Book Review: "The Captain & Me" Full Of Thurman Munson Stories

NEW YORK, NY — They were as different as could be: one a naturally-gifted 3-sport high school All-American from Atlanta, the other a hard-nosed, scrappy Ohio boy who played at Kent State University. Ron Blomberg was the first overall selection in the 1967 Major League Baseball amateur draft; Thurman Munson was the fourth pick a year later, both by the New York Yankees. They spent nearly a decade together in the Big Apple, but despite their careers going in diametrically opposite directions, they remained close until Munson's tragic death in a 1979 plane crash.

Their years together are recalled in Blomberg's newly-released second book, "The Captain & Me," which provides a detailed look into the two men's relationship off the field as much as on it. Whether a supporter or a hater of the Yankees, this book is required reading for any baseball fan.

In the foreword, Munson's widow Diana wrote, "I was pleased to learn that Ron was writing a book about his friendship with Thurman, because I knew that he would treat Thurman fairly, and show a softer side of him that so many were not privy to. Of course, if Thurman were still here with us, he would say he didn’t care about that kind of thing. But in addition to being a great ballplayer, he was a treasure—and speaking as the person who perhaps knew him better than anyone, I’m glad Ron is sharing that treasure with the world."

The two became roommates during spring training in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. in 1970. Blomberg wrote, "We just kind of gravitated to each other. It got to where we were kind of joined at the hip away from the ballpark. Whatever Thurman did, I did, and whatever I did, Thurman did."

Some of the book contains baseball stories, of course, including Blomberg's historic plate appearance in 1973 as baseball's first designated hitter. He also writes of Munson's often-overlooked athleticism and speed on the basepaths, uncommon for a catcher.

"Thurman was also pretty fast, which a lot of people don’t remember," he wrote. "He had kind of a pudgy, Humpty Dumpty-type body, but he was actually a great all-around athlete, maybe even the second-fastest guy on the team."

More than the baseball accounts, the book delves into the numerous off-field endeavors shared by the two friends and teammates. Blomberg tells of many pranks pulled off by Munson: cannonballing 50 feet into the pool, in full uniform, from the upper deck of the mess hall at West Point prior to an exhibition game; giving hotfoots to teammates and journalists; hiding reporters' typewriters; terrorizing broadcaster Phil Rizzuto with dead bugs and rats; and the time Munson intentionally drove a golf cart into a lake.

Munson was introduced to knishes and corned beef by his Jewish teammate, while Blomberg learned about tasty White Castle burgers.

Two items of togetherness not previously well-known stand out in the book. In 1973, Blomberg, Munson and two other teammates were called into the office of new owner George Steinbrenner, who ordered them all to get haircuts. The players refused to do so, and in turn, each received a $100 bonus from "The Boss" for standing up for themselves.

Munson and Blomberg also frequently made unannounced trips to children's hospitals.

"We’d go to places like Sloan-Kettering or Lenox Hill; we’d load ourselves up with a bunch of baseballs, then sign ’em and hand ’em out to the kids," Blomberg wrote.

On Aug. 2, 1979, Munson was killed in a crash of his private Cessna Citation airplane at the Akron-Canton Airport near his home. When Blomberg received the news about the tragedy, "It was like my own life was taken out of me, like a ghost came into my stomach, took my heart out and left. It stunned me so much; I felt completely empty."

Blomberg's bat from his historic designated hitter debut is on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. Ironically, his beloved teammate has never been elected to the shrine, despite being a 7-time All-Star, winning the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1976, leading the Yankees to back-to-back World Series championships in 1977 and 1978 and being named the first Yankee captain since Lou Gehrig.

"I truly believe Thurman should be in the Hall of Fame, and it’s not just because he was my teammate and my friend," Blomberg wrote. "In my view, his skills, his accomplishments, his leadership, and what he did for the game of baseball—and, especially, for the New York Yankees—qualify him for a place in the Hall."

"The Captain & Me" is available through Blomberg's website here.