Welcome to a new series I’ve been planning for a while here behind the scenes. The Best of the Rest will cover the great games that are footnotes to the many legendary tilts that make up the tapestry of New York sports. These games could come from the regular season or postseason, and may have nothing at all to do with winning a title. For example, we can all go on forever about the Rangers winning the cup or Giants winning the Super Bowl, but maybe you need some help remembering that round two playoff nail bitter or regular season thriller.

The games in this series may make the cut because of what they symbolize to the team involved, and what they may mean to the legendary history of the franchise long term. Essentially these games tell the story of the character of the franchise. The game we will talk about today, one that took place 46 years ago tonight, is one such game. It’s the kind of game out of a movie, the kind that asks the question “how can you not be romantic about baseball?”

The standings above should provide plenty of context for you when it comes to how much this game meant, particularly on the scale of Yankee importance. The Bombers entered play that Monday night 15 games back of the division leading Orioles whom they would host at the Stadium. The defense of their back-to-back World Series crowns and three consecutive AL Pennants was looking bleak to say the least. Sure, they had done the impossible in 1978 coming back from 14 games behind the Red Sox to steal the East, but to paraphrase Yogi “it was getting late awful early out there.” But this game was so much more important to the Yankee family because of its emotional weight than its meaning to the season.

Sadly, the Yankees had been hit by one of those cosmic sports tragedies that come along, just four days earlier. Their captain and catcher, Thurman Munson had died in a plane crash, as his Cessna Citation crashed in Ohio. Munson was an amateur aviation enthusiast who was picking up the art of piloting a plane quite well per his instructors. But unfortunately, on August 2nd he crashed while practicing a landing procedure and his life was cut short.

Thurman wasn’t just any Yankee, he was and still is in my opinion one of THE Yankees. That list gets exceedingly longer with time, but I believe he must be on any list one makes. Munson made his pinstripe debut at the peak of the CBS ownership dark ages, on August 8th 1969. From that point on he quickly became one of the few attractions on an otherwise bad collection of Yankee teams. Munson became the anchor of the team’s rebuild behind the plate, as George Steinbrenner purchased the club and began reconstructing it back to its former glory.

He had a great bat, a tremendous glove, and would do just about anything the team asked of him including put his body on the line. He loved scraping with the Yankees rivals like the Red Sox and Carlton Fisk and the hated Orioles. But most of all he loved to win, which made him a perfect match with “The Boss.” He won AL MVP in 1976, helping the Yanks reach the World Series for the first time since 1964 and dominated in the playoffs, a theme of his career as he would post a .357 average in the postseason for his life. A true Yankee!

Thurman famously butted heads with Reggie Jackson, something that came in spite of the fact that Munson badly wanted Steinbrenner to sign the lefty slugger. Their relationship started off badly because of some quotes in the media that may or may not have come from Reggie, but they never let their tension get in the way of winning. They would eventually bury the hatchet and while they approached the game from different angles, the Bronx was big enough for both of them. Munson was even the reluctant Yankee captain as Steinbrenner dragged him to the role, kicking and screaming. But it was the best thing for the club to follow number 15’s example.

The 1979 season saw one of Munson’s favorite people and teammates return to the Bronx. Bobby Murcer was a teammate of Munson’s when he came up and was the other bright spot of the CBS era and became a beloved player himself. He unfortunately was traded in 1975, spending the next four seasons with the Giants and Cubs, costing him the chance to play for the 77 and 78 championship clubs. His return acquisition was met with much fanfare as he would wear the eventual Derek Jeter number two rather this his old number one, now worn by manager Billy Martin.

Despite the happy homecoming of Murcer and expectations of a third straight title being through the roof, the Yanks were beset by turmoil as they often were in the 70’s. Closer Rich “Goose” Gossage broke his thumb in a clubhouse fight with teammate Cliff Johnson, costing him most of the season’s first half. Meanwhile manager Bob Lemon was promised he would work the 79 campaign and then move up to the front office, but the team’s 34-31 start caused George Steinbrenner to fire him. Of course, he tabbed Billy Martin to comeback earlier than his original 1980 return date…because of course he did. Martin was of course another fan favorite and friend of Munson’s, an added layer to the tragic story.

In the wake of Munson’s passing there was much debate about whether or not the Yankees should or would play their weekend set with Baltimore. But the series went ahead at the direction of Thurman’s widow Diana who wanted the team to play in his honor. The August 3rd game began with a ceremony honoring the captain as the team took the field at their positions, leaving catcher vacant. The Big Ballpark in the Bronx broke out into a 10-minute ovation that would bring a tear to even a Yankee haters eyes. While this was an emotional day, the events of the 6th would blow it away.

That morning the Yankees flew to Ohio to attend Munson’s funeral. The day was filled with emotional scenes as his teammates and manager were beside themselves. Murcer gave one of the eulogies on the day and then the team made its way back to the Big Apple for their tilt with the Orioles. The game was nationally televised on ABC’s Monday Night Baseball, and the telecast featured an interview Munson had recently done with Howard Cosell. The great Keith Jackson along with Cosell had the call that night at the Stadium despite it never quite feeling like a ballgame. The Bombers were trailing 1-0 in the fifth when Jackson threw to a live interview Cosell would conduct with The Boss.

The ever present Steinbrenner did the right thing on this night, speaking for what he referred to as the “entire Yankee family.” The usually blustering and boastful owner was perhaps his most emotional self, clearly shattered by losing one of his favorite players and people in the clubhouse. I’ve often returned to this clip because it’s so humanizing for George. From his voice cracking to the sincerity with which he speaks about Munson and his family is touching. I love when he talks about what being a Yankee means and that the team would never quit and compete out of respect to their deceased captain. It’s part of the team culture that I think defines this franchise when it’s at its best…and is sadly lost upon the current crop of Yankees.

With the interview concluded the action resumed and the Yankees 1-0 deficit ballooned to 4-0 making the already down mood in the ballpark worse. But the Yankees, true to Steinbrenner’s words from before, didn’t give up on this game. In the bottom of the 7th Bucky Dent and Willie Randolph reached base, bringing Murcer to the plate down four against the terrific Dennis Martinez. The Orioles righty wound and fired and Murcer smoked a ball into the short porch in right breathing life into the team and the crowd!

Now within a run Ron Guidry held the O’s in check and the Yankees once again got Dent and Randolph aboard in the 9th. Bringing Murcer to the plate with a chance to tie or win the game, against lefty Tippy Martinez with two out. Number two put on the lefty version of a future “Jeterian” swing, lining a single the other way to left scoring both runners and walking off the game 5-4 in nine innings. The Yankees streamed out of the dugout to mob the hero of the night, seemingly exhaling for the first time in days. An emotional Lou Pinella, another close friend of Munson’s, can be seen hanging on Murcer celebrating the win, a scene that really speaks to the healing power of sports.

The 1979 season would ultimately end with the Yankees in fourth place, 13.5 games behind the eventual American League Champion Orioles, who would lose to the “We Are Family” Pirates in the Fall Classic. Munson’s number 15 was retired immediately, and he was memorialized in Monument Park during the following season. His wife Diana became a fixture at Yankee old timers’ day and remains one to this day. The following year the Yankees would win 103 games before being swept by the Royals in the ALCS. They would return to the World Series in 1981, marking Bobby Murcer’s only trip the series, one that would essentially the end of a Yankees run of dominance, as they would fall to the Dodgers in six games, giving away to the empty 80’s and early 90’s.

From that point on Billy Martin would come and go before his tragic death in 1990, Reggie Jackson would play in Anaheim and Murcer would join the Yankee broadcast crew in 1983 calling games for WPIX, Fox Five, and eventually the YES Network. Bobby became an even more beloved member of the Yankee family in his post playing career as his broadcasting charm merged with being an ambassador for the Yankee brand, interacting with fans every day at the ballpark.

Unfortunately we lost Bobby Murcer too soon on July 12th 2008, as he lost his battle with Brain Cancer at the age of 62. He was honored at the Stadium on the night of his passing and his memorial service back home in Oklahoma was held on August 6th, 2008. The 29th anniversary of Murcer delivering Munson’s eulogy and playing hero in the Bronx that same night. Over 2,000 people attended his services including Derek Jeter, Reggie Jackson, Joe Girardi, Andy Pettitte and of course Diana Munson. George Steinbrenner said the following to mark Murcer’s passing.

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

This game and the events around it have always held a significance to me as a Yankee fan. My mom, a die hard Yankee fan herself, celebrates her birthday on August 2nd. Meanwhile my father’s two favorite Yankees of all time are our central characters, Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer. I get him a new Munson shirt every few years so he can keep “his Yankee” close to his heart, and he is always moved emotionally on Old Timers Day when Kay Murcer, Diana Munson and Jill Martin (wife of Billy Martin) make their way on the field on Old Timers Day.

I think games like this are critical to making the Yankees who they are. The franchise isn’t just the celebrated sports organization that it is because of its 27 World Series crowns. Contrary to what people get wrong, specifically my generation who loves to argue about rings, this franchise is first class because it celebrates its own moments and players better than any other. Special things happen at 161st and River Ave…or at least they did. They define the lore of the team, as set out by the players, managers and club personnel that are true Yankees. Winning is the ultimate goal and has been for so long now, but it’s nice to have special moments and connections along the way, even if they don’t result in winning, because that is what sports is all about. And that is why this game was a perfect place to start this new series!

Stay tuned for more “other best games” and plenty of other coverage here on the site. We’re in the stretch run now and the games are more critical than at any other point in the baseball season. We’ll also have college football and NFL coverage going into high gear as we hit September so get excited! On twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon.