NY Yankees' Leaders Don't Need Titles

Diana Munson has always loved the Yankees.

Knowing her for almost 50 years I would have to say that her love for the team was almost as strong as her wonderful husband, Thurman Munson. Thurman was named the first Yanks captain, since Lou Gehrig. in 1976, even though he argued with George Steinbrenner that he didn’t want the title.

He even askd the Boss, "Wasn’t it you that once said the hell with labels."

Steinbrenner's response was to laugh.

Thurman said that Joe Dimaggio and Mickey Mantle were not named captains, they were just great leaders.

He also said that Gehrig was supposed to be the last Yankee captain.

Steinbrenner responded to Munson by saying that if the people that made this proclamation about Gehrig had known Thurman Munson, they would have changed their minds.

The Boss won out on this one, however Thurman told Mr. Steinbrenner that he would not allow a letter "C" for captain to be put on his uniform.

The Boss hesitantly agreed and the rest is Yankee history. I honestly believe that if Thurman got his way and wasn’t named captain, there would not be a captain today.

Perhaps I'm biased, but Thurman Munson was the greatest Yankee captain in all of my years in the Yankees universe.

Munson did things both on and off the field to make the Yankee brand better just because he wanted so badly to win, and also because he couldn’t stand to see poor people, especially kids struggle.

Also, it must be noted that everything he did had to be done secretively because he felt that he always needed to give the people that he was helping his undivided attention.

Today, I’m very happy to report that Diana Munson is extremely overjoyed with the announcement that Aaron Judge has been named the captain.

Her words were, "I was happy to hear the news!"

Not only as a Yankee, but as a man.

A great man who will represent the Yankees with pride and integrity.

I wish him much success in carrying on the legacy of all the great Yankee captains.

I like to think that the Boss and Thurman are also very pleased.

Ray Negron is a sports executive with over 40 years of experience in baseball. His first job came from a chance encounter with George Steinbrenner as a youth. He has become an American film producer, a best-selling author, and a philanthropist. His memoir is entitled, "Yankee Miracles: Life with the Boss and the Bronx Bombers." Read Ray Negron's Reports — More Here.