Thurman Munson - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

A Native of Canton, Ohio, Thurman Lee Munson was a three sport star in high school, being named All-State in Football, Basketball and Baseball. He attended Kent State University before being drafted in the 4th round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Yankees. On August 8, 1969 made his first Major League appearance at Yankee Stadium in the second game of a double header against the Oakland A’s. He went 2 for 3 with a walk, one RBI and scored twice. In 1970 Thurman was named the American League Rookie of the Year. During his career with the Yankees was named the Yankee Captain, the first since the legendary Lou Gehrig. In 1976 he was named the American League Most Valuable Player and was instrumental in the Yankee’s to back to back World Series Championships in 1977 and 1978. Thurman Munson was a seven time All-Star and a three time Gold Glove Award winner. The Yankee Captain died on August 2, 1979 as a result of injuries received in a plane crash in Canton, Ohio. He is buried in the Sunset Hills Burial Park in Canton, Ohio.

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Description: Thurman Munson was born on June 7, 1947 in Akron, Ohio. He attended Lehman High School in Canton, Ohio where excelled in Football, Basketball and Baseball, being selected all-state in all three sports. During his senior year in high school, Thurman switched from shortstop to catcher. After graduating high school, he attended Kent State University where he as a teammate of pitcher and broadcaster Steve Stone. In 1967 Thurman joined the Cape Cod League, leading the Chatham A’s with a batting average of .420. In 1968 Thurman was selected in the 4th round of the Major League Draft by the New York Yankees and assigned to the minor league Binghamton Triplets. In 1969 he was assigned to the Triple A Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. On August 8, 1969 the man that would become the Yankee Captain was called up to the Yankees and made his first major league appearance at Yankee Stadium. On August 10, 1969, Thurman cracked the first of his 113 Home Runs off of the Oakland A’s Lew Krausse. In 1970 Thurman was named the American League Rookie of the Year. During his career with the Yankees was named the Yankee Captain, the first since the legendary Lou Gehrig. In 1976 he was named the American League Most Valuable Player and was instrumental in the Yankee’s to back to back World Series Championships in 1977 and 1978. Thurman Munson was a seven time All-Star and a three time Gold Glove Award winner. In 1979 Thurman purchased a Cessna Citation so that he could fly home to visit family on his off days during the season. On August 2, 1979 he as practicing takeoffs and landings at the Akron-Canton Airport with friend Jerry Anderson and flight instructor Dave Hall. During one of these practice landings the plane clipped a tree short of the runway. The plane burst into flames and while Hall and Anderson survived the Yankee Captain died as a result of injuries he received in the crash. Thurman Lee Munson is resting in the Sunset Hills Burial Park in Canton, Ohio Date of birth: 06/07/1947 Date of death: 08/02/1979 Area of notoriety: Sports Marker Type: Tomb (above ground) Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daily - 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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