OLYMPICS - SHANNON MILLER

Shannon Miller, the most decorated gymnast, male or female, in US history, lived and trained in Edmond Oklahoma. In the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, Shannon won a total of 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals, in addition to 9 World Championship medals.

In 2001, a statue was dedicated in Shannon Miller Park in Edmond.


















Shannon's gold medal winning balance beam routine at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics:

OLYMPICS - 1989 OLYMPIC FESTIVAL STATUE

This statue was created for the 1989 Olympic Festival, which was held in Oklahoma City. The statue was originally installed across the street at the Myriad, now the Cox Convention Center, but has since been moved to the Ford Center.

BOBBY MURCER: 5/20/46-7/12/08

I just received a "breaking news" e-mail alert that Oklahoma City's Bobby Murcer has passed away. This morning I was in downtown OKC and took this photo of Bobby that is part of a mural of famous Oklahomans near Bricktown. There is also a bust of Bobby outside the Bricktown Ballpark.

Bobby Murcer replaced fellow Oklahoman Mickey Mantle (who had replaced Joe DiMaggio) as centerfielder for the New York Yankeees. Both started their careers as shortstops, but were quickly moved to center, and both replaced legends.

For a few seasons, Bobby Murcer played for the San Franciso Giants and the Chicago Cubs, before returning to the Yankees. I saw Bobby play for the Cubs in July 1978 when my father and I rode the Amtrak train to Chicago to see a game.


Some interesting Bobby Murcer facts:

* Only Yankee to play with Mickey Mantle and Don Mattingly
* Went to same high school as Darrell Porter and Mickey Tettleton
* Once traded for Bonds (Bobby that is, Barry's father)
* Gave the euolgy at Thurman Munson's funeral, then knocked in all five runs in Yankees victory that evening
* Inducted into Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Hall of Fame
* Youngest American Leaguer to earn $100,000 annual salary

At Thurman Munson's funeral he quoted the poet and philosopher Angelo Patri:

The life of a soul on earth lasts longer than his departure. He
lives on in your life and the life of all others who knew him.

Local coverage of Bobby Murcer's life and baseball career can be found on Newsok.com at http://newsok.com/article/3269488/

OKLAHOMA'S GREAT BASEBALL PLAYERS

BUSTS OF GREAT OKLAHOMA BALL PLAYERS OUTSIDE BRICKTOWN BALLPARK IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

BRICKTOWN BALLPARK:

http://oklahoma.redhawks.milb.com/ballpark/page.jsp?ymd=20070407&content_id=203603&vkey=ballpark_t238&fext=.jsp&sid=t238

SEATING MAP:

http://oklahoma.redhawks.milb.com/ballpark/page.jsp?ymd=20070307&content_id=188583&vkey=ballpark_t238&fext=.jsp&sid=t238

BRICKTOWN BALLPARK STATUES - OKLAHOMA CITY OK

BRICKTOWN BALL PARK IN OKLAHOMA CITY FEATURES STATUES OF PITCHER WARREN SPAHN (HARTSHORNE OK), CENTERFIELDER MICKEY MANTLE (COMMERCE OK) AND CATCHER JOHNNY BENCH (BINGER OK)

THIS LINK TO THE STADIUM SEATING CHART INDICATES THE LOCATION OF THE THREE STATUES.

http://oklahoma.redhawks.milb.com/ballpark/page.jsp?ymd=20070307&content_id=188583&vkey=ballpark_t238&fext=.jsp&sid=t238