Bobby Murcer, 62; five-time All-Star outfielder, longtime New York Yankee
Bobby Murcer, a five-time All-Star outfielder who spent nearly four decades with the New York Yankees as a player, executive and announcer, died Saturday at an Oklahoma City hospital of complications from a malignant brain tumor. He was 62.
"Bobby Murcer was a born Yankee, a great guy, very well-liked and a true friend of mine," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said in a statement.
Murcer was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Christmas Eve 2006 after having headaches. He had surgery that week in Houston, and doctors found that 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 both Mickey Mantle and Don Mattingly, the popular Murcer hit .277 with 252 home runs and 1,043 runs batted in over 17 seasons with the Yankees, San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs. He made the All-Star team in both the American and National leagues and won a Gold Glove.
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 on one of the saddest days in Yankees history.
Murcer delivered one of the eulogies in Ohio after team 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."
Bobby Ray Murcer was born May 20, 1946, in Oklahoma City. Although he was offered a football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, he chose to play baseball. 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 in September 1965.
Drafted into the Army, Murcer served in the radio corps at Ft. Huachuca in Arizona during the 1967 and '68 seasons. On his return to the Yankees, he homered on opening day in 1969. He moved from shortstop to third base to begin that year, but soon was playing in center field -- Mantle's old spot. Murcer also took over Mantle's locker.
