Awarded Rookie of the Year honors in 1970, the gritty, unshaven Munson went on to become the backbone of the Yankees until his tragic and untimely death during the 1979 season. Munson always wanted to win, and most often succeeded. An MVP season in 1976 led the Yankees to their first pennant in over a decade; although the Yankees were swept in four games by the Cincinnati Reds, Munson's consistency behind the plate and in the clutch helped the team win championships in both of the next two years. Over his eleven-year career, Munson was named to seven All-Star teams and won three consecutive Gold Gloves. His number was retired after his death in 1979.
Munson got along well enough with most opponents, but not with Fisk, his rival in Boston. Some thought Munson was envious of the handsome Red Sox catcher, who also won a Rookie of the Year Award (and his only Gold Glove) in 1972. But Fisk will forever be known for hitting one of the most dramatic home runs in World Series history in 1975 when his twelfth-inning shot off the left-field foul pole in Fenway Park won Game Six over the Reds. Fisk shined during the regular season as well -- he was named to ten All-Star teams during his 24-year career with the Red Sox and White Sox -- and still holds the major league records for home runs by a catcher (351) and games caught (2,226).
HITTING
HITTING
Munson was an all-fields, line-drive hitter who consistently hit around the .300 mark. Not an especially powerful home-run hitter, the deep left-field fences at Yankee Stadium further limited the right-handed Munson's power production. One of the best clutch hitters of his day, Munson hit .357 in the postseason, including a .529 average in the 1976 World Series.
Fisk aggressively challenged opposing pitchers by crowding the plate. A right-handed, dead-pull hitter who was lucky enough to aim at the Green Monster for half of his career, Fisk adjusted well to Comiskey Park during his years in Chicago. His ability to drive low pitches into the seats allowed him to generate more power than Munson, but for most of his career Fisk was more of a line-drive hitter than a slugger.
DEFENSE
DEFENSE
Munson's defensive skills were evident early on in his career. He made only one error in 1971, indicative of the consistently outstanding defensive play that would win him three Gold Gloves over the next four years. One of the best at blocking balls in the dirt, Munson compensated for a relatively weak arm with an exceptionally quick release.
Fisk was best known for getting the most out of his pitching staff. A leader behind the plate, he instilled confidence in whomever was on the mound, although he was sometimes criticized for working too slowly. Fisk could block bad pitches with the best of them and often surprised runners with a fierce pickoff move. But his durability might have been his greatest asset.
BASERUNNING
BASERUNNING
A smart and nimble baserunner, Munson was often able to take the extra base, his hustle annually boosting his doubles totals. During his MVP season, Munson stole a career-high 14 bases.
For a man his size, Fisk had deceptive speed and a wily intelligence on the basepaths. At the age of 35, he stole 17 bases for the White Sox; three years later, he stole 17 again. Fisk never shirked from going in spikes-up to break up a double play.
LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER
LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER
During Reggie Jackson's first spring with the Yankees in 1977, the newly-acquired slugger opined, "I'm the straw that stirs the drink ... Munson thinks he can be the straw that stirs the drink, but he can only stir it bad." The comment angered Munson, who had been named captain of the team the previous year -- the first man so honored since Lou Gehrig retired in 1939 -- and had starred in the 1976 World Series in a losing effort against the Reds. A fiery, competitive leader, Munson always inspired his teammates. But he was known to grumble about other players' salaries being higher than his own and spent the 1977 season asking for a trade to his hometown Indians.
A quiet, taciturn New Englander, Fisk was a key player on the Red Sox until 1980, when he left for the White Sox after a contract dispute. Most of Fisk's leadership skills came behind the plate, working with pitchers. With the White Sox, Fisk often served as a veteran mentor to young players, who were inspired by his longevity. Nevertheless, Fisk was criticized for what some perceived as a me-first attitude, chasing personal records at the expense of the team. In his later years, Fisk became a bit of a curmudgeon towards younger, flashier opponents (such as Deion Sanders) whom he believed didn't show the proper respect toward the game.
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