Sparky Lyle
Sports Collection Pics 2894
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Ron Guidry
Sports Collection Pics 2892
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees SS Bucky Dent
Sports Collection Pics 2891
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees OF Paul Blair
Sports Collection Pics 2890
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage
Sports Collection Pics 2889
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Ken Clay
Sports Collection Pics 2888
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Ed Figueroa
Sports Collection Pics 2887
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees 1B Chris Chambliss
Sports Collection Pics 2884
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Pitcher Jim Beattie
Sports Collection Pics 2108
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograph 1979 Toronto Blue Jays / New York Yankees 1B John Mayberry
Sports Collection Pics 2110
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograph 1979 Detroit Tigers / New York Yankees OF Steve Kemp
Sports Collection Pics 2106
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograph 1979 San Diego Padres / New York Yankees Pitcher Bob Shirley
Sports Collection Pics 2104
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograph 1979 New York Yankees 2B Willie Randolph
Sports Collection Pics 2103
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 San Diego Padres / New York Yankees Pitcher Gaylord Perry
Sports Collection Pics 2097
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograph 1979 New York Yankees OF Lou Pinella
Sports Collection Pics 2090
MLB – Original Baseball Card Autograph 1979 New York Yankees 1B Chris Chambliss
Sports Collection Pics 2885
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Team Card with Manager Bob Lemon
Sports Collection Pics 2896
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1979 New York Yankees Team Checklist Card

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