1993 HEADLINE: Atlanta Braves Great Dale Murphy Retires!!

1993 HEADLINE: Atlanta Braves Great Dale Murphy Retires!!

On this day in 1993, 2-time MVP Dale Murphy retired from the sport of professional baseball.

One of my favorite players as a kid, Murphy’s retirement in 1993 was the start of seeing some of my idols leave the sport of baseball.

My memories of watching Dale Murphy play are endless. Being a fan of the sport, and having no ‘home’ team to cheer for in Florida during my childhood, I drifted to the teams I was able to watch on television. WTBS, WGN, and WOR game me my baseball fix. And of the guys that I drifted towards – Murphy was prominent.

His skills as a player were endless. Whether it was delivering home runs or making incredible plays in the outfield, Dale Murphy was one of the best players in the game for more than a decade – and I enjoyed watching all of it!!

Thanks for the memories ‘Murph’!!!

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Happy Birthday Dale Murphy!!

Happy Birthday Dale Murphy!!

Dale Murphy turns 58 years old today.

One of my favorite players as a kid, Murphy’s retirement in 1993 was the start of seeing some of my idols leave the sport of baseball.

My memories of watching Dale Murphy play are endless.  Being a fan of the sport, and having no ‘home’ team to cheer for in Florida during my childhood, I drifted to the teams I was able to watch on television.  WTBS, WGN, and WOR game me my baseball fix.  And of the guys that I drifted towards – Murphy was prominent.

His skills as a player were endless.  Whether it was delivering home runs or making incredible plays in the outfield, Dale Murphy was one of the best players in the game for more than a decade – and I enjoyed watching all of it!!

Happy Birthday Mr. Murphy!!

Hall Of Fame Debate: Dale Murphy VS Jim Rice

Hall Of Fame Debate: Dale Murphy VS Jim Rice

Last week’s ‘HOF Debate’ was a lot of fun.  We compared and debated the careers of Mike Piazza and Ivan ‘Pudge’ Rodriguez.  The debate was entertaining, animated, and educational – just what the ‘HOF Debate’ is seeking.

This week, we’ll continue with the 1-on-1 format as we compare the major league careers and accomplishments of two outfielders that competed in the same era, just in different leagues – Hall of Famer Jim Rice and fan-favorite Dale Murphy.

First, let’s look at the numbers:

	Dale Murphy	Jim Rice
Seasons	18	16
Games	2,180	2,089
Hits	2,111	2,452
150-199 Hit Seasons	7	6
200+ Hit Seasons	0	4
Batting Average	0	0
.300 Seasons	3	7
Career HRs	398	382
30-39 HR Seasons	5	3
40+ HR Seasons	1	1
RBI	1,266	1,451
100-RBI Seasons	5	8
30 HR / 100 RBI Seasons	5	4
Runs Scored	1,197	1,249
100-Run Seasons	4	3
Stolen Bases	161	58
All-Star	7	8
Silver Slugger	4	2
Gold Glove	5	0
ROY	0	0
MVP	2	1
Postseasons	1	2
WS Titles	0	0

*

Now, I will be the first person to admit that I saw a heck of a lot more baseball games during my youth that featured Dale Murphy due to the cable channel WTBS.  So, while my exposure to Murphy was much greater than that of Jim Rice, I think that I can pull the emotion out of it and let the credentials do the talking…

So, it is now time for:  Dale Murphy VS Jim Rice

And after reviewing the numbers of both players, here are the takeaways that stand out the most to me:

* Murphy was the more accomplished base runner stealing 100 more bases in 100 more games
* Rice was the more fine-tuned hitter with (7) .300+ seasons to Murphy’s three
* Rice had 341 more hits in 91 fewer games
* Rice had 185 more RBI in 91 fewer games
* Murphy was the more accomplished defender due to his range and ability to track down balls and make plays in the outfield

Both of these players achieved great baseball success.  And while neither of them scored the ultimate win in the World Series, they both were very popular with the teams that they played for.  Both men were key parts to their team’s offense, and played huge parts in the success that their teams achieved during their careers.

As for the better player?  That is interesting.

For me, I think that both players deserve more credit for what they did on the field.  Jim Rice is a Hall of Famer, and he deserves to be.  Dale Murphy is not a Hall of Famer and he absolutely deserves to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Overall, Murphy was a more well-rounded player due to his ability to be a threat on the base paths and change the game from playing defense.

 But, it is Rice that amassed the true Hall of Fame numbers from an offensive position.  His ability to crush home runs, drive in runners, and maintain a high batting average from the clean-up position makes him stand out as a truly elite talent.  And when you look at the rosters that Rice played on, his role was obviuos – drive in runs.  So, not only did he fill that role extremely well, but his ability to maintain a very high batting average while doing do makes him stand out in my book.

Amazingly, and shockingly, I would take Jim Rice over Dale Murphy.  Albeit by a very slim margin…

And now it is your turn.  Who do you take:  Dale Murphy OR Jim Rice?????

1993 HEADLINE: Atlanta Braves Great Dale Murphy Retires!!

1993 HEADLINE: Atlanta Braves Great Dale Murphy Retires!!

On this day in 1993, 2-time MVP Dale Murphy retired from the sport of professional baseball.

One of my favorite players as a kid, Murphy’s retirement in 1993 was the start of seeing some of my idols leave the sport of baseball.

My memories of watching Dale Murphy play are endless. Being a fan of the sport, and having no ‘home’ team to cheer for in Florida during my childhood, I drifted to the teams I was able to watch on television. WTBS, WGN, and WOR game me my baseball fix. And of the guys that I drifted towards – Murphy was prominent.

His skills as a player were endless. Whether it was delivering home runs or making incredible plays in the outfield, Dale Murphy was one of the best players in the game for more than a decade – and I enjoyed watching all of it!!

Thanks for the memories ‘Murph’!!!

Dale Murphy 2003 Topps Tribute ‘First All-Star Season’

Dale Murphy 2003 Topps Tribute ‘First All-Star Season’

Forget that this card celebrating Dale Murphy’s first All-Star selection is featuring a posed portrait and check out that vintage Braves uniform he’s sporting!!!

Gotta love baseball from the 1980’s!!!  I love looking back and seeing the uniforms, hats, hairstyles, and everything else that brings me to the time when I was first introduced to major league baseball.

I watched so many games that Murphy starred in – it was insane.  As a kid WTBS was my favorite channel due to the NWA Wrestling and Atlanta Braves games that it televised.  And while I don’t specifically recall this uniform style, it is pretty clear, due to the picture of a young Murphy, that this was taken during the early stages of his playing days.

Topps Tribute, Thanks for re-kindling the memories!!!

Happy Birthday Dale Murphy!!

Happy Birthday Dale Murphy!!

Dale Murphy turns 57 years old today.

One of my favorite players as a kid, Murphy’s retirement in 1993 was the start of seeing some of my idols leave the sport of baseball.

My memories of watching Dale Murphy play are endless.  Being a fan of the sport, and having no ‘home’ team to cheer for in Florida during my childhood, I drifted to the teams I was able to watch on television.  WTBS, WGN, and WOR game me my baseball fix.  And of the guys that I drifted towards – Murphy was prominent.

His skills as a player were endless.  Whether it was delivering home runs or making incredible plays in the outfield, Dale Murphy was one of the best players in the game for more than a decade – and I enjoyed watching all of it!!

Happy Birthday Mr. Murphy!!

Hall Of Fame Debate: Dale Murphy VS Andre Dawson VS Jim Rice

Hall Of Fame Debate: Dale Murphy VS Andre Dawson VS Jim Rice

I am truly saddened to see how little support the BWAA gave Dale Murphy as he entered and exited his 15th and final season on the Hall of Fame ballot.

As a kid growing up in South Florida in the 1980’s, I was taught the game of baseball by watching the Atlanta Braves on WTBS.  And it was Dale Murphy who led the way with his supreme display of baseball’s five tools.

There was nothing that Murphy could not do – he could hit, deliver runs, steal bases, and play the outfield with grace.

It was right around 1982-83 that I really started enjoying watching baseball on TV and there was no better player to watch during that time than Murphy.

His numbers compare very well to those that starred during the same era.  He played on some horrible teams (finishing in last place in 7 of his 15 seasons with the Braves).  But, based on what you saw him bring to the game each and every time he went into the outfield or approached home plate, there is no denying that Murphy played to win.

For this week’s ‘Hall Of Fame’ debate, I thought it would be fun to compare him to two other players that starred in the same era, Andre Dawson and Jim Rice.  Both of these Hall Of Famers were elected late in the election process, but unlike Murphy they were able to gain support from the BWAA as their number of years remaining on the ballot neared an end.

During their prime seasons, Murphy, Dawson, and Rice were all at one time or another considered as elite players.  And while that status may not have lasted as long as other more notable Hall Of Fame outfielders, these guys were superstars and beloved members of their ‘home’ teams.

Since the only chance Murphy has of gaining HOF entry now lies in the hands of the Veterans Committee, I thought we would take a different approach to this week’s topic.

Instead of voting a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for a player, let’s rank them – 1,2,3.

But, before we do that, let me present you with some stats:

	Murphy	Dawson	Rice
Seasons	18	21	16
Games Played	2180	2627	2089
Hits	2111	2774	2452
Average	0.265	0.279	0.298
On-Base	0.346	0.323	0.352
Slugging	0.469	0.482	0.502
Doubles	350	503	373
Triples	39	98	79
Home Runs	398	438	382
30-HR Seasons	5	3	4
40-HR Seasons	1	1	1
Runs Scored	1197	1373	1249
RBI	1266	1591	1451
100-RBI Seasons	5	4	8
30HR/100RBI Seasons	5	3	4
Stolen Bases	161	314	58
All-Star	7	8	8
Silver Slugger	4	4	2
Gold Glove	5	8	0
MVP	2	1	1
Post-Seasons	1	2	2
World Series	0	0	0

*

Very solid careers from all three of these guys.  Any GM from the 70s, 80s, and today would love to have this kind of production out of an outfielder on their squad.

For me, these are the numbers that stand out the most:

• Dawson’s games played (many while injured)
• Dawson’s career hits
• Rice’s batting average
• Dawson’s doubles
• Murphy’s 30-HR seasons
• Rice’s 100-RBI seasons
• Murphy’s 30HR/100RBI seasons
• Dawson’s stolen bases
• Dawson’s gold gloves

It is very hard to separate my emotions out of the equation on this – anyone that reads this blog knows that Andre Dawson is my favorite player of all-time.

But, I will say that while Dawson was/is my favorite player, I did get to see Murphy play a lot more games on television than Dawson until I moved to Chicago in 1989.  And as for Jim Rice, I hardly got to see him play at all (with the exception being the 1986 WS).

Taking all of my memories of these guys into consideration, and reviewing their career numbers, I would rank these three players in this order:

(1) Andre Dawson (2) Dale Murphy (3) Jim Rice

Overall, I think that both Andre Dawson and Dale Murphy personified what a ‘5-Tool Player’ is supposed to offer.  And while Jim Rice might have hit for a much higher career batting average and been a more accomplished run producer, he did not offer the same threat as Dawson and Murphy did while on the base paths or in the outfield.

What do you think?  How would you rank these players?  Did I get this right, or am I off track??  Let me know what you think.

Oh, and for the record, I do believe that all three of these players belong in the Hall of Fame.

If I had a vote, Dale Murphy would be sitting alongside both Andre Dawson and Jim Rice in Cooperstown!!