Here he tells the story of his remarkable career, the exciting seasons in his and the Yankees' push for the top, and the personal rewards and conflicts along the way.Thurman Munson's stardom was implicit in his youth. Burning up the college circuit while at Kent State, and outgrowing the Yankee farm clubs in a year. Munson justified early praise from Roberto Clemente, with whom he played winter ball, by winning the Rookie of the Year Award overwhelmingly in 1970--the first American League catcher to do it. Later the rivalry between Munson and Boston Red Sox Catcher Carlton Fisk was a perennial media target--Munson here sets an overplayed story straight.With George Steinbrenner's takeover of the Yankees in 1973, big changes were in store. Munson was finding himself the cornerstone of a team once again in serious pennant contention. In 1975 Catfish Hunter arrived on the scene and the Yankees gained a scrappy new manager by the name of Billy Martin. A year later came an American League pennant, with Thurman Munson collecting the Most Valuable Player Award. The addition of slugging Reggie Jackson helped bring a long-awaited World Series victory in 1977 and for the dependable Yankee catcher and captain the hint of a new rivalry--one much closer to home.A career-long dilemma still faced Munson in 1978, despite a remarkable string of well-earned honors, a salary to match, and valued friendships throughout baseball; the unresolved tension between the demanding roles of Yankee star and private man of family and business. In candidly revealing himself here, Thurman Munson provides an inside look at colorful Yankee personalities and an absorbing account of the pressures and thrills that go into major league baseball at its best.Martin Appel spent nine years in the Yankees' front office, including three as Public Relations Director. He is co-author of Baseball's Best: The Hall of Fame Gallery, selected by the American Library Association as the outstanding sports reference book of 1977. He is currently on the staff of the Baseball Commissioner and resides with his wife in White Plains, New York.