This past week Diana Munson welcomed me to be a guest speaker at the Thurman Munson Scholarship dinner. The other speaker was 1977 World Series hero Mike Torrez.
For me, it was truly a very emotional experience. The last time I was in Canton Ohio was August 6th, 1979. That was the day that we buried our beloved Yankee Captain.
Before I left New York I told Dr. Michael Volpe about my plans to go to Canton.
Dr. Volpe is the father of Yankee shortstop Anthony Volpe. There has never been a parent of a Yankee player that has loved Thurman Munson more than Dr. Volpe.
When I speak to his son Anthony I can feel the spiritual influence that his father has had on him.
You know that even though Thurman was way before Anthony’s time, there was definitely something extremely special about why his dad would love Thurman so much. Anthony is an extremely sharp kid so I know that he has done his own research on Munson. Yes, Dr. Volpe has license plates that read MUNSON 15, however, Anthony reads through that and has discovered the overall magnitude of the Man!
Before I left New York I was a little concerned about the fact that I wanted to present Diana Munson something special… I just didn’t know what. A day before I left Dr. Volpe gave me a Bat to present to Diana and the Munson family. It was inscribed… To Diana and the Munson family, because of my dad I understand the greatness of Thurman Munson… Anthony Volpe.
Diana was truly touched by this. I must add that this made me very happy because Diana has done nothing but give so much of herself with the Munson family foundation that I feel like I have never given her and her family enough back.
Let’s not forget that the Munson’s have been sharing Thurman with the world since 1969.
For me I have to say that I had three wonderful days there visiting the Boys and Girls Club and the Christ Presbyterian church also The Thurman Munson Stadium and the cemetery where our beloved leader is resting.
The ceremony at the Doubletree Hotel was incredible. Every seat was filled and the people couldn’t give enough love. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of tears of true love.
Diana’s participation when I was talking was truly a great moment. Especially when I told her that every Saturday morning in the clubhouse Thurman would be dancing to the tunes on the Soul Train television show. I think Diana knows that her husband’s dance steps may have been a little to be desired. I frankly thought he was pretty good.
I want to add that I got to show the Thurman Munson segment of my documentary… BATBOY!
I’m very proud to say that it was truly welcomed with open arms. The fact that it got a standing ovation was something that I couldn’t wait to tell executive producer Chazz Palminteri and Producer and Creator of the film Bill O’Connell.
Even though Canton is the home of the National Football Hall of Fame, there is no doubt that Canton is truly Thurman Munson territory. When you walk into the lobby of the Boys and Girls Club the first thing you see is a gigantic mural of the greatest Yankee Captain ever but for me a mentor who showed me how to be a good man and more importantly a great Dad.
Special thanks to Steve Fettman and all the people of Canton who made my stay an experience that I will never forget.
