July 12, 2008
Murcer Passes
Bobby Murcer died today.
The Yankees said Murcer died Saturday due to complications from brain cancer. He was surrounded by family at Mercy Hospital in his hometown of Oklahoma City, the team said. "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 determined the tumor was malignant. Determined to be around his beloved Yankees, Murcer returned to the broadcast booth last year and briefly this season.
I started watching the Yankees in 1969. Murcer was a star of that team and became one of my favorites. I remember listening to a game (back then, only three of four a week were on TV) when Murcer hit three home runs and drove in five against Kansas City. After the third homer, the announcer said the score was Murcer 5, Royals 0.
My thought go out to his family and friends.
Posted by David Pinto at
09:07 PM
|
Deaths
|
TrackBack (0)
A big loss for the Yankees and Baseball. In baseball, due to the pace and length of the game, you really get to know the announcers, their lives, their stories, their families etc. You really don't get that familiarity with the announcers in other sports, I have probably heard Bobby Murcer's voice for thousand of hours over the last 25 plus years. He was good man, a good announcer, no ego- just a good guy. RIP
There's no way I can ever understand the pressure he was under as the "successor" of Mickey Mantle. But he seems to have handled it with class. I never heard him announce games since I'm in Houston, but if he was as good behind the microphone as he was in centerfield, then he was one of the greats.