1974 Profile: Thurman Munson

1974 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR
"Although Johnny Bench got more publicity, Munson was probably the better catcher in 1973. He hit .301, doubled his previous home run high with 20 and had 74 RBIs. He also won a Gold Glove.
Not a classic receiver because he drops many balls, but he's a hustler with an exceptionally quick throwing release.
Thurman was Rookie of the Year in 1970 when he hit .302. He has a strong rivalry with Boston's Carlton Fisk.
Born in Akron, Ohio, Thurman was an All-American at Kent State and was the top draft choice of the Yankees in 1968."

-Peter Gammons, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1974 Edition

"It didn't take Thurman Munson long to become a star. He played 99 games in the minor leagues following his All-American career at Kent State, and by Opening Day of 1970, Thurman was the Yankees' top catcher at the age of 22.
All he did was hit .302 and win the Rookie of the Year award. An All-Star selection the following year, a Gold Glove and a return to .300 last season, and after just four seasons Thurman is considered to be the finest catcher today in the American League, if not in all of baseball.
Which comes as no surprise to Thurman, who never doubted his abilities, never thinks in terms of slumps, and takes every game of the season personally - as though winning or losing was entirely up to him. He plays every game to the fullest, and his durability is a big factor in the Yankees being in every game.
Confidence is Thurman Munson's game! And his leadership from behind the plate makes that confidence contagious among the Yankee players, a very healthy kind of contagion."

-The New York Yankees Official 1974 Yearbook

"Thurman Munson has reached the status of being dubbed by some baseball experts as the best all-around catcher in baseball. More than that, Thurman, 26, is at the age when his most productive years should still be ahead of him.
He was sixth in the American League in hitting last year with a .301 average. He showed much-improved power with 20 homers, twice his former high of 10, and also had 29 doubles and 74 RBIs. Thurman was selected to the All-Star team last year for the second time in his four-year career.
He led all major league catchers in fielding in 1971 with a .998 mark, committing just one error in 615 chances; the one error occurred when he was knocked partially unconscious in a collision at the plate which forced him to drop the ball. The .998 fielding mark tied a Yankee record, set by Elston Howard in 1964, for the highest fielding average by a Yankee catcher in one season.
Named Rookie of the Year in 1970, Thurman attended college at Kent State where he was named to the All-American Baseball Team. His roommate, Gene Michael, also attended Kent State.
Thurman's outside interests include gold (he shoots in the low 70s), handball and real estate."

-1974 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide

"Catcher. New York Yankees. Aggressive, take-charge type player ... excellent speed ... gets rid of ball quickly and is very accurate ... above average major league hitter with above average major league power ... makes good contact and will go to opposite field."

-1974 All-Star Game official program