Published by Atlanta. For his career, Murcer hit Perry at a .232 clip with two home runs in 69 at-bats. Emotion won the game.. Data Provided By The cause of death was renal failure. On July 13, Murcer hit three home runs for the second time in his career and drove in all five runs in a 50 win over the Kansas City Royals. Who are the richest people in the world? July 12, 2008 . He began with the Johnson City, rookie-level Appalachian League club in 1964 and hit .365 in 126 at bats. That year he led the league with ten sacrifice flies and was eighth in intentional walks (13) while hitting 27 home runs and driving in 89 runs which led the team. [16], After the murder of NFL player Sean Taylor, The Washington Post asked Murcer about how an organization deals with such a tragedy, "You can't forget the moment, because it's so emotional", said Murcer, "It's a very moving experience that next game, we got to remember him as an individual and as a team. Murcer watched the game yesterday with reporters in a YES Network conference room in Manhattan. Bobby Murcer would play for the New York Yankees once again from 1979 to 1983. Murcer recalled, "I laid out seven days, and I lost my groove and my momentum". The obituary was featured in Atlanta Journal-Constitution on July 12, 2008, Legacy on July 12, 2008, Oklahoman on July 14, 2008, New York Times on July 14, 2008, and New . in Oklahoma City, OK During the 1970s, he led his club in home runs six times (1970, 71, 72, 73, 76, 77). 6. May 20, 1946 Bobby Murcer: his birthday, what he did before fame, his family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. When he made his Yankee debut in September 1965 as a teenage shortstop, Murcer evoked images in the press of a young Mantle. Murcer's 119 outfield assists led all major league outfielders for that decade, ahead of Bobby Bonds (106), Rusty Staub (97), Amos Otis (93), Reggie Smith (86), Jos Cardenal (85), Del Unser (82), and Reggie Jackson (81). He was surrounded by family at Mercy. He began the 1966 season with the major league club but was sent down to Triple-A. On March 6, 1973, Murcer asked for and received a $100,000 salary for the upcoming season, making him only the third Yankee to make six figures. Murcer also tied for the team lead (with Bill Buckner) in game-winning hits with nine. Prior to the 1982 season, Murcer signed a three-year, $1.12 million contract with the Yankees. In 1955 Bobby and brothers Jerry and Al Unser chose to continue racing careers in USAC. Murcer was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Bobby Bonds in 1975 in baseball's first even swap of $100,000 superstar players. That night, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Murcer hit two home runs. In the winter between the 1980 and 1981 season, Murcer traveled to Japan with an American League "All-Star" team to play a series of exhibition games against a National League team to reportedly promote American baseball. He has been under medical care in Oklahoma City. Bobby Murcer Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac Bobby Murcer Stats Bobby Murcer was born on Monday, May 20, 1946, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1975, wearing uniform #20, Murcer led the National League in sacrifice flies with 12 and was 5th in walks with 91 drove in 91 runs, and batted .298. They were married for 42 years until his death, and had two children, Tori and Todd. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. The underlying cause of death is the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly or indirectly to death or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury. As a senior, Murcer showed his athletic abilities by making All-State in both football (the state leading scorer) and baseball and was All-City (led the city in scoring) in basketball and baseball. Ruling Planet: Bobby Murcer had a ruling planet of Venus and has a ruling planet of Venus and by astrological associations Friday is ruled by Venus. When you listen to a guy announce baseball games for 25 years, an attachment forms -- a strong one, even if it's one-sided and non-reciprocal. All-Star. Bobby Murcer, the Yankees All-Star outfielder and longtime broadcaster who never became another Mickey Mantle but endeared himself to Yankee fans in a baseball career of more than four decades, died Saturday in Oklahoma City. In 1971, Murcer earned a raise to $35,000 and he ended the 1971 season with a career-high .331 batting average, good for second in the AL. He loved the Yankees so much and the Yankees and all of us fans loved Bobby. His memoir, Yankee for Life: My 40-Year Journey in Pinstripes, written with Glen Waggoner, was published in May, on his 62nd birthday. Death Date - Jul 12, 2008 (age 62) Date of Birth: May 20, 1946: Place of Birth: Oklahoma City, OK: Star Sign: Taurus: Country: United States: Gender: Male: Birthday, Age & Zodiac Sign: Bobby Murcer birthday is on 20-May-46 and he was born on Monday. Bobby Bowden's Cause of Death Confirmed as Illness. He was 62. Murcer was traded back to the Yankees in late June 1979 and emerged as a team spokesman six weeks later when the Yankees star catcher and captain, his longtime friend Thurman Munson, died in the crash of his small plane. He and colleague Frank Messer were behind the WPIX microphones as the infamous pine tar incident unfolded at Yankee Stadium on July 24, 1983. He returned as a Yankee broadcaster in May 2007 and broadcast some games this season. He had that natural ability,to make you feel as if you knew him&he knew you. Bobby Murcer played for 3 teams; the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs. On opening day in 1981 vs Texas, Murcer hit a pinch-hit grand slam at Yankee Stadium. According to The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars, the bruised, burned, and bloodied body of the fallen star was taken to a local hospital after he was found.. In May 2008, Murcer's autobiography, Yankee for Life: My 40-Year Journey in Pinstripes, was published by HarperCollins. [38], Murcer also appeared in celebrity rodeos for various charitable organizations showing his skills in riding horses and roping.[1]. He came in fifth in the AL MVP voting and won a Gold Glove for his fielding. External causes are those not caused by an internal or an infectious agent. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. But after the 1974 season, the Yankees traded Murcer to the Giants for Bobby Bonds. It is the responsibility of the medical practitioner signing the death certificate to indicate which morbid conditions led directly to death and to state any antecedent . He was named to the Sporting News All-Star team again and Murcer's 33 home runs were the most by a Yankee centerfielder since Mickey Mantle hit 35 in 1964. Murcer is one of seven Cubs to have three multiple intentional-walk games since 1960, joining Ernie Banks, Sammy Sosa, Billy Williams, Don Kessinger, Derek Lee, and Andre Dawson. The uniform worn by Murcer at his final Yankee Stadium Old Timer's Day appearance in 2007 was presented to his spouse Kay. The Abe Lemons/Paul Hansen Award recognizes an individual who significantly contributes to the growth of sports in the state. When I watch the Yankees which is almost every day or night, I think of Bobby quite often. Bobby Ray Murcer was born May 20, 1946 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Yankees announcer Bobby Murcer dies By abc7NY Saturday, July 12, 2008 NEW YORK The Yankees said Murcer died Saturday due to complications from brain cancer. [43], Two weeks later, on July 12, Nancy Newman of the Yankees' YES Network reported that Murcer had died due to complications related to brain cancer. Yankee manager Billy Martin wanted to give Murcer the day off, but Murcer insisted on playing. Murcer continued to call games on WPIX until 1998, when the station lost the rights to broadcast the Yankees (they would pick up the broadcast rights to the Mets instead). It just ripped my heart out not to have been part of that.. About the game, Murcer says that he was playing on "shock adrenaline" and that the game has become "part of my legacy". The August 6 date was 29 years to the day since Murcer gave the eulogy at Thurman Munson's funeral and is also the 25th anniversary of Bobby Murcer Day at Yankee Stadium. In 1979, Bobby Murcer returned to the New York Yankees in a trade for a minor league pitcher. [28], In November 2007, Murcer was nominated for the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually to a broadcaster for "major contributions to baseball" by the Baseball Hall of Fame. At his death, Murcer was tied for 183rd on the all-time list. While he has shown some measured improvement in recent days, this is clearly a major battle, as all who have been through it understand. Anyone can read what you share. On July 4, 1980, Murcer hit a grand slam in an 115 rout of the Cleveland Indians. Bobby Murcer passed away. Pre-Owned. Once more details are available, we will update this section. I can feel their thoughts and their prayers and I wanted to tell them how much I love them. The strengths of this sign are being reliable, patient, practical, devoted, responsible, stable, while weaknesses can be stubborn, possessive and uncompromising. In 1987, George Steinbrenner hired Murcer to coach left-handed hitters. When he passed,I felt like I lost a friend/family member. Perry retaliated by having a mutual acquaintance cover his hand with grease before shaking hands with Murcer and saying "Gaylord says hello."[1]. [9] His two consecutive seasons with 90 or more RBIs was not duplicated by a San Francisco Giant until Will Clark did it in 198788. [22] Murcer made the All-Star teams from 1971 through 1974 in the American League, and in 1975 in the National League. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Murcer also worked games for NBC,[27] teaming with Ted Robinson. He further added, "I can't convict somebody on allegations" and "with all the testing that's going on today, and Andy and Roger never testing positive for anything, I can't assume somebody's guilty based on the testimony of a disgruntled trainer."[32]. [1], Murcer was involved with many charities, including serving as the chairman of the board of the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T. Bobby Murcer - Illness and Death Illness and Death Murcer, who had been suffering from headaches and a lack of energy according to the New York Daily News, was diagnosed with a brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme) on Christmas Eve, 2006, and underwent surgery on December 28, 2006, at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. While Murcer had a solid career in the Major Leagues, he didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations given him and he was traded to the San Francisco Giants, then Chicago Cubs. His kindness and genuine goodness are the two qualities that made him shine above the rest. Bobby Murcer was a Taurus and was born in the Baby Boomers Generation. $3.99 shipping. Murcer cracked a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning on June 14, 1980, rallying the Yankees to a win over the Oakland A's. each year. Bobby Murcer produced most of the rare on-field highlights the Yankees had after the dynasty years. God is a God of all Comfort and he will Comfort the family'sMy heartfelt condolences to the family's.. Bobby you are still with all of us baseball fans, especially Yankee fans. His silver hair is growing back during successful treatments for malignant brain cancer. Bobby Murcer was born in Oklahoma City, OK. Bobby Murcer weighed 160 lbs (72 kg) when playing. Once the Monday night game began, Murcer said he was playing on shock adrenaline.. Murcer spent two seasons in San Francisco and two and a half seasons with the Chicago Cubs. Continue to rest easy and peacefully Bobby Ray. He hit .301 with runners on third base. Murcer, on April 25, 1978, hit a grand slam off Steve Carlton in a 42 win versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Bobby Murcer was born on May 20, 1946. Murcer died on July 12, 2008, of a brain tumor. He called an inning with the YES Network crew, and once his presence was pointed out on the video scoreboard, he received a standing ovation from the crowd, with the Yankees coming out of the dugout to applaud him. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. The homer in the August 22, 1977, "Scott Crull" game was one of 5 game-winning home runs Murcer had in 1977.[13]. Murcer bravely fought the disease for two years, even writing a book. But what happened afterward we'd just as soon forget about." Mrs. Munson said she wants to use the proceeds to open trust funds for her grandchildren. Early on October 22, Gabe Paul called Murcer to say he had been traded straight up to San Francisco for Bobby Bonds. On July 2, 2004, the Seattle Times reported that Diana Munson put the bat, along with other items of Munson's, up for auction. Bobby was a gentleman, a great ambassador for baseball, and a true leader both on and off the field. Venus is graceful, charming, sensual and social. [20], Once while playing with the Yankees, he and two other teammates got caught in a bizarre 2531 triple play. Had a great time is talking about your great career love you and your family. When is Bobby Murcers birthday? [23] His 198 homers tied for 17th in the major leagues for the 1970s, and his .282 batting average was 20th among all players who had 5,000 or more plate appearances. Murcer stated he planned to rest until spring training where he planned to call Yankee games and work in the YES Network studio. ), which grants money to former players and other baseball figures who are in need,[37] and holding an annual golf tournament which has raised more than $1 million for the American Cancer Society since 1990. . Louis. A 1985 comeback attempt ended after four minor league games where Murcer went 1 for 12 before suffering a shoulder injury. The next year, Murcer won a Gold Glove award. Murcer's death, at Mercy Hospital, was announced by the Yankees, who said the cause was complications from brain cancer. After returning from the Army, Murcer began the 1969 season hitting .321, with 11 homers and a league-leading 43 runs-batted-in, when he jammed his heel in Kansas City. Murcer signed a contract with Yankees' scout Tom Greenwade, the same scout who signed fellow Oklahoman Mickey Mantle (Murcer's baseball hero). After playing briefly with the Yankees for two seasons, then marrying his high school sweetheart, Diana Kay Rhodes (known as Kay), Murcer spent two years in the Army. It covers the pressure of being the "next Mickey Mantle", his disappointment at being traded away from the Yankees, his "feud" with Gaylord Perry, and lists his "19652007 Yankee All-Star team". Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Martin, 61, who died of head and neck injuries, was a member of five World Series championship teams with the Yankees during an 11-year playing career. At what he did., In the third inning, before the slumping Murcer flied out to right fielder Ken Singleton, Cosell said, He might break out at any time.. Aside from the abysmal 1972 summer, he had against Perry, who won the A.L. In 1981, he led the pinch hitters of the American League with three home runs and 12 RBIs. Bobby Murcer weighed 160 lbs (72 kg) when playing. Bobby Murcer - Murcer's Take On The Mitchell Report Murcer's Take On The Mitchell Report Murcer defended Yankee pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte who were accused of using performance enhancing drugs in the Mitchell Report, which was released in December 2007. Another time he sent Perry a gallon of lard. He acquired a battling, contentious reputation in the 16 years he managed in the major leagues, in New York, Minnesota, Detroit, Texas and Oakland. Author Zander Hollander noted that season that "only Murcer's dwindling power keeps him from superstar status" since other than the lack of home runs Murcer had a fine year in his first season as a Giant. The Yankees devised this strategy specifically to protect Murcer, who spent 1967 and 1968 in the Army. On May 12, the Yankees' Bobby Murcer came in headfirst, elbows out, trying for a double. Bobby Murcer was born in 1940s. Murcer played on the football, baseball, and basketball teams as a sophomore at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It's also available for football, basketball and hockey. One night, after Murcer went to bed, Munson and Piniella heatedly debated who was going to be the better pinch-hitter. inOklahoma City,OK, Buried: Alfonso Soriano and Russ Derry are the only other two Yankees to achieve that feat. He was signed to his first professional baseball contract by the same scout who signed Hall of Fame slugger Mickey Mantle . [29] The 2008 award, as announced three months later, went to longtime Seattle broadcaster Dave Niehaus. $3.99 shipping. Select the 'Assisted Dying' checkbox, if completing the form online in Death Documents. World Series. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Bobby R Murcer. Murcer was 19 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 8, 1965, with the New York Yankees. During 4+12 seasons in the National League, Murcer was particularly rough on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bobby Ray Murcer (May 20, 1946 - July 12, 2008) was an American Major League Baseball outfielder who played for 17 seasons between 1965 and 1983, mostly with the New York Yankees, whom he later rejoined as a longtime broadcaster. On June 26, 1979, Murcer returned to the Yankees in a trade for Paul Semall and cash. A history of the Sports Reference Sponsorship System. He also helped Southeast High to the conference championship in baseball. Cy Young Award that year, Murcer hit .286 against him. However, despite a fine offensive season, he hit only 11 home runs, eliciting this quote from Murcer, "Patty Hearst could be hiding in Candlestick's upper deck and nobody would ever find her", referring to how tough it was to hit long balls at the park where the Giants played their home games. Or write about sports? Bobby Murcer has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. Additionally, Murcer was Second-team All-MLB by both the Associated Press and the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Murcer Revisits Emotional Night About Munson, https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/sports/baseball/02sandomir.html. American baseball player and broadcaster (1946-2008), The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders, List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders, List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle, List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders, "BabeRuthCentral.com interview, Mr. Bobby Murcer", "Longtime Yank Bobby Murcer dies at 62 after bout with brain cancer", "Murcer and Kenney Sign Contracts With Yankees", "Madlock Goes to Giants As Cubs Obtain Murcer,", "Between the seams: Munson items are going to auction", "Murcer Revisits Emotional Night About Munson", "Mourning the Death of a Teammate Is A Difficult Process for Players and Coaches", https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murcebo01.shtml, "Baseball Reference, Fielding Leaders (Era)", "Oklahoma Hall of Fame Honorees Announced", "Tumor removed, Murcer recovering in hospital", "Yankee great Bobby Murcer skeptical of Mitchell Report", "Bobby Murcer, 62, Yankee on Field and Air, Dies", "The Tug McGraw Foundation Announces 2007 Fundraising Gala", "Until the very end, Bobby Murcer showed 'heart of a champion', "Family releases update on Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer", "Report: Yanks' broadcaster Bobby Murcer dies at 62", "Ex-Yankees star, broadcaster Murcer dies at 62", "Late Yankee slugger Bobby Murcer's life celebrated in Edmond", American League Outfielder Gold Glove Award, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bobby_Murcer&oldid=1139376383, Deaths from brain cancer in the United States, Florida Instructional League Yankees players, Articles with dead external links from February 2019, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, September 8,1965,for theNew York Yankees, 1963 Battlefield League Most Improved Player, 1965 Carolina League Most Valuable Player, 1975 NL All-Star team; Second-team All-NL (UPI), 1993 inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. He was 62. In 1973, Murcer became the third Yankee, after Joe DiMaggio and Mantle, to receive a $100,000 salary. (Age 19-111d, On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. When the game moved into the sixth, Murcer told the conference table full of reporters, Dont anybody leave til I hit my home run. But before that occurred in the seventh, Singleton homered to right field in the sixth. Murcer hit .322, homered 16 times, drove in 90 runs, and stole 18 bases, playing in his league's All-Star game that season. On August 29, Murcer hit for the cycle. All my best to them all. The memorial service was held 25 days later, at the Memorial Road Church of Christ, on Aug. 6, 2008, which was the 25th anniversary of Bobby Murcer Day at Yankee Stadium and the 29th anniversary of the Bobby Murcer Game. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1977. "It's part of my legacy," he said about the game that he and the Yankees played Aug. 6, 1979, hours after flying from Canton, Ohio,. Bobby Murcer: Sports: 57: Charlie Murphy . Murcer, however, denied he made an outright promise to Crull, as ABC had reported during the game. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Bobby Ray Murcer (May 20, 1946 - July 12, 2008) was an American professional baseball outfielder who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball between 1965 and 1983. In June 1970, Murcer hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats in a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians, tying an American League record and joining Lou Gehrig, Johnny Blanchard, and Mickey Mantle as the only Yankees to hit home runs in four consecutive at-bats. In the span of four years, Murcer held that distinction for three franchises, the Yankees, Giants and Cubs. Biography - A Short Wiki He had two children, Tori and Todd, with his wife Diana. A left-handed hitter, Murcer had a career .277 batting average, finishing with 252 home runs and 1,043 RBIs. In addition to roles as a player, broadcaster, and . [35], In July 2006, Aduddell Industries of Oklahoma City named Murcer as corporate spokesperson. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. The combined effects of alcohol, cocaine and the powerful opioid fentanyl caused the death of singer Bobby Brown's son, according to an autopsy report. [3] Murcer signed for a $10,000 bonus in June 1964. CNN . The cancer treatment over the last 18 months has been intensive and has, as a side effect, somewhat compromised his immune system and made the fight all the more challenging. Murcer, fittingly, was the last active player to have been a playing teammate of Mickey Mantle. Most Popular #172010. My condolences! Murcer also authored an autobiography, 2008's "Yankee for Life". People born under this sign are fiercely loyal and can always keep a secret. Kaz. The early 1940s were dominated by World War II. Murcers death, at Mercy Hospital, was announced by the Yankees, who said the cause was complications from brain cancer. Bobby Murcer drove in all the Yankees runs in the 5-4 victory over Baltimore on Aug. 6, 1979. He played in his fifth All-Star game and was Second-team All-National League by United Press International. He was 62. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. He was an All-Star several times and did hit 252 career home runs. Bobby Murcer in the broadcast booth at Yankee Stadium before the Yankees played the Seattle Mariners on May 2. The ABC broadcast featured a screen free of modern statistical and graphic clutter; there were few replays and almost no crowd and dugout shots. Keith Jackson called the game with Howard Cosell, eloquent, occasionally obvious and an air hog, and Don Drysdale at his side. We all flew back to Yankee Stadium for a game against Baltimore, Murcer recalled in a 1983 article for The Times. It reminds you that the fans who follow the team, it's as big a part of their lives as it is for you."[17]. For example, major external causes include suicide, motor vehicle accidents, and drug overdoses. Bobby Murcer, Glen Waggoner. On September 26, 1977, Murcer hit the 200th home run of his career, off future broadcast partner Jim Kaat. I CAN REMEMBER FOLLOWING BOBBY MURCER,S CAREER AS A LITTLE BOYONCE WRITING A BOOK ABOUT BOBBYSPLAYING DAYS..WHILE I WAS IN THE FIFTH GRADEAND GETTING AN A..ON MY SCHOOL PROJECT.NOT A DAY GOES BY.THAT BOBBY DID NOT TOUCH MY HEART..GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY..SIR YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART FOREVERTHANKS FOR THE MEMORIES YOU GAVE US ALL. It was, to Bobby Murcer, his best and most emotional game. My thoughts continue to be with his loved ones. Murcer married his high school sweetheart, Diana Kay Rhodes (known as "Kay"), in 1966. External causes of death are those from unintentional injuries, accidents (e.g., drowning, falls, traffic accidents), homicide, suicide, and undetermined. Bobbys Bobby Ray Murcer attended Southeast (Oklahoma City, OK). While Murcer had a solid career in the Major Leagues, he didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations given him and he was traded to the San Francisco Giants, then Chicago Cubs. Murcer, who flung his right hand into the air when he rounded first after hitting the homer, said to reporters "I hit a hanging spitter.". But Murcer, at 5 feet 11 inches and 160 pounds, had a slighter build than Mantle. Proud sponsor of this page. He is now 62 years old. He was also part of a four-player biography in 1973, "At Bat! us, Died: Murcer and Mantle traveled at Senator Kennedy's request and George Steinbrenner's expense. This will populate Part 1 (a) of the certificate with the words 'Assisted Dying' as the Direct cause of death. In MLB history only 24 players hit above .275 while also hitting 250 or more home runs, driving in more than 1,000 runs, and stealing more than 125 bases and totaling 45 or more triples. He was quietly buried by his closest friends at a cemetery in the countryside he loved. . Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. In 1972, with a new $65,000 salary,[7] Murcer recorded a career-high 30 doubles (third in the AL), 7 triples (fourth), 33 home runs (second), and 96 RBIs (third). On June 3, Murcer's five runs scored in a game marked the 11th time it had been done in Yankee history. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Kay, their children and grandchildren. Murcer spent two seasons in San Francisco and two and a half seasons with the Chicago Cubs. A Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star, Murcer led the American League in on-base percentage in 1971, and in . Three days later, I was gone."[8]. He was 62. Multiple newspapers heavily implied that he died by suicide and police seemed satisfied enough with that explanation too . Accidents are the leading cause of death for people aged 25-44, followed by suicide and cancer. He finished with 17 game-winning hits, second to AL MVP Reggie Jackson's 18. [31], Murcer defended Yankee pitchers Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, who were accused of using performance-enhancing drugs in the Mitchell Report, which was released in December 2007. None of us wanted to play, but we did, and I batted in all five runs and we won, 5-4. SPONSORED. vs. MIL 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB, Rookie Status: IndyCar Racer Bobby Unser's Cause of Death Officially Reported From 1953 to 1955, he entered the Air Force as a top competition sharpshooter in military matches, however, he later deeply regretted it. Five-time MLB All-Star who played 13 of his 17 seasons with the New York Yankees. [36], During his career, he invested in jewelry stores, an oil drilling company, a hair cutting establishment franchise called Yankee Cuts, and racehorses.