Comments on: Bobby Murcer passes http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/ A New York Yankees Blog Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:31:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Santomauro http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-150287 Michael Santomauro Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:50:55 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-150287 A great man! A great man!

]]> By: SportsLifer http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-110014 SportsLifer Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:49:40 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-110014 I never had the opportunity to meet Bobby Murcer in person, but I’ve written about him several times in my SportsLifer blog recently. Perhaps most poignant and fitting today is the reflective piece I wrote about Murcer’s eulogy at Thurman Munson’s funeral in 1979, where he used the words of my great uncle, Angelo Patri, the famed progressive educator, writer and philosopher. Murcer sobbed as he read: “The life of a soul on earth lasts longer than his departure. He lives on in your life and the life of all others who knew him.” The words are from Uncle Angelo’s syndicated column, Our Children, and were written in 1928. “In one sense there is no death, The life of the soul on earth lasts beyond his departure. You will always feel that life touching yours That voice speaking to you — that spirit looking out of other eyes, talking to you in the familiar things he touched… Worked with…loved as familiar friends. He lives on in your life And in the lives of all others that knew him.” Following Munson’s funeral, the Yankees returned to Bronx, where Uncle Angelo had become the first Italian-born American to become a school principal in 1907. That night the Yankees faced the Baltimore Orioles in a nationally televised game. Yankee manager Billy Martin wanted to give the emotionally drained Murcer the night off, but Bobby insisted on playing. Murcer single-handedly brought the Yankees back from a 4-0 deficit with a three-run homer in the seventh and a two-run single to win the game, 5-4, in the bottom of the ninth. Murcer never used the bat from the game again and gave it to Munson’s widow, Diana I never had the opportunity to meet Bobby Murcer in person, but I’ve written about him several times in my SportsLifer blog recently. Perhaps most poignant and fitting today is the reflective piece I wrote about Murcer’s eulogy at Thurman Munson’s funeral in 1979, where he used the words of my great uncle, Angelo Patri, the famed progressive educator, writer and philosopher.
Murcer sobbed as he read: “The life of a soul on earth lasts longer than his departure. He lives on in your life and the life of all others who knew him.”
The words are from Uncle Angelo’s syndicated column, Our Children, and were written in 1928.
“In one sense there is no death,
The life of the soul on earth lasts beyond his departure.
You will always feel that life touching yours
That voice speaking to you — that spirit looking out of other eyes,
talking to you in the familiar things he touched…
Worked with…loved as familiar friends.
He lives on in your life
And in the lives of all others that knew him.”
Following Munson’s funeral, the Yankees returned to Bronx, where Uncle Angelo had become the first Italian-born American to become a school principal in 1907. That night the Yankees faced the Baltimore Orioles in a nationally televised game. Yankee manager Billy Martin wanted to give the emotionally drained Murcer the night off, but Bobby insisted on playing. Murcer single-handedly brought the Yankees back from a 4-0 deficit with a three-run homer in the seventh and a two-run single to win the game, 5-4, in the bottom of the ninth.
Murcer never used the bat from the game again and gave it to Munson’s widow, Diana

]]> By: Dave P. http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-109776 Dave P. Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:56:59 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-109776 August 7, 1983. My first game at Yankee Stadium. I was nine and it was Bobby Murcer Day. He had just retired earlier that year and my Aunt suprised me with tickets for my birthday. We were in the upper deck in right field near the foul pole. I don't recall much of the game other than the Yankees lost and Lance Parrish homered for the Tigers. I remember however the crowd laughing and cheering as former teammates of Murcer's did a light-hearted roast. I didn't get all the humor, though I do remember someone presenting him with a rocking chair. It's hard to believe that was 25 years ago. It feels like yesterday. It's so sad to think that my first memory of Yankee Stadium has passed. My prayers go out to his family. I only wish I kept the program they gave out. August 7, 1983. My first game at Yankee Stadium. I was nine and it was Bobby Murcer Day. He had just retired earlier that year and my Aunt suprised me with tickets for my birthday. We were in the upper deck in right field near the foul pole. I don’t recall much of the game other than the Yankees lost and Lance Parrish homered for the Tigers. I remember however the crowd laughing and cheering as former teammates of Murcer’s did a light-hearted roast. I didn’t get all the humor, though I do remember someone presenting him with a rocking chair. It’s hard to believe that was 25 years ago. It feels like yesterday. It’s so sad to think that my first memory of Yankee Stadium has passed. My prayers go out to his family. I only wish I kept the program they gave out.

]]> By: Vin R. http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-109774 Vin R. Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:35:07 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-109774 +1 +1

]]> By: Mike T http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-109517 Mike T Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:00:42 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-109517 I thought I might reply as an 'older' fan. Bobby Murcer cost me my dream job as a vendor at Yankee Stadium. It was June 24, 1970, my first and last day as a vendor selling sodas. Bobby was my hero. I wore his number on my little league team. I saved EVERYTHING I could about him, news clippings, scorecards, baseball cards. In the first game of the doubleheader he hit a homerun in his last at bat. (I think they lost that game) In the second game he had hit homers his first 2 times up. I just couldn't even THINK about selling sodas. When he came up the third time I was just about to go give someone a soda who had already paid me. I could only see Bobby swing and connect from my vantage point. I heard the crowd roar so I dropped my case of sodas and ran up the aisle just in time to see him rounding second base. After a long celebration with other fans I remembered the sodas. When I got back there was a supervisor standing over my now empty case of sodas. He 'ushered' me back to the distribution room and promtly told me that I was no longer needed. At 15, with brand new working papers, I had just been fired from my first job. I didn't care at all. I had been at the games where Bobby Murcer hit 4 home runs in 4 at bats! A HUGE piece of my childhood died yesterday. My heart is broken and I'm not ashamed of the tears that won't stop as I read all of the tributes to this TRUE YANKEE. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family on what must be a miserable day for them. Thank You, Bobby Murcer, for making my childhood something I look back on with great joy! If anyone would dare question Murcer's embodiment of the Yankee Spirit I would direct them to the Munson Game. I won't babble any further but PLEASE look up what happened that night at Yankee Stadium and be prepared to be mesmerised! I thought I might reply as an ‘older’ fan. Bobby Murcer cost me my dream job as a vendor at Yankee Stadium. It was June 24, 1970, my first and last day as a vendor selling sodas. Bobby was my hero. I wore his number on my little league team. I saved EVERYTHING I could about him, news clippings, scorecards, baseball cards. In the first game of the doubleheader he hit a homerun in his last at bat. (I think they lost that game) In the second game he had hit homers his first 2 times up. I just couldn’t even THINK about selling sodas. When he came up the third time I was just about to go give someone a soda who had already paid me. I could only see Bobby swing and connect from my vantage point. I heard the crowd roar so I dropped my case of sodas and ran up the aisle just in time to see him rounding second base. After a long celebration with other fans I remembered the sodas. When I got back there was a supervisor standing over my now empty case of sodas. He ‘ushered’ me back to the distribution room and promtly told me that I was no longer needed. At 15, with brand new working papers, I had just been fired from my first job. I didn’t care at all. I had been at the games where Bobby Murcer hit 4 home runs in 4 at bats! A HUGE piece of my childhood died yesterday. My heart is broken and I’m not ashamed of the tears that won’t stop as I read all of the tributes to this TRUE YANKEE. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family on what must be a miserable day for them. Thank You, Bobby Murcer, for making my childhood something I look back on with great joy! If anyone would dare question Murcer’s embodiment of the Yankee Spirit I would direct them to the Munson Game. I won’t babble any further but PLEASE look up what happened that night at Yankee Stadium and be prepared to be mesmerised!

]]> By: Vin R. http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-109459 Vin R. Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:50:49 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-109459 He was a great yankee and a joy to listen to in the booth. Perhaps Bobby passed at the age of 62 so he could help us win number 26 He was a great yankee and a joy to listen to in the booth. Perhaps Bobby passed at the age of 62 so he could help us win number 26

]]> By: Steve http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-109437 Steve Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:57:16 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-109437 Yeah, when the family announced that setback it was their way of bracing people for what was about to happen. Doctors usually know when someone is getting towards the end. RIP Bobby, great guy who lived a wonderful life. Yeah, when the family announced that setback it was their way of bracing people for what was about to happen. Doctors usually know when someone is getting towards the end.

RIP Bobby, great guy who lived a wonderful life.

]]> By: Sport Quote Guy http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-109435 Sport Quote Guy Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:47:44 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-109435 I'm lucky enough to have watched Murcer make his return to the Yankees and then follow him thorugh boradcasting. He will be missed. I’m lucky enough to have watched Murcer make his return to the Yankees and then follow him thorugh boradcasting. He will be missed.

]]> By: Bill http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-109386 Bill Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:02:13 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-109386 I'm only 21, so obviously I never was able to see Bobby play. All I know is that there were two announcers that I will always remember. Phil Rizzuto and Bobby Mercer. Bobby was just a great guy, I ran into him once and he was nothing but nice, and that aura ran through into his commentary. From what my Father always told me he was always a great and exciting player . On ESPN Rob Neyer wrote an article on him, and while I didn't read the whole article I thought the first three paragraphs were touching. It showed us the expectations he had as a player. The comparisons to Mickey and so on. To turn out as good of as a player as he was is a sign of his own character. I'd really love to read the rest of that Neyer article, part of me wants to sign up for Insider for that purpose only. All I know is that we lost a great Yankee. I’m only 21, so obviously I never was able to see Bobby play. All I know is that there were two announcers that I will always remember. Phil Rizzuto and Bobby Mercer. Bobby was just a great guy, I ran into him once and he was nothing but nice, and that aura ran through into his commentary. From what my Father always told me he was always a great and exciting player . On ESPN Rob Neyer wrote an article on him, and while I didn’t read the whole article I thought the first three paragraphs were touching. It showed us the expectations he had as a player. The comparisons to Mickey and so on. To turn out as good of as a player as he was is a sign of his own character. I’d really love to read the rest of that Neyer article, part of me wants to sign up for Insider for that purpose only. All I know is that we lost a great Yankee.

]]> By: Ivan http://riveraveblues.com/2008/07/bobby-murcer-passes-3287/#comment-109374 Ivan Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:06:00 +0000 http://riveraveblues.com/?p=3287#comment-109374 Great guy, and I will surely miss especially in the booth. Great guy, and I will surely miss especially in the booth.

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