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Earlier today, we lost one of our true good guys as former Yankee center fielder Bobby Murcer passed away at the age of 62 succumbing to cancer after a courageous two-year battle.

Though he came before my time, the man from Oklahoma City with the bright smile and keen sense of humor became a solid player for the Bronx Bombers slugging 175 of his career 252 home runs with the franchise which signed him as an amateur back in 1964. From 1969-73 during a time when the Yankees struggled following the post-Mantle Era, Murcer hit 22-or-more homers in each season knocking in over 90 three times.

His best season came at the age of 25 back in 1971 when he hit .331 with 25 dingers, 94 RBI’s, 14 stolen bases in 146 games while posting an impressive .427 on-base percentage (91 walks) and .543 slugging finishing seventh in MVP voting. It also marked the first year he was an AL All-Star making it the first of five straight seasons including one with the Giants that he was selected.

In 1972, Murcer slugged 33 homers ranking second in the AL while finishing with a career best 96 RBI’s and hitting .292 with 11 steals. He also finished with 30 doubles and seven triples meaning he totaled an impressive 70 extra base hits. He was voted fifth for AL MVP which was the highest of his career also winning his only Gold Glove.

Sadly, the Yanks would deal him away for Bobby Bonds during the 1974 offseason just when they were on the cusp of returning to glory. Though he performed respectably in a couple of seasons with the Giants hitting a combined 34 home runs while driving in 181, he wasn’t as happy and missed playing in New York.

The next year, the Giants dealt him away in a five player deal to the Cubs with Bill Madlock coming back. Following a productive first year in the Windy City in which he hit 27 dingers (most in five years) and had 89 RBI’s, Murcer fell to single digits in homers (9) for the first time since he was a 20 year-old rookie with the Yanks. The Cubs gave him a gift the following year by shipping him back to the Yankees for an encore finish to a solid 17-year career.

Murcer is best remembered for hitting a three-run homer and a walkoff two-run single driving in all five runs in an emotional 5-4 home win following the tragic death of catcher Thurman Munson. Ironically, he gave one of the eulogies at the service in Ohio for The Captain and then played his best game in tribute handing the winning bat to Munson’s wife.

“There is no way to explain what happened,” Murcer said. “We used every ounce of strength to go out and play that game. We won it for Thurman.”

Murcer would go on to play parts of four more seasons before retiring to the broadcast booth early in 1983 concluding his career with a .277 lifetime average, 252 home runs, 1,043 RBI’s, 127 stolen bases and more walks (862) than strikeouts (841) in 1,908 games.

As a broadcaster where he teamed with Phil Rizzuto and many other Yankee broadcasters, Murcer was a natural fit in the booth using his rural wit and great style becoming even more popular with fans, coaches and players alike. He also became a frequent face at Old-Timers Day having as much fun as possible even wearing a mic while clowning around with former teammates.

He was as quality a person as there was exhibiting such bravery during his two-year bout with cancer. He never lost his sense of humor and really got what life was about appreciating what he was able to accomplish.

“Bobby Murcer was a born Yankee, a great guy, very well-liked and a true friend of mine,” Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said. “I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Kay, their children and grandchildren. I will really miss the guy.”

As will many baseball fans.

RIP Bobby Murcer