Yes or No, should the late Thurman Munson (#15 of the NY Yankees) be in the Hall of Fame?

Question

I say yes of course, he's my man. He played with all his heart all the time and he did have the World Series rings to prove it.

Answer 1

Yes. The Hall of Fame is supposed to recognize greatness, not longevity. Jackie Robinson did not have a long career. Sandy Koufax did not have a long career. People scream for Ron Santo, whose career was just 3 years longer than Munson's (Jackie and Sandy's were just 2 year longer.) It's not as if the man quit in a hissy fit or did street drugs -- he died. The Hall should accept him or re-write their standards for entry.

Answer 2

His numbers were certainly good enough but the problem was, of course, that he died long before his career would have run it's course. He was one of the three best catchers of his day along with Bench and Fisk. He won as many world series as Bench and was the leader of the greatest sports franchise on earth. When we look at some of the hall of famers one has to wonder why Munson isn't part of Cooperstown. As a Yankee fan I'm probably partial toward any player from my team who would be one the fence so-to-speak. I'd have to say yes, if Bench and Fisk are in the hall than why not Munson. He was nearly as good defensively as Bench and was far better defensively than Fisk.

Answer 3

Not a chance.
Catchers are defensive players first. Munson had slightly below league average in fielding percentage, just slightly above in range factor. He won three Gold Gloves, but his contemporaries regarded Bench, Boone, Pena, Bill Freehand, and Dell Crandall as even more worthy of the award.

Offensively, he was a good but not great player. He led the league in zero categories as a hitter. ZERO. His grey ink scores are about a third of what the average HOF member has. The hitters he is most similar to, year by year and career, include ZERO HOF members.

In his time, he had to rank as a catcher behind Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, possibly Bob Boone. But his time was short—even without the plane crash, his days were limited. He had bad knees and his numbers were beginning to plummet rapidly. He was already 32; it’s not like he was going to add massively to his abilities.

He won two WS rings—that’s good, but that’s not itself fantastic. He won won MVP. We’re not about to vote every MVP winner into the Hall.

And his team-mates said he was pretty much a grouchy pain in the ***. Not the “motivating leader” type, more the Barry Bonds “keep the hell away” type.

And to compare the height of his career to Koufax is ludicrous. Munson at his peak was never the greatest player or catcher for more than maybe one season. That doesn't rise to the level needed, especially for a short career.

Answer 4

No. He didn't do enough in his career to deserve induction to Cooperstown.

Even though he was a 7time All-Star, 1970 Rookie of the Year, 1976 AL MVP, 3 time Gold Glove Award winner and led the AL in Singles in 1975 it's just not enough.

When Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey, Jr., Ivan Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, Sammy Sosa, Frank Thomas, Roberto Alomar, Rickey Henderson, Manny Ramirez, Rafael Palmeiro, Vladimir Guerrero, Craig Biggio, Mark McGwire, Albert Pujols, Ichiro Suzuki, Todd Helton, Jeff Bagwell, Larry Walker, Jim Rice, Gary Sheffield, Chipper Jones, Albert Belle, Don Mattingly, Bernie Williams, Edgar Martinez, Steve Garvey, Jim Thome, Dave Parker, Ted Simmons, Joe Jackson, Juan Gonzalez, Nomar Garciaparra, Alan Trammell, Barry Larkin, Jeff Kent, Andre Dawson, Miguel Tejada, Dale Murphy, Tony Oliva, Andres Galarraga, Al Oliver, Tip O'Neill, George Van Haltren, Lance Parrish, Dave Concepcion, Omar Vizquel, Maury Wills, Dick Groat, Jose Canseco, Bob Boone, Andruw Jones, Carlos Delgado, Fred McGriff, Harvey Kuenn, Dick Allen, Tony Pena, Pete Browning, Joe Torre, Cecil Cooper, Jason Giambi, George Foster, Benito Santiago, Magglio Ordonez, Vada Pinson, Lou Whitaker, Willie Randolph, Lefty O'Doul, Roger Maris, Bob Johnson, Kenny Lofton, Luis Gonzalez and Tim Raines are elected then Thurman Munson should be voted in as well.

I think it's a long time away, if ever.

Answer 5

He was a good player, but not a great player. Having a
few world series rings doesn't mean you deserve to go
to the Hall of Fame. There were many players in the
majors that played with as much heart and intensity
when he played.

Answer 6

No, Thurman Munson was a very good player but does not belong in the Hall

Answer 7

Unfortujnately, no. His overall numbers don't measure up. If he had palyed a few more years there is little doubt he would have bee a hall of famer. Great defensvily too. Unforunately the numbers he put up just don't add up.
It's too bad.

Answer 8

thurman was a very good player and the way his life was cut short was tragic but when it comes down to it, he just didnt have hall of fame numbers or a hall of fame career, but to quote tony kornheiser "it's the hall of great, not the hall of very good"

Answer 9

I dont think he has the numbers or the longevity. Just because he died young of tragic circumstances doesnt mean he should be in the HOF. In fact, I think his death is the main thing that keeps him out. If he had been allowed to play out his career, I think he could have been a HOFer.

Answer 10

Possibly. He was a very good player, and captain of a 2-ring team.