Good Bye Friend

"Hey Murcer, grab a glove. The Dodgers are coming in on Thursday and we gotta be sharpe," yelled Joe McCarthy. The Heavenly Yankees were about to have another inner squad scrimmage.


"Great to see you kid," said Mickey Mantle, a fellow Oklahoman to his perceived successor as a Yankees center fielder.


Unfortunately, for those of us who remain on earth, we will no longer have Bobby Murcer with us, as Murcer succumbed to cancer on Saturday at the young age of 62. Murcer, is survived by his wife Kay, his son Todd, daughter Tori and five grandchildren.



For people of my age and generation, they will remember Murcer as an announcer. Another generation will think back to Bobby Murcer's heroics against the Orioles, the same day he eulogized friend and teammate, Thurman Munson. I link Murcer to Phil Rizzuto, as a guy who served his time on the field, and then further his legend in pinstripes, by serving time in the booth.

Several people from the broadcasting fraternity, such as Bob Costas and the YES Network's Michael Kay, have said often when you meet people in the public eye, they disappoint you. Murcer definitely lived up to the nice guy billing he filled on TV.

Current Yankees such as Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez, Jacon Giambi, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, just to name a few, expressed what Murcer meant to the Yankees. Other Yankees, past and present, and YES Network personalities, such as Goose Gossage, Joe Girardi and Ken Singleton, were emotional when talking about their friend, teammate and colleague.

There are several times that I point to where Murcer's void will really be felt. Old Timers Day on August 2nd for one, and the last regular season game at Yankee Stadium will be another. Murcer's humor was on display as he was often mic ed at Old Timers Game, conversing with everyone from fans to teammates, to umpires to his "hitting instructors" who over the years included Giambi, Rodriguez and Matsui.

Watching Yankees telecasts won't be the same either. Even though Murcer hadn't spent much time in the booth this year due to his cancer, you'd always turn on YES, with the chance that Murcer would be right to the side of Singleton or Kay.

Even though, Murcer spent a time with the Cubs and Giants. It was only a sabbatical. Bobby Ray was a lifelong Yankee. He belongs in that Yankee lore with the legends. It's a great addition to that game in heaven featuring the legendary Yankees. Even though legends like Ruth, Mantle, Dimaggio, Munson and so on, won't be at the opening of the new Yankee Stadium next year, they'll all have great seats, looking down on Jeter and the cast of today. I can hear it now, "Thurman, can you pass the popcorn," says Murcer to his friend.

Good-bye Bobby Ray. All Yankees fans will miss you.