Bobby Murcer-The Most Popular of Yankees

Bobby Murcer was supposed to be the next Mickey Mantle, but of course nobody could live up to that task. But Bobby Murcer did become a beloved Yankee, as all true Yankee fans have a special place in their hearts for the humble former outfielder. Bobby Murcer played for the Yanks after their dynasty of the Sixties had crumbled, but was sent away in a heartbreaking trade right before their run in the mid-Seventies. Bobby Murcer returned to New York and ended his career there, becoming a Yankee broadcaster, but not before he brought a nation to tears on an August night in 1979.

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1946, the same state Mantle hailed from, Bobby Murcer played Little League baseball as Mickey was becoming a Bronx icon. Murcer became a New York fan because of Mantle, and was signed in 1964 by the same scout that inked Mantle to a New York contract, Tom Greenwade. Murcer began his professional career in the infield, as had Mantle. Bobby was named the Most Valuable Player of the Greensboro squad in the Yankee farm system, and the big club called him up in 1965. Murcer played shortstop for the Yankees for a total of 29 games before being drafted into the army in 1966, but in that short time he committed 11 errors, mostly of the throwing variety. Although he played with Mantle during that audition, when he returned Mickey would be retired and the Yankees would be trying to recover from a horrible decline.

Murcer was still just 23 when he came back to the team in 1969, but he had gained some much needed maturity. Along with catcher Thurman Munson, Bobby gave the Yankees some talent to build around. Munson and he were fast friends, and Murcer had a strong season in '69 as the Yanks went 80-81. He and Thurman appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the caption of "Pride of the New Yankees" under the photo. Bobby hit .259 with 26 homers and 82 runs batted in, and was made into an outfielder after an aborted experiment of playing third resulted in 14 miscues.