Monument Park Needs An Addition

Anyone who knows me, reads this blog or my posts on Baseball Digest, knows that Bobby Murcer was my boyhood idol. He was THE MAN when the Yankees had next to nothing. I cried when he was traded and rejoiced when he returned.

I was saddened when he retired in June, 1983, but was ecstatic to learn he was joining the broadcast team. For years, I got to enjoy his enthusiasm, sense of humor, Oklahoma twang, and his love for all things Yankees.

And then felt the pain of his illness, which hit close to home, and subsequent passing.

Over the years his popularity was revitalized/rejuvenated. He was always a popular player, but as the Yankees created a new dynasty in the late '90's, the fans remembered what it was like in the lean years - the Declinasty that stretched from the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's. That Bobby was one of the few, along with Thurman Munson, Mel Stottelmyre, and Roy White that gave the Yankees something to root for.

All in all, Bobby spent most of his time from 1966 into 2008 as part of the Yankees family. It's for that reason that Bobby deserves a plaque in the new Yankee Stadium's Monument Park.

The thought of a plaque came to be a couple of weeks ago. I thought, I'll start a Facebook page! Should have known - there already is one. I think it is also time for a letter writing campaign to the Yankees front office. Lonn Trost would be the most likely recipient and perhaps Hal Steinbrenner and Randy Levine.

There are a whole lot of more important things going on in the country right now, but I for
one need something positive and non-polarizing to concentrate on. A plaque ceremony on Old-Timer's Day would be awesome!

Let's do this!