Bobby Murcer has died

[Danmel]

Source: Newsday

Yankee great and broadcaster Boby Murcer has died following a valiant and bravely fought battle with brain cancer.

He was a great balplayer and broadcaster, teammate and friend and will be missed.

RIP Bobby- Thurman's waiting for you.

Read more: www.yesnetwork.com

[DesertRat]

1. I just heard about it during the DBacks v. Phillies game

RIP, Bobby Murcer.

[Faygo Kid]

2. "The next Mantle." As A-Rod passes Mantle with 537 homers. Very sad.

He was a rookie when I was still collecting baseball cards, and retired when I was over 30. Quite a span there. Way too young at 62. Condolences from this Tigers fan.

[regnaD kciN]

3. Damn Shame...

...(and this is from a Red Sox fan).

It seems that Bobby had the bad luck to come up just at the point where the Yankees stopped being a good team, and left NY just before they got good again. Sad that he never got a ring.

[DainBramaged]

10. He got his ring as an announcer, not to worry

[Captain Hilts]

4. Terrific, not 'great' Yankee on some lousy Yankee teams.

Touch 'em all, Bobby.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

5. Former Yankee Bobby Murcer Dies

Source: NY Daily News

Until the very end, Bobby Murcer showed 'heart of a champion'
BY BILL MADDEN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Bobby Murcer lost his gallant and determined fight with brain cancer Saturday at Oklahoma City Hospital with his wife, Kay, his daughter, Tori, and his son, Todd, by his side, a little more than a year-and-half after first being diagnosed with the most aggressive form of tumors. He was 62, and while most of those last 19 months of a life-too-short were spent enduring exhaustive, often-agonizing after-effects of intense chemotherapy and radiation, Murcer, true to his upbeat nature, regarded them as a blessing rather than a curse.

"I feel especially blessed," he told me a few months ago, "to have been able to hear from and see all these wonderful people who have been my fans. Through this entire ordeal, their prayers and support have been so gratifying. You have no idea what a strength the fans have been for me."

According to his literary agent, Rob Wilson, Murcer was especially grateful to have been able to write his book, "Yankee For Life," in which he shared his life's experiences, from the trial of how he and his wife, Kay, dealt with the devastating news of his malignant brain tumor on Christmas Eve 2006, to the joy of his 44 years in the game as a player and broadcaster. During his last appearance in New York, May 27-29, Murcer, though frail and physically weakened, pushed himself to accommodate nearly 2,000 fans in three separate book signings.

"He displayed the heart of a champion throughout all those signings," said Wilson. "I don't know how he was able to get through them. No matter how weak he felt, he just kept signing. I told him at one point, 'We can cut this short, Bobby,' but he insisted on going the full nine innings. There was so much love on those lines, all those people who wanted to share their stories with him, and I think that was what motivated him to keep on going. He wanted them to know he loved them as much as they loved him."


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008...

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I'll never forget being at Yankee Stadium on August 6, 1979,(my b-day) the day of Thurman Munson's funeral, how Murcer, after delivering the eulogy for his friend and teammate, drove in all 5 Yankee runs including a game winning hit in the 9th inning.

RIP, Bobby, and Thank You for the memories.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Good man and player on some lousy Yankee teams.

Touch 'em all, Bobby.

[DainBramaged]

7. One man who deserved a better fate.

A kind man who could make you smile when he walked past you. I think Catfish Hunter died of the same disease. So many of us here on DU have opened that door too. Maybe someday I will be on his team.


Godspeed Mr. Murcer. Rest in Peace in the Field of Dreams.

[Danmel]

14. Catfish Hunter had ALS- Lou Gehrigs Disease

Johnny Oates, who managed the Texas Rangers and Dick Howser who managed the KC Royals both had Glioblastomas.

It is just a real son of a bitch of a cancer- I don't know if anyone survives it more than a couple of years.

Sad.

[RedEarth]

21. A number of articles about Murcer at this link

Murcer should be like Mantle — unforgettable

Bobby Murcer was supposed to be the next Mickey Mantle.

.......

Murcer was not the next Mantle. There still hasn't been a next Mantle.

Murcer was saddled with a task no mortal could ever achieve.

Comparisons between Mantle and Murcer encompassed everything from whence they came, to where they played, to how they spoke.

The more they had in common, the heavier Murcer's burden.

Both hailed from Oklahoma.

Both started out as shortstops.

Both moved to center field because they were error-prone.

Both were signed by legendary scout Tom Greenwade.

Born in Spavinaw and raised in Commerce, Mantle arrived with the Yankees in 1951 at age 19.

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Murcer arrived with the Yankees in 1965 at age 19.

Numerous times, Murcer said he never tried to be the next Mantle, because he knew he never could.

Murcer spoke of how he and Mantle often laughed at the comparisons.

"I didn't know what they were trying to do at the time, I was naοve,” Murcer said. "We laughed about it. I never worried about what people thought of the comparison. I only worried what he thought about the comparison. I never had any regrets because I never took it to heart. I never thought it was real. People thought it was a burden or hindrance. It never was because I never gave it a second thought.”

Murcer met Mantle in the spring of 1964.

"If you were his friend, you were his friend for life,” Murcer once said. "Back in those days they used to give rookies a hard time. When Mickey offered his acceptance to me — and I don't know why, I think maybe it was because Mickey was the last 19-year-old to make the Yankees — it caused everyone to lay off me.”

Mantle died from liver cancer on Aug. 13, 1995.

Just four months earlier, after the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building, Mantle had joined forces with Murcer to help raise funds for the victims.

When Mantle died, Murcer said it was "like losing a brother.”

Murcer called Mantle "the most honest man I ever knew.”

In 1996, at the first Old-Timers Day without Mantle, Murcer remembered a legend who had become a friend.

"There was always a certain electricity when Mickey walked into the building,” Murcer said that day. "It didn't matter what he did. He just was electric. And it's not the same way today. He's really missed. When I came up to the Yankees, Mickey took me under his wing. I guess because we were both from Oklahoma and he remembered how he felt when he first came here as a teenager. But we became good friends. I still can't believe he's not here.”

http://newsok.com/murcer-should-be-like-mantle-unforget...

[DarthDem]

8. RIP from a Red Sox Fan

Rest in peace. Sad.

[KatyaR]

9. No, no, no, no, no . . . .

This absolutely breaks my heart.

I met him a few years ago at a wine event co-sponsored by my employer. I was waiting for the winner of a silent auction to return to his table when this man walked up and started chatting. We had a lovely conversation, and I kept thinking, "I know this man from somewhere." I thought I had met him at another work event. When he introduced himself to me, I nearly stroked out. My grandmother and I used to watch him play all the time when I was a kid. My heroes were Oklahoma's own Mickey Mantle, Bobby Mercer, and, later on, Johnny Bench, so this was a wonderful treat. It took everything I had not to start babbling and maintain some kind of dignity.

My sincere condolences to the Mercers. Bobby shall be greatly missed.

[classysassy]

11. He served

his country during the viet nam war.He was stationed at Ft Huachuca,he played on the post softball team a very nice man,RIP Bobby.

[Wilms]

12. .

[nyy1998]

13. RIP Bobby Murcer

A great Yankee, a good broadcaster, and a true gentleman. This Yankee fan will miss him.

[Drum]

15. Damn, I'm sad to hear of this.

Peace now, Bobby...you're safe at home...rest in peace.

[a la izquierda]

16. Godspeed, Mr Murcer

from a lifelong Yankee fan.

[mitchum]

17. Rest In Peace, Bobby

[mikeargo]

18. RIP, Bobby

I'll always remember - he hit a home run in the first game my dad took me to at Fenway Park back in 1972.

[paulk]

19. one of my childhood heroes

RIP

[cureautismnow]

20. So sad. Much too young.

R.I.P., Bobby. You were one of my childhood heroes. It's too bad you missed out on a championship ring, albeit you did at least get to play in one World Series.

Career stats below.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/murcebo01.shtml

[SalmonChantedEvening]

22. RIP Bobby

Before cable, and when we could get the rabbit ears to pick up NY stations, we'd always seem to see a Bobby Murcer highlight on the news. He became my favorite non-Phillie when I was 13 or so.

Thank you Bobby, may you be at peace.

My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

[Chovexani]

23. Oh shit I used to love watching him call games

My thoughts go out to his family.

[Hailtothechimp]

24. My first baseball glove was a Bobby Murcer

It was black, and since all the other kids on my team had brown or tan ones instead, I always felt a bit self-conscious about it. But then again, I was left-handed, and the sporting goods stores didn't offer too many options for me.

He was with the Cubs for a couple of seasons in the late 1970s, back when I was getting into following them. Even though he's considered a Yankee, his baseball net was a bit wider than that.

R.I.P.

[KatyMan]

25. Godspeed

Brings back 70's era baseball memories...
Wasn't he in a Skoal commercial with Carlton Fisk?

[OneBlueSky]

26. one of the genuinely good guys in professional sports . . . RIP, Bobby . . . n/t

.