Thurman Munson

[Seattle1]

Derek Jeter says Thurman Munson should be in the Hall of Fame, no question about it.

[KCGHOST]

Every poll ever taken at BBF has shown Munson to be undeserving. Simply too short a career without a monster peak to propel him into the HoF. He only played in 11 seasons and the first was a cup of coffee. The last two he was an offensive liability and heading toward the sunset. Fine player, though.

[Seattle1]

Every poll ever taken at BBF has shown Munson to be undeserving. Simply too short a career without a monster peak to propel him into the HoF. He only played in 11 seasons and the first was a cup of coffee. The last two he was an offensive liability and heading toward the sunset. Fine player, though.

Maybe Jeter is biased from being in the Yankee organization his whole career.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Every poll ever taken at BBF has shown Munson to be undeserving. Simply too short a career without a monster peak to propel him into the HoF. Fine player, though.

I understand that but I would say that he's certianally a top 20 catcher of all time...I am biased here I am senitmental to the old guy. I mean his shortened career wasn't exactly his fault either...but would you say that he was better than Posada though?

[KCGHOST]

I mean his shortened career wasn't exactly his fault either...but would you say that he was better than Posada though?

Well, he was the pilot of the plane, but be that as it may you could see age drastic decline in his last two years of play. This is not like Koufax or Joss being stopped at the peak of their gifts.

Better than Posada??? Hmmmm. Well it's pretty close and they are both "gamers". Personally I like Posada better, but I don't know that I could prove that.

[Redondos]

Every poll ever taken at BBF has shown Munson to be undeserving. Simply too short a career without a monster peak to propel him into the HoF. He only played in 11 seasons and the first was a cup of coffee. The last two he was an offensive liability and heading toward the sunset. Fine player, though.

Didn't have great seasons in 1978 and '79 due to multiple ailments that he tried to play through. But even in those years, he was still a dangerous clutch hitter that AL pitchers respected.

I wouldn't call Munson "undeserving," as his career was cut short by tragedy. What he was able to accomplish while he was alive was not enough to get him enshrined into Cooperstown. But it was enough to get his number 15 with the Yankees retired and his locker cubicle turned into a shrine. Those honors are nothing to be sneezed at.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Well, he was the pilot of the plane, but be that as it may you could see age drastic decline in his last two years of play. This is not like Koufax or Joss being stopped at the peak of their gifts.

Better than Posada??? Hmmmm. Well it's pretty close and they are both "gamers". Personally I like Posada better, but I don't know that I could prove that.

Well I think your first comment is a bit snide and cynical, but who am I to judge, on to him or Posada both were two players that epitiomized hard play. I would say that there are Hall of Famers that he was better than. He also came up huge in the post season, he was a gamer for sure...if he makes the hall this Yankee fan won't complain.

[candy curveball cummings]

If Munson get's in, what do you say to Jason Kendall? As of the end of last season, Kendall has played 11 major league seasons, the same as Munson. Munson's most similiar batter is Jason Kendall, and Kendal scores 10 points higher than Munson on the Hall of Fame Standards Test.

Munson has more all-star appearances and awards, but that's not to say Kendall didn't deserve more awards. Kendall played the majority of his career in almost complete obscurity in Pittsburgh. Munson was the Captain of the Yankees and because of that was given more media attention.

[ChrisLDuncan]

If Munson get's in, what do you say to Jason Kendall? As of the end of last season, Kendall has played 11 major league seasons, the same as Munson. Munson's most similiar batter is Jason Kendall, and Kendal scores 10 points higher than Munson on the Hall of Fame Standards Test.

Munson has more all-star appearances and awards, but that's not to say Kendall didn't deserve more awards. Kendall played the majority of his career in almost complete obscurity in Pittsburgh. Munson was the Captain of the Yankees and because of that was given more media attention.

Kendall didn't die, nor did he win 2 WS and he wasn't lights out in the post season either. Also he never won an MVP, nor was he ever in the conversation for best catcher in baseball...so I'd say no to Kendall for now, however I do like Kendall.

[candy curveball cummings]

Kendall didn't die, nor did he win 2 WS and he wasn't lights out in the post season either. Also he never won an MVP, nor was he ever in the conversation for best catcher in baseball...so I'd say no to Kendall for now, however I do like Kendall.

Oh, so BECAUSE Thurman Munson died he should be in the Hall of Fame? Why does Munson get credit for 2 WS? Munson played on better teams. Kendall played in Pittsburgh for most of his career. He didn't even made the post season until 2006. If he had made the post-season in 1998, I bet he'd have done quite a bit better.

Kendall didn't win an MVP. I submit to you that the only reason Munson won his was because he played for the Yankees. If you put him on another team, he doesn't win the award.

Kendall should have been in the discussion of best catcher in baseball. Again, he played in Pittsburgh.

.327 BA | .411 OBP | .473 SLG | 131 OPS+
.321 BA | .358 OBP | .513 SLG | 120 OPS+

Which of these two players would you rather have? The first is Kendall in 1998 and the other is Ivan Rodriguez in 1998. Ivan won the AL MVP that year. Before you talk about defense, check Kendall's defensive statistics for 1998. Then check Ivan Rodriguez's. They're closer than you might think.

[The Kid]

Simply too short a career

To short a career!? This guy didn't retire, he was killed in a horrible accident! He would have had at least five more good years if not that plane crash. I may be a Sox fan, and I hate Munson, but he definitely deserves to be in the hall.

[Skin & Bones]

To short a career!? This guy didn't retire, he was killed in a horrible accident! He would have had at least five more good years if not that plane crash. I may be a Sox fan, and I hate Munson, but he definitely deserves to be in the hall.

I guess using that logic, Darryl Kile should be in the HOF too. He didn't retire, he died. His last full season as a pitcher for the cards in 2001 he had a very good season. He looked as if he would be productive for a couple more years. I guess in your book he's a hall of famer too ?

[The Kid]

I guess using that logic, Darryl Kile should be in the HOF too. He didn't retire, he died. His last full season as a pitcher for the cards in 2001 he had a very good season. He looked as if he would be productive for a couple more years. I guess in your book he's a hall of famer too ?

The reason Kile isn't a hall of famer in my view is because he never won a cy young, while Munson won an MVP.

[Naliamegod]

To short a career!? This guy didn't retire, he was killed in a horrible accident! He would have had at least five more good years if not that plane crash. I may be a Sox fan, and I hate Munson, but he definitely deserves to be in the hall.

As KCGhost pointed out in previous posts, he was already well in decline by the time of his death. Its doubtful if he would have really added much to legacy if he lived.

[DoubleX]

Better than Posada??? Hmmmm. Well it's pretty close and they are both "gamers". Personally I like Posada better, but I don't know that I could prove that.

I've been thinking a lot lately about Posada's place among the all time catchers and I think he's really snuck up there. If you asked me a few months ago, I'd be hesistant to put Posada in the top 40 all time, but he's become a gamer and doesn't hurt his team with his defense, and his offense really stands out at catcher. So I'm still not sure what to do with Posada, but lately I've been thinking that he might be in my top 25 at catcher, and perhaps higher. I have Munson in the top 20, but I'll really have to think about this some more.