FanPost

Biggest Underdog: Bobby Murcer

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Wait...what? This guy is off his rocker expecting the community to believe a five time All-Star is an underdog? This better be good.

From the inception of the franchise in 1903 through the 1923 season the Yankees weren't very good, at least not consistently good. They posted a winning record nine times and their only three post season appearances took place consecutively from 1921-23 after the acquisition of Babe Ruth.

During this time center field a "core" position along with catcher and shortstop, was a revolving door. Only four guys managed to play 100 games in a season and only two, Ping Bodie and Whitey Whit, did so in more than one season.

Then things changed.

Beginning in 1924 through 1967 the Yankees had three primary center fielders; Earle Combs, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.

They're all Hall of Famers.

When Mantle's legs started to go the Yankees needed a replacement so they signed a high school kid from Oklahoma, like Mantle was, figuring lightning would strike twice.

Signed as a shortstop, like Mantle was, Bobby Murcer made his way to New York in 1965 making his debut as a 19 year old. Unlike Mantle however Murcer did actually play shortstop (and third base) at the major league level before being moved to the outfield in 1968, first to right then center in 1969.

Over the next six seasons before his unfortunate trade to the Giants, Murcer was a four time All-Star and won a Gold Glove and returned to New York in 1979 just in time to etch his place in Yankee lore with his performance in the Munson tribute game.

This isn't Didi rreplacing Derek or Tino replacing Donnie Baseball, this is a guy replacing not one, but three Hall of Famers. The legacy of three Hall of Famers.

And he did it with grace and honor.

Do you know Murcer doesn't have a plaque in Monument Park? Bernie Williams has one. And his number is retired too. Was Wiliams better than Murcer? Probably, but not THAT much.

Paul O'Neill has a plaque. Only played nine seasons in New York. Tino has one too and only played six.

Rings shouldn't matter.

For what Murcer meant to the Yankees and especially to the legacy of those who came before him he was an underdog and it's an embarrassment to the organization he's not recognized in Monument Park.

(Roy White too but that's a different story).

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