The Monday After: Hall of Famer 'Goose' Gossage to speak at Thurman Munson Scholarship event

"People ask me who the best catcher I ever threw to was and it was Thurman Munson, hands down. He was smart, talented and an awesome guy."

Munson's teammate on the New York Yankees, pioneer closing pitcher and Baseball Hall of Famer Rich "Goose" Gossage, offered that compliment to his former batterymate during a telephone interview promoting his appearance as keynote speaker for the upcoming 2023 Thurman Munson Catcher's Scholarship Dinner.

The talk by Gossage, who teamed with Munson during the 1978 and 1979 seasons, was arranged by Munson's widow, Diana Munson.

"Diana called and asked me if I would speak, and I said 'absolutely.' And I told her I wanted a lot of Neil Diamond music – at the beginning, the middle and end (of the event) – because that was Thurman's favorite."

Gossage said he and Thurman got "very close" during the relatively brief time they played together. He remembers the hours and days after he learned of Munson's death in a plane crash in 1979.

"I was numb. He was our captain, and he was so well respected. His death shocked us, and it shocked the baseball world," recalled Gossage.

The mood of the game following Munson's passing was somber. "The stadium was filled with 50,000 people crying." Still, the tenor of Gossage's talk will be upbeat, he promised.

"It's going to be happy. It's going to be festive because I know Thurman would want it to be that way," Gossage said.

Scholarship winners honored

The skills of two other athletes – male and female winners of $1,500 Thurman Munson Catcher's Scholarships – will be recognized at the dinner. The amount awarded each year was set because Munson wore the number 15 when he played in the Major Leagues.

This year's winners are Victoria Boyer, who played catcher for Perry High School girls softball team, and Garrett Wright, who competed for Jackson High School boys baseball team.

Wright defined leadership on his scholarship questionnaire as "setting the bar high and trying to achieve it myself."

"I try to create a competitive atmosphere where others want to beat me out," he explained. "I am supportive in other roles, as well, encouraging others to participate and succeed by working with them. I care about their performance and mine."

Baseball is a "game of failures," in which challenges will arise.

"If you want to be part of the 'team' ... you have to hustle and have the ambition to get better."

Boyer stressed dedication in the face of adversity.

"You might not get to where you want right away, but if you keep working at it, soon you will get to where you want to be," she said.

Athletes need to possess sportsmanship in equal amounts with an eagerness to hustle, she noted.

"You have to have integrity," she said. “For most people it is something hard because most are competitive and hate losing, but how you handle yourself after you lose and win is most important."

Haverstock said Boyer and Wright were chosen on their own merits, and also for demonstrating qualities exhibited by Munson during his playing days.

Enshrinees to be recognized

This year's Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame inductees are Charles Hairston of East Canton, Herbert Hamilton Jr. of Canton, and Richard M. Szink of Canton.

Hairston has coached baseball for more than two decades at the Stearn Center.

"I was able to interact with the youth in and around Canton," he said in his bio. "Hopefully I had a positive influence in their development."

Hamilton has been a member of the club "on and off" through seven decades, starting to attend the Boys Club in 1948 when he was 12 years old.

"Early on, it provided a place to play organized sports, and participate in wood and metal shop, as well as arts and crafts," he noted in his bio. "Later in life, it has been a place to work out, give back, and associate with other club members and staff."

Szink, who has contributed to a number of community athletic programs, has been commissioner of officials for basketball leagues and tournaments for 10 years, according to his bio.

His reasons for maintaining a long and close relationship is simple, he said. The boy's and Girls Club is a place to"meet and make many friends."

Hall of Fame effort for Munson

Munson's ties to the club similarly were tight, Haverstock noted.

He got his start in baseball in the club's Mitey Mite program.

His talent grew as he took the basics he learned at the Boys Club and built on it to forge playing careers at Lehman High School, Kent State University, and at the Major League level in New York.

The dinner provides an opportunity to highlight the belief by supporters that Thurman Munson deserves to be given professional baseball's greatest honor – to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

"Absolutely he should be in the Hall of Fame," said Gossage, who was enshrined in 2008. "He was talented, he was a tough competitor, and he got the job done," Gossage said.

"Thurman Munson doesn't have to take a back seat to anyone I saw play who is in the Hall of Fame."

Club member Steve Fettman, Haverstock, and a team of other individuals have created an ongoing campaign aimed at urging electors to put Munson into the Hall of Fame based on his accomplishments.

"We're looking forward to Canton supporting the quest to get Thurman Munson into the Hall of Fame, recognize our scholarship winners, and honor individuals who have contributed greatly to the Boys and Girls Club."

Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com. On Twitter: @gbrownREP.

About the event

What – Thurman Munson Memorial Catcher's Scholarship Dinner

Where – DoubleTree by Hilton Canton Downtown at 320 Market Ave. S

When – Aug. 17, doors open at 6 p.m.

Why – To raise money for scholarships and award the $1,500 Thurman Munson Boys and Girls Catcher's Scholarships, as well as to enshrine inductees into the Hall of Fame for the Boys and Girls Club of Canton at J. Babe Stearn Community Center

Who – Keynote speaker will be Hall of Fame pitcher Rich "Goose" Gossage, with special guest pitcher Tommy John and emcee Mark Milano

How – Tickets, $50 per individual, are on sale through Tuesday Aug. 15 at the Babe Stearn Center, at Davies Pharmacy and at Mike Munson's Tug Boats restaurant. For information, call 330-455-3921, 330-284-2871, 0r 330-454-5151.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: The Monday After: Hall of Famer 'Goose' Gossage to speak at Thurman Munson Scholarship event