By Shara Talia Taylor
Thurman Munson was like a gentle giant, respected and adored by fans for his success in Major League Baseball and also loved by his family and friends for his genuine concern for others.
His benevolence was remembered Tuesday Feb. 4th at Chelsea Piers. Those involved in sports and others in New York City, who emulate Munson’s altruism and humility with their community service and involvement, were honored at the 40th Annual Thurman Munson Dinner to benefit the AHRC New York City Foundation.
“This is the 40th anniversary of losing Thurman, so this year is a little more special than others, because I never expected 40 years later we’d still be honoring him and still be doing the good work for AHRC so it means a lot,” said Munson’s wife Diana Munson.
The AHRC is an organization, which serves to enable children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead richer and more productive lives. Honorees included World Series Champion player and manager Lou Piniella, New York Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres, Chairman and Head of NYC Capital Markets for CBRE Darcy Stacom, former Mets captain and pitcher John Franco, New York Mets infielder J.D. Davis, and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
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Torres, Davis, and Lieberman were recipients of the Thurman Munson Award.
“I just loved Thurman Munson,” said Lieberman who was recognized for her basketball charities that provide educational and sports opportunities for economically disadvantage youth. “Him, and Bobby Murcer, and Lou (Piniella), they were a very important part of my childhood and for them to think of me for this award…are you kidding? This means everything!”
Torres volunteered with New York Public Schools to help Spanish-speaking students learn English and spent time with children in the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “I have a life outside the field,” said Torres. “I just try to be great, help my community, and try to help everywhere I can.”
Davis volunteered to teach children the importance of fire safety. He also visited FDNY members. “They risk their lives in fires and they’re the real role models,” said Davis.
Franco was presented with the Munson “Captain” Award, Stacom received the M. Anthony Fisher Humanitarian Award, and Piniella who was Thurman’s teammate received the Thurman “Champion” Award for his celebrity golf tournament, which supports SCORE International Ministries. “Thurman, if you didn’t know him you would think he was a little gruff, but if you knew him he was a teddy bear really,” who also remembered Thurman would visit New York hospitals. “Thurman basically wasn’t a taker,” he said. “He was a giver.”
“He would go to hospitals and AHRC and different places and he would do it out of love for the children, not for the publicity,” Munson said about her husband.
Many also reflected on similarities in the recent loss of NBA retired basketball player Kobe Bryant, who also provided opportunities for youth and lost his life in a helicopter accident.
“My heart broke for the Bryant family, because I know what’s ahead for them,” Munson said. “The thing that turned me around is realizing how blessed I was to have Thurman in the short time that we were together.”
Munson died at the young age of 32 in a plane crash on Aug. 2, 1979. The gala has raised over $16 million for the AHRC NYC Foundation.
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