The Silver State Chronicles » MLB

NY Yankees: 2009 World Series Champions

Vinnie Vegas — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:12:01 +0000

Making Yankee Fans Proud!

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Oops, they did it again!

Vinnie Vegas — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:11:49 +0000

The New York Mets choke to end their final game at Shea Stadium

Well, you can set your watch by the fact that the NY Mets simply can not finish what they start, and when push comes to shove they will fail. They did it in 2007, and they did it earlier today, when they blew a game against the Marlins, and when the Milwaukee Brewers won their game against the NL Central Division Champion Cubs, 3-1.

That means the Brewers are the NL Wild Card, and the NY Mets the perrenial losers that they are!Similar Posts:

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RIP Bobby Murcer

Vinnie Vegas — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:05:04 +0000

NY Yankee Favorite Passes Away

Bobby Murcer 1946-2008

Just got word that one of my favorite sports broadcasters, Bobby Murcer, passed away today. The AP reports…

Ex-Yanks star, broadcaster Bobby Murcer dies at 62

By BEN WALKE

NEW YORK (AP) Bobby Murcer succeeded Mickey Mantle, played in pinstripes with Don Mattingly and watched proudly from the broadcast booth when the New York Yankees returned to power.

A cherished link from former Yankees greats to the club’s current stars, Murcer died Saturday due to complications from a malignant brain tumor, the team said. He was 62.

In his final moments, Murcer was surrounded by family at Mercy Hospital in his hometown of Oklahoma City, the Yankees said. A five-time All-Star outfielder, he spent nearly four decades with New York as a player, executive and announcer.

“Bobby Murcer was a born Yankee, a great guy, very well-liked and a true friend of mine,” owner George Steinbrenner said. “I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Kay, their children and grandchildren. I will really miss the guy.”

Murcer was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Christmas Eve 2006 after having headaches. He had surgery that week in Houston and doctors later discovered 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 Mantle and Mattingly, the popular Murcer hit .277 with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBIs in 17 seasons with the Yankees, San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs. He made the All-Star team in both leagues and won a Gold Glove.

“All of Major League Baseball is saddened today by the passing of Bobby Murcer, particularly on the eve of this historic All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, a place he called home for so many years,” commissioner Bud Selig said. “Bobby was a gentleman, a great ambassador for baseball, and a true leader both on and off the field. He was a man of great heart and compassion.”

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 during his time as a player on one of the saddest days in Yankees history.

Murcer delivered one of the eulogies in Ohio after 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.”

The Yankees learned of Murcer’s death Saturday after a 9-4 victory in Toronto. Visibly upset, players such as Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte spoke softly about how much Murcer meant to them.

“He touched everybody,” Rivera said.

“One of the greatest Yankees of all-time,” Alex Rodriguez added. “One of the greatest human beings I ever met.”

It was the second consecutive summer that the Yankees lost a former star and beloved broadcaster. Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto died in August 2007.

Now, the Yankees are mourning Murcer.

“If there’s a Hall of Fame for people, he’s in it,” Reggie Jackson said. “He was such a good person, and he was appreciative of the people who cared so much for him.”

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 player in 1965.

After serving in the U.S. Army during the 1967-68 seasons, Murcer homered on opening day in front of President Nixon in 1969 at Washington to launch a career as a full-time player.

Murcer moved from shortstop to third base to begin that year, but soon was in center field, Mantle’s old spot. Murcer also took over Mantle’s locker.

“That was supposed to be the tag. You know, he was going to follow Mantle and do it with ease,” said Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who managed the Yankees from 1996-2007. “He certainly understood it. It’s not easy, but he wore the mantle with a lot of class and never shied away from the responsibility.

“Bobby was a great human being. He really zeroed in on the person he was with, and he was a lot of fun. A lot of class. He’s going to be missed.”

Murcer spent most of his career in pinstripes. He was traded to San Francisco for Bobby Bonds after the 1974 season and was with the Chicago Cubs when the Yankees won the World Series in 1977 and 1978.

He came back to the Yankees during the 1979 season. He had a pinch-hit grand slam in the 1981 opener and was a part-time player when he reached the World Series for the only time later that year, with New York losing to the Dodgers.

“Just a wonderful person, a great teammate and a heck of a baseball player,” Piniella said in Chicago after managing the Cubs to a victory over San Francisco. “It’s a sad day.”

During his career, Murcer had a three-homer game, hit for the cycle and once homered in four straight at-bats.

Smart at the plate, he beat out Willie Mays in 1971 to lead the majors in on-base percentage. The next year, Murcer set career highs with 33 homers and 96 RBIs, and led the AL in total bases and runs. He finished with more career walks (862) than strikeouts (841).

Murcer made the All-Star team for five straight seasons, starting in 1971.

“He was a tough man,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, fighting back tears. “He was a great Yankee, but probably more importantly he was a great friend. He always put others first. He played the game the right way. He got what life was about, and that was making life better for the people around you.”

Murcer retired in June 1983 and moved into the broadcast booth that season, working as a color analyst on radio. He served one year as assistant general manager of the Yankees, returned as an announcer in 1989 and stayed in the booth as New York won four World Series titles from 1996-2000.

“He always had that bright smile and that positive spin on everything,” Yankees slugger Jason Giambi said. “He was the type of guy who never had a bad day.”

Murcer also served as chairman of B.A.T., the Baseball Assistance Team charity that provides financial help and other support to players in need.

“I’ve never met a more genuine person,” Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay said. “What he went through the last couple of years no one should ever have to go through, but he went through it with such grace. He was an amazing, amazing guy. He was a piece of work in the best way possible.”

A family service will be held within the next several days in Oklahoma City. In addition, a celebration of Murcer’s life will be held at a date to be determined, the Yankees said.

Murcer is survived by his wife, his children, Tori and Todd, and his grandchildren.

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The Greatest Play in Baseball History

Vinnie Vegas — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:25:52 +0000

32 Years Ago Tomorrow

Chicago Cub baseball player Rick Monday saves an American flag from would be flag burners during a game in 1976. This great clip includes insights from Monday, as well as comments by Tommy Lasorda and Steve Garvey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrV8QPQAhxo

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Steinbrenner Giving Up Control of Yankees

Vinnie Vegas — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:16:43 +0000

End of an Era

Our friends at the NY Post reported on Sunday that good ol’ George Steinbrenner is finally stepping down from his seat of power over at the NY Yankees organization.

The Steinbrenner boys have taken the reins, Yankees brass has told The Post.

Hank and Hal Steinbrenner will share leadership of father George’s beloved Bronx Bombers in an arrangement to be further ironed out at top-level meetings in Tampa this week.

“George has taken on a role like the chairman of a major corporation,” said team president Randy Levine.

“He’s been saying for years he’s wanted to get his sons involved in the family business. Both of them have stepped up and are taking on the day-to-day duties of what’s required to run the Yankees.”

George Steinbrenner bought the NY Yankees back in 1973 for the hefty sum of $8.7 million. While a controversial figure, his aggressive management style brought success to the Yankees very quickly, with an AL Championship in 1976 and back-to-back World Titles in 1977 and 1978.

The NY Yankees organization is now valued at $ 1.2 billion. People may not like him, but there is no arguing with success: under his watch the Yankees have 6 World Series Championships, 4 AL Championships, and most recently 12 consecutive years of post-season action. No baseball franchise comes close to the success of the NY Yankees.

Enjoy your semi-retirement, George! And thanks for everything.Similar Posts:

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You Gotta’ Believe

Vinnie Vegas — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:47:33 +0000

The Most Memorable Collapse in Recent History

Those warriors from Queens, the New York Mets, demonstrated once again that they simply can not be counted on to finish what they start.

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Phil Rizzuto, RIP

Vinnie Vegas — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 08:50:00 +0000

So Long, Scooter!

Just got word that legendary NY Yankee player and longtime Yankee broadcaster Phil Rizzuto passed away today, at age 89.

Phil was a Yankee for life, and was part of the Yankees 1940s-1950s dynasty, being part of the squad that won five consercutive World Series. Phil was the 1950 AL MVP and a five-time All-Star.

I became a Yankee fan in 1975 so my memories of The Scooter are all from his broadcasting career, sitting next to Bill White on WPIX Channel 11 in NYC and enjoying his calls of Yankee baseball! Phil has shared the booth with Mel Allen, Bobby Mercer, Tom Seaver, and many others over the decades, but the White & Rizzuto combo set the standard!

Phil finally made it into the Hall of Fame in 1994, well overdue. I always felt the HoF was just using denying Rizzuto into the Hall as an opportunity to stick it to George Stienbrenner. In any event, The Veterans Committee did the right thing and placed Phil in The Hall of Fame!

I’ll never hear anyone say ‘Holy Cow’ again and not remember The Scooter! Thanks for the memories, Mr. Rizzuto!Similar Posts:

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