by Eyecue on Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:02 am
Cano receives Thurman Munson Award
Five athletes honored at 26th annual awards dinner
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Twenty-six years later, Diana Munson still looks forward to the annual awards dinner that honors her late husband, Thurman Munson.
In fact, the widow of the former Yankees captain gets more excited for the event each year, as new honorees show up to help raise money for a worthy cause.
"They actually seem excited and honored to be a part of it, which is touching for me," Munson said. "Some of them weren't even born when this dinner started 26 years ago."
That was the case this year, as the 23-year-old Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano was one of five athletes to receive a Thurman Munson Award on Tuesday night at the Marriott Marquis in Midtown Manhattan.
"It's great to be here for this," said Cano, who was accompanied by his parents. "I'm so excited to get this award tonight."
Other honorees included Astros pitcher (and former Yankee) Andy Pettitte and Orioles pitcher Kris Benson, who was dealt to Baltimore by the Mets on Jan. 21. Former New York Rangers star Adam Graves and former Knicks fan-favorite Charles Oakley were also honored at the dinner.
"It's great to be back in New York, and I'm extremely proud to accept a Thurman Munson Award," Pettitte said. "Coming up in the Yankees organization, his name and face were all over the place. He played the game hard and the right way, and I've tried to do that over the years."
When Pettitte learned that he would be honored with a Munson Award, he made sure to clear his calendar in order to be in New York for the event.
"He was a great player and captain, and in the nine years I spent there, I'd walk by his locker every day," Pettitte said. "When you look at it, you know he meant a lot."
Among the presenters at the dinner were Padres outfielder Mike Cameron, who gave an award to Benson, his former Mets teammate. Cano received his award from Yankees assistant general manager Jean Afterman, while Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay presented Pettitte's award.
Previous Munson Award recipients include Mariano Rivera, Joe Torre, Jorge Posada, Gary Sheffield, Don Mattingly, Yogi Berra, Bernie Williams, Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Willie Mays, Mark Messier, Mike Richter, Tom Seaver and John Franco.
Proceeds from the event help the Association for the Help of Retarded Children, a not-for-profit organization with many programs that enable people with developmental disabilities to lead richer, more productive lives.
Last year's dinner raised almost $1 million for the AHRC, which is the largest organization of its kind, serving 11,000 children and adults who have mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and other developmental disabilities.
"The fact that this dinner has continued for 26 years is a tribute to Thurman and the kind of man he was," Munson said. "I can think of no better way to remember him than to help children."