Murphy on ballot for final time?
18-year veteran spent 15 years with Braves
By Mark Bowman /
MLB.com
Dale Murphy's career is similar to that of Roger Maris,
also left out of Cooperstown. (Lennoz Mclendon/AP)
ATLANTA -- Before the 13 consecutive division titles were bestowed upon them, Braves fans went through a forgettable stretch in which many of the memories were presented by the great Dale Murphy.
With every mighty swing, Murphy brought the same type of joy he could provide through his countless charitable acts around Atlanta. For Braves fans, there was nobody like this grand athlete from Utah. There was no doubt in their minds his greatness would some day be forever remembered in Cooperstown.
Other than Mike Schmidt and Eddie Murray, there were no equals for Murphy thoughout the '80s. But while Schmidt and Murray have already found their way into the Hall of Fame, Murphy now finds himself staring at the possibility of falling completely off the ballot.
"I hope he gets in there," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "I think he is a very deserving candidate and wonderful human being. He'd be a very wonderful recipient."
Unfortunately, there aren't too many writers who share in Schuerholz's belief. Murphy was named on just 8.5 percent of the ballots last year. When a total falls below five percent, the player is removed from the ballot and only has hope that the Veterans Committee might some day open the door for them.
Since 1999 -- his first season on the Hall of Fame ballot -- Murphy has seen his vote totals continually decrease.
"It's just flattering to be mentioned with some of these other great players," the always gracious Murphy said. "Nobody has ever thought that this was an easy club to get into."
Murphy claimed back-to-back National League MVP titles in 1982-83 and compiled more total bases than anybody during the eighties. He finished second to Schmidt in homers and Murray in RBIs during the decade.
"If the Hall of Fame is supposed to honor the greatest players of certain eras, then I don't know how you can leave him out," said Braves broadcaster Pete Van Wieren, who broadcast many of Murphy's game while the Atlanta legend spent 15 years of his 18-year career with the Braves.
During his career, which also included stints with the Rockies and Phillies, Murphy amassed 398 homers, 2,111 hits and 1,266 RBIs. The converted catcher won five Gold Gloves as an outfielder and didn't miss a game from 1982-86.
Murphy's most glaring statistical weakness is his .265 lifetime batting average that came as a result of some unproductive late years in his career. He hit .289 from 1982-87, then at the age of 32 -- and batted .238 from 1988 until the end of his career in '93.
With its short period of dominance, Murphy's career is similar to that of one Roger Maris, who also has been left out of Cooperstown. Ironically, these are the only two back-to-back MVP winners, who aren't in the Hall.
When asked about whether he feels slighted by the voters, Murphy points out that there's a reason ballots aren't cast in the middle of a player's career. If there were a statistical category for humility, he would have been at the top of every decade.
Murphy, who lives in Utah with his wife and children, continues to touch the lives of many like he did during his playing career. There have been countless stories about his desire to make others smile.
While Pete Rose's transgressions are keeping him out, Murphy's saint-like behavior isn't moving him any closer to the Hall's front door.
Greg Hughes, a current Braves and Turner Sports executive, remembers a Sept. 1997 day when a fever-ridden Murphy touched the life of a terminally ill child.
Serving as a Braves intern at the time, Hughes approached Murphy in hopes that the star would come out of the clubhouse to see the child before that day's game. After receiving some medical treatment, Murphy emerged from the clubhouse and immediately brought a smile to the child's face.
The child asked Murphy to hit him a home run. After responding with an "I'll try," the slugger went above the call of duty and drilled two home runs that Sunday afternoon.
"He never failed to come through for fans," Hughes said. "He was the greatest player ambassador for any sport that I've ever seen."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
By Mark Bowman /
MLB.com
Dale Murphy's career is similar to that of Roger Maris,
also left out of Cooperstown. (Lennoz Mclendon/AP)
ATLANTA -- Before the 13 consecutive division titles were bestowed upon them, Braves fans went through a forgettable stretch in which many of the memories were presented by the great Dale Murphy.
With every mighty swing, Murphy brought the same type of joy he could provide through his countless charitable acts around Atlanta. For Braves fans, there was nobody like this grand athlete from Utah. There was no doubt in their minds his greatness would some day be forever remembered in Cooperstown.
Other than Mike Schmidt and Eddie Murray, there were no equals for Murphy thoughout the '80s. But while Schmidt and Murray have already found their way into the Hall of Fame, Murphy now finds himself staring at the possibility of falling completely off the ballot.
"I hope he gets in there," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "I think he is a very deserving candidate and wonderful human being. He'd be a very wonderful recipient."
Unfortunately, there aren't too many writers who share in Schuerholz's belief. Murphy was named on just 8.5 percent of the ballots last year. When a total falls below five percent, the player is removed from the ballot and only has hope that the Veterans Committee might some day open the door for them.
Since 1999 -- his first season on the Hall of Fame ballot -- Murphy has seen his vote totals continually decrease.
"It's just flattering to be mentioned with some of these other great players," the always gracious Murphy said. "Nobody has ever thought that this was an easy club to get into."
Murphy claimed back-to-back National League MVP titles in 1982-83 and compiled more total bases than anybody during the eighties. He finished second to Schmidt in homers and Murray in RBIs during the decade.
"If the Hall of Fame is supposed to honor the greatest players of certain eras, then I don't know how you can leave him out," said Braves broadcaster Pete Van Wieren, who broadcast many of Murphy's game while the Atlanta legend spent 15 years of his 18-year career with the Braves.
During his career, which also included stints with the Rockies and Phillies, Murphy amassed 398 homers, 2,111 hits and 1,266 RBIs. The converted catcher won five Gold Gloves as an outfielder and didn't miss a game from 1982-86.
Murphy's most glaring statistical weakness is his .265 lifetime batting average that came as a result of some unproductive late years in his career. He hit .289 from 1982-87, then at the age of 32 -- and batted .238 from 1988 until the end of his career in '93.
With its short period of dominance, Murphy's career is similar to that of one Roger Maris, who also has been left out of Cooperstown. Ironically, these are the only two back-to-back MVP winners, who aren't in the Hall.
When asked about whether he feels slighted by the voters, Murphy points out that there's a reason ballots aren't cast in the middle of a player's career. If there were a statistical category for humility, he would have been at the top of every decade.
Murphy, who lives in Utah with his wife and children, continues to touch the lives of many like he did during his playing career. There have been countless stories about his desire to make others smile.
While Pete Rose's transgressions are keeping him out, Murphy's saint-like behavior isn't moving him any closer to the Hall's front door.
Greg Hughes, a current Braves and Turner Sports executive, remembers a Sept. 1997 day when a fever-ridden Murphy touched the life of a terminally ill child.
Serving as a Braves intern at the time, Hughes approached Murphy in hopes that the star would come out of the clubhouse to see the child before that day's game. After receiving some medical treatment, Murphy emerged from the clubhouse and immediately brought a smile to the child's face.
The child asked Murphy to hit him a home run. After responding with an "I'll try," the slugger went above the call of duty and drilled two home runs that Sunday afternoon.
"He never failed to come through for fans," Hughes said. "He was the greatest player ambassador for any sport that I've ever seen."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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