Thurman Munson timeline
Yankees defeat White Sox, 9-1, at Comiskey Park. Reggie Jackson, Lou Piniella and starting catcher Jerry Narron homer. Thurman Munson, playing first base to protect his aching knees, walks in the first inning and strikes out in the third, then leaves the game.
Team leaves for New York. Munson flies his Cessna Citation from Chicago to his home in Canton, Ohio.
>>THURSDAY, AUG. 2Munson visits Akron-Canton Airport to check on the plane. Meets friends Jerry Anderson and Dave Hall and takes a brief flight. Takeoff is 3:41 p.m.
Plane loses altitude. Munson tries to accelerate but can't avoid crashing. Anderson, Hall escape but are unable to move Munson, who has a broken neck. Time of death, 4:06 p.m.
George Steinbrenner is notified by Summit County (Ohio) Sheriff's Office. He gathers team executives to give them the news and calls many players himself.
During bottom of first inning of Mets-Phillies game at Shea Stadium, scoreboard sign flashes: "Bulletin. Yankee catcher Thurman Munson was killed today in plane crash near Canton, Ohio.''
Bobby and Kay Murcer, who had hosted Munson and Piniella during White Sox series in their Chicago apartment (Murcer had recently been traded from Cubs), fly to Canton and spend night with Munson's family.
>> FRIDAY, AUG. 3Raleigh Atlantic cleaners in New Rochelle makes delivery to Yankee Stadium - pinstriped jerseys with black armbands.
Team goes ahead with scheduled game against Orioles because Murcer reports that Diana Munson insists on it.
Terence Cardinal Cooke leads pregame prayer, followed by moment of silence. Robert Merrill sings "America The Beautiful.'' Munson's portrait appears on scoreboard and crowd of 51,151 cheers for nine minutes. Eight Yankee starters stand motionless at their positions. Home plate is left vacant.
Luis Tiant and Goose Gossage combine on two-hitter, but Yankees lose, 1-0.
>> SATURDAY, AUG. 4Five-run eighth sends Orioles to 5-4 win before crowd of 46,407.
>> SUNDAY, AUG. 5
Team plans for 7:40 a.m. charter flight Monday to Canton for funeral. Accompanying the club are two Orioles, Scott McGregor and Rick Dempsey, and Mets manager Joe Torre.
Tommy John secures his 15th win of the season as Yankees beat Orioles, 3-2. Attendance is 54,478.
Reggie Jackson, having made peace with Munson after controversy of 1977, says, "Someday I'll do something special for Thurman, something special for his son."
>> MONDAY,
AUG. 6
A statewide day of mourning is observed, and flags are at half-staff.
Full Yankees team, many players' wives and former players, including recently traded Mickey Rivers, are among 500 at funeral in Canton. Piniella and Murcer give eulogies. Latter says, "He lived, led, he loved."
Under orders from Steinbrenner, team delays return trip to accompany Munson's coffin to cemetery.
Yankees return for nationally televised game against Orioles (attendance is 36,314). Murcer insists on playing after manager Billy Martin tells him to take the night off. Yankees trail 4-0 before Murcer hits three-run home run in seventh.
In bottom of ninth, Bucky Dent walks and Willie Randolph puts
down a sacrifice bunt. Both runners
are safe and advance on an error. Murcer hits two-run single.
Yankees win, 5-4.
- MARK HERRMANN
