Murphy: Steroid users don’t belong in Hall (but he does)
Dale Murphy's best chance to get into the Hall of Fame after this year will be via the Veteran's Committee.
Dale Murphy gets a ballot in the mail every year. Well, not a real ballot, just a sample one, although somebody with a more devious mind than his probably would’ve orchestrated a ballot-box-stuffing or “dirty tricks” campaign by now. Where’s Charles Colson when you need him?
This is year No. 15 for Murphy on the Hall of Fame ballot. He will fall off after this season because 15 is the ceiling. The chance of leaping from 14.5 percent of the vote (which he received last season) to 75 percent (which is required for induction) is infinitesimal.
I don’t know if it’s sad irony or a cruel joke that Murphy’s final year of eligibility coincides with the first appearance on the ballot for three cover boys from baseball’s steroid era: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa. But it would be nice to see a player who never consumed anything stronger than a “Dodger Dog” on game day (Murphy: “I ate two before the game. I could smell the hot dog stand from the dugout.”) at least draw more votes than the aforementioned juicers.
Back to the sample ballot. It’s the last year. If you’re Murphy, don’t you at least try to fill it out, mail it back and pass it off as the real thing?
“That’s a novel idea,” he said by phone from his Utah home. “I should do that. Maybe make a few hundred copies.”
Murphy has strong opinions on the Hall. While he is not the greatest self-promoter in the world, he believes he deserves to be in Cooperstown. He also thinks any player who used performance-enhancing drugs during their career artificially enhanced their accomplishements and therefore aren’t worthy of the honor.
“I have a problem with guys who said they were on [drugs],” he said. “I respect them for admitting it, but I agree with what the voters have been doing, keeping those guys out. It’s a problem for me because the real issue is the integrity of the game and the numbers.”
Murphy won two MVP awards, two home run titles, seven All-Star honors and five Gold Gloves in an eight-year span.
So if he had a real ballot, would he vote for Bonds, Clemens or Sosa (who haven’t admitted PED use but have been connected to it with circumstantial evidence)?
“No.”
Murphy retired after the 1993 season. For the next five years, before he was on the ballot, he would make appearances, give speeches and often was introduced as, “Future Hall of Famer …” He called it, “Flattering.”
“You start to think, ‘Hey. that’s a good possibility,’” he said. “Then eventually, reality sets in.”
But he peaked at 23.2 percent of the vote in 2000, his second year of eligibility, and dropped to as low as 8.5 in 2004. Last season, he was named on 83 ballots (including mine), but that placed him only 12th overall (14.5 percent of voters).
“It’s a tough place to get into, I understand that,” he said. “But to get in, you ought to think you should be in, and I think there should be a spot for me.”
His children are running his campaign now. It started when his daughter, Madison, took a picture of the sample ballot and sent it out on Twitter with the message, “Put my dad in the Hall!” Son Chad wrote a long letter with statistical data that was emailed to Hall voters. Another son, Taylor, posted a petition on Change.org. And everybody is Tweeting.
“It hasn’t gone viral world-wide but it’s viral in our family,” Murphy said, laughing.
He knows it won’t get him in the Hall but he’s hoping it gets him “a bump” in voting. There’s also a chance he could be voted in the Hall one day by the Veterans Committee.
There is no doubt in this corner he belongs in. Murphy had an eight-year span in his career (1980-87) when he won two Most Valuable Player Awards, two home run titles, two RBI titles, led the league in runs scored, had a 30-30 season, won five Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers and played in seven All-Star Games.
There has been too much weight given by some voters to the lesser seasons surrounding those years, and not enough given to the fact Murphy did all of this drug free and was one of the game’s greatest ambassadors.
“I’m hopeful,” Murphy said. “Maybe something will come around one day with the Veterans Committee. But I’m thankful for those who’ve supported me, and I’ve really been touched by what my kids have done.”
Cooperstown should have a spot for him.
• The Hall of Fame voting results from Dale Murphy’s previous 14 years on the ballot, with year, total votes (where he placed) and percentage of vote. Year Votes (Place) Pct. 1999 96 (11) 19.3 2000 116 (10) 23.2 2001 93 (13) 18.1 2002 70 (15) 14.8 2003 58 (16) 11.7 2004 43 (17) 8.5 2005 54 (16) 10.4 2006 56 (15) 10.8 2007 50 (16) 9.2 2008 75 (14) 13.8 2009 62 (13) 11.5 2010 63 (14) 11.7 2011 73 (15) 12.6 2012 83 (12) 14.5•
By Jeff Schultz
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157 comments Add your comment
JAJA
December 11th, 2012
5:27 pm
YES, DALE SHOULD AND IF NOT, IT IS A SHAME
Robards
December 11th, 2012
5:28 pm
Actually, the 1982 and 1983 teams (the years Murphy won MVP) were not terrible. NL West Division winner in 1982 and second in 1983.
l jones
December 11th, 2012
5:29 pm
You can easily make the case that Murphy was the best player in baseball for the decade of the 1980’s (even though a lot of people don’t want to hear it). Tied with Schmidt for second in RBI behind Murray. Second to Schmidt in HR, with Murray third. Plus 6 gold gloves as a CF and RF. Two MVPs. His knees gave out before he could have any more good years. Sandy Koufax’ arm gave out after 165 wins.
MitchC
December 11th, 2012
5:37 pm
Jeff, I’ve been a Braves fan since 83, so I watched some of Dale’s heyday. I also had the honor in 84 of my father getting me into the Braves Clubhouse at Shea Stadium. (I live in NY, but have been a long time Braves fan), and Murph came out of the trainer’s room to sign a ball for this then 14 year old kid.
I had always hoped Murph would get in. My guess is that on raw numbers for his career, the 265 BA, and less than 400 homers, the Hall voters feel he falls short. Guys with lesser home run totals get in.
I hope that the Veterans Committee eventually selects him.
Powder Blue
December 11th, 2012
5:39 pm
Again, Mazeroski and Santo but no Murphy?
Dave
December 11th, 2012
5:45 pm
I love the Murph, but sadly, he’s just not HOF material. He’s close, but not close enough
bosshawg
December 11th, 2012
5:45 pm
murphy is a class act always he belongs throw the drugheads out
Indydawg
December 11th, 2012
5:49 pm
Someone said it earlier this post… if the Hawk is in, Murphy should be in….
He had the misfortune of playing in the wrong city the first half of his career….
Jethro
December 11th, 2012
5:53 pm
There has to be more than statistics; there has to be substance and integrity to the earning of those statistics. Few people represent that substance and integrity in Dale Murphy, and I find it sad that baseball culture – culture in general – has lost sight of those inherent qualities requisite the Hall of Fame. He absolutely deserves to be there.
Max Sizemore
December 11th, 2012
5:57 pm
Lifetime batting avg: .265
Hetch Hetchy
December 11th, 2012
6:04 pm
No on Murphy. .265 career avg, and he didn’t bother to hang on for 400 hrs. You simply can not let people in that have .265 averages.
Train Wreck Bystander
December 11th, 2012
6:11 pm
It would be great if he was elected, but I suspect it will be up to the Veterans to do it.
Paul in NH
December 11th, 2012
6:18 pm
I think Murphy deserves to be in the Hall of Fame but he is going to have to rely on the Veterans Committee.
I also think Marvin Miller should be in there but that is another story.
phoenix
December 11th, 2012
6:21 pm
Too many forget…at the peak of his early, emerging career, he was sidelined by serious knee injuries, missing about 100 games. Had he stayed healthy, one could assume another 20-25 home runs.
barry mitchell
December 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
He dominated 5 years. Compare that time frame of league overall home runs and rbi’s. Sandy Koufax 5 unbelievable years. Retired because of arm troubles. Took him 8 years to harness talent.
If Dale walked away at top and pre big years of harnessing talent. He is very close if not there.
So do after peak bad years disqualify him ?
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 11th, 2012
6:41 pm
ANYONE REMEMBER…
Did Murph convert Barry Bonnell to Mormonism or the other way around?
Seems there were some cross eyed looks back in the day.
JSS
December 11th, 2012
6:57 pm
Bonnell introduced Murphy to the Latter-Day Saints…
Bob the Blogger
December 11th, 2012
7:03 pm
One thing that gets overlooked when comparing Murphy’s stats to other players is that he accomplished it as a center fielder, and most of the players we compare him to are corner outfielders or first basemen. Add in the gold gloves, the stolen bases, and the character issue, and it starts to make a more compelling case. Nearly half the players in the HOF got in through the Veterans’ Committee. Let’s hope they appreciate all of Murphy’s contributions.
haha
December 11th, 2012
7:07 pm
jeff you think steroids makes you a better baseball player?
wow. if this were true Jose Canseco’s twin brother would have also been in the MLB.
Jason
December 11th, 2012
7:10 pm
Yes.
JM
December 11th, 2012
7:26 pm
Letter, Don Mattingly had numbers equal to Murphy and playrd in New York but he will never get in. Neither should Murphy. A .265 lifetime average and 100 RBIs in only 5 of his 18 seasons. He had six years of great numbers. That’s all. Not worthy of the Hall. Not even close.
mayhem is coming
December 11th, 2012
7:28 pm
It seems like only yesterday when I would come home from working 2nd shift at Scientific Atlanta and watch the replay of the Braves game and those awful CH. 17 commercials. Those were days of mostly empty ATL.FULCO stadium seats were. I have no idea were some of those misfits came from that played for the Braves (the computer and internet wasn’t invented yet). As far as a position player Murphy was “IT”. The Braves had Bob Horner and he was a stud every year for 25-30 games he was injured the other155 games a year. My point being Dale Murphy was signed by the Braves in the 70’s; with Boston, Philly, NY Yankees, I think his career stats would be much more robust. For those of you that were here when the Braves were truly sorry, Murphy was it. Murphy earned the right to be.
GTBob
December 11th, 2012
7:33 pm
The attitude that MLB takes about suspected steroid users is one of the reasons I don’t watch the game much anymore. Sosa and McGwire are two of the biggest reasons that any attention returned to baseball after the strike year. Baseball milked them for everything they could and now want to throw them away and pretend they ever happened. The same goes for Bonds. Baseball had no problem building up his home run chase and collecting tons of money on his behalf. If these guys aren’t good enough to be acknowledged by MLB after MLB used and abused them then the whole sport is a joke.
Ken Stallings
December 11th, 2012
7:42 pm
Last year, I posted all the stats that I firmly believe should have enshrined him already. I remain convinced he deserves to be voted in. His achievements were made in large ballparks before the dilution of pitching from expansion, and he never juiced.
The offensive statistical explosion made his achievements seem puny in comparison, but look now how his numbers stack up against elite players today. Even with the advent of several band box stadiums that replaced much larger ones,
I still think Murph will get in the hall, but it will take the Veteran’s Committee to elect him and I think that will happen. The players in the hall will be the ones who fully appreciate what Murph meant to the game.
Tonya
December 11th, 2012
7:46 pm
Going by numbers I don’t think Murph should be in HOF. When you look at others in I say absolutely over the cheaters and sympathy ballot players. There is a Brave out there now who will probably make it first round and I know he used steroids no matter how much he says no, and he never was good enough to earn a gold glove.
Drexel Gal
December 11th, 2012
7:47 pm
Murphy does not belong in the Hall. Now, or ever. Bonds does. Hold your knee-jerk reaction for a moment. Just consider Bonds’ career up to, and including 1998, the year before he started juicing. He had 411 homers, an OPS of 0.966, 445 stolen bases, in only 6621 at-bats (8100 plate appearances). His 162-game average was 35 homers, 104 RBI, and 116 runs scored, with 38 steals. Just considering his pre-steroid career, he belongs.
JM
December 11th, 2012
7:48 pm
Ken, large ballparks? He played at Fulton County Stadium, affectionately known as “The Launching Pad.”. He does not merit the Hall. Low batting average and low RBI totals (He averaged 70 a year). And 398 homers is solid but not spectacular, especially with a .265 average. He was a good player, but not an all-timer.
ZAD
December 11th, 2012
7:49 pm
nope!
If voters felt Dale should be in the HOF, they would have voted for him.
Hillbilly D
December 11th, 2012
7:56 pm
Murphy deserves it but I doubt he gets in.
The late writer Joe Falls said he based his vote by asking himself a couple questions:
Was this guy a dominant player at his position, in his era?
Did he do it over an extended period of time?
In my opinion, the answer to both those is yes, where Dale Murphy is concerned.
Dr. Phill
December 11th, 2012
7:57 pm
Enter your comments here
Jpm
December 11th, 2012
8:10 pm
He had the chance to go to contender and he stayed with the Braves. I lost respect for him ten. In sports, it’s to be the best and win it all. He turned it down. He doesn’t belong in the HOF.
David H.
December 11th, 2012
8:16 pm
Dale Murphy’s character, class and persona is what I modeled my life around. Only my parents, teachers and coaches had more effect. 398 home runs, .265 average, just shy of the HOF are all perfect for a modest man. Dale will always be a hero of mine.
hit a single
December 11th, 2012
8:29 pm
Dale will always be a Hall of Famer in my book! We don’t reward guys like him anymore. We have drug users, crooks and others in the Hall. But that is the way society is now, we reward and make heros out of thugs!
Taylor Murphy
December 11th, 2012
8:40 pm
This is Dale Murphy’s son, Taylor. If you agree with this article that my Dad should be in the Hall of Fame, please sign the petition we made, and share it with your friends.
http://t.co/ppG00zMZ
Georgia Born and raised
December 11th, 2012
8:49 pm
Ron Santo and no Dale Murphy? C’mon man!
hit a single
December 11th, 2012
8:55 pm
If we are basing it so much on stats then Rose should be in with no argument. No he is being kept out because of his character but Murphys’ character means nothing. You can’t have both, now which is it?
HOF For Murph
December 11th, 2012
8:55 pm
Dale Murphy led a mediocre team with mediocre pitching to the 1982 playoffs. Without him, they probably would have finished 15 games behind the Dodgers. The HOF would be a deserved honor for Murph. His peers on the veterans committee will fix this oversight, but it would nice to get voted in by the baseball writer’s.
Dawglasville
December 11th, 2012
9:00 pm
Bob, “baseball used and abused them?” C’mon. Those ego maniacs, especially Clemens, Bonds, McGuire got to enjoy their moment because they juiced. That bone head Bonds could have gone down as one of the greatest of all time but his ego wouldn’t have it. For years it was Griffey/Bonds, Bonds/Griffey, one juiced, one didn’t, look at the difference. He had to go for the home run record. Baseball should have cut all of them at the knees, Sosa and Palmero too, but they didn’t, for reasons you mentioned. I had to stomach watching that idiot break Aaron’s record, I’ll never watch baseball again if any of these 5 get in. Oh, you can add A-Rod to that list too. Don’t paint these guys out to be the victim. Selig is the king dirt bag and I’ll puke if he ever gets on the ballot too.
jimbob
December 11th, 2012
9:00 pm
The hof is not really about the ‘best’. Jesse Haines is in it. Murphy’s prime years should have lasted a few seasons longer, but he was one of the best in the game for a while and epitomized the values that baseball should be rewarding. I say ‘in’.
Dawglasville
December 11th, 2012
9:05 pm
Jpm – It is a team sport. So was Karl Malone a loser when he put up all of his HOF numbers as a member of the Jazz, but became a winner when he was the #8 or #9 guy for the championship Lakers?
Skeezix
December 11th, 2012
9:15 pm
In his prime he was something to watch. One of my all time favorite Braves. I’d love to see him get in.
it's a matter of time
December 11th, 2012
9:33 pm
Dale was a great face for the organization. Much better person than Chipper will ever be. Chipper lovers you know I’m right!! Murph couldn’t hit the curveball and baseball purists know this. No hall though.
Spud Webb
December 11th, 2012
9:36 pm
Love me some Dale M, but he doesn’t deserve to be in the Hall, great person, good ballplayer.
The other scumbags who roided shouldn’t be allowed to visit the hall, much less get on a ballot. And how about McGuire as a hitting coach???? Are you kidding me?? Wasn’t he like a 240 hitter??? ahhahahaah….unreal.
While I’m on my soap box, how about more nights at Turner with past guys like Murphy?? I don’t think he’s recognized enough here in the ATL, much less nationwide.
Dr. Phil
December 11th, 2012
9:48 pm
The Braves sure did suck when Murf was playing, and his stats would likely have been better somewere else. He is a good representative of the sport, and it’s a shame that he won’t make the HOF.
SteveW
December 11th, 2012
9:48 pm
One of the criteria for the Hall has always been were they one of the dominant players of an era. And anybody who doesn’t think Murph was one of the dominant players of the 80s wasn’t around then.
You had a CF hitting 30+ HRs a year and averaging 100 RBI’s per year, with an absolute cannon of an arm. Two time MVP. The Hall has kept Murph out long enough, time to get him in Cooperstown where he belongs!
MortalWombat
December 11th, 2012
9:56 pm
Dale Murphy does NOT belong in the HoF. If he was to be inducted, it might signal to our youth that character, honesty, and excellence can actually co-exist. Their heads would explode! Think of the kids!
Jeff Schultz
December 11th, 2012
10:13 pm
Agree, but as you may know Mazeroski and Santo were added by the Veterans Committee, they weren’t voted in.
Tap Out
December 11th, 2012
10:19 pm
I hope Bonds and Clemens eventually get in. I feel the same about Pete Rose. As for Dale Murphy, I like him, if he gets in I’ll be happy for him. If he doesn’t get in I won’t be surprised.
Colonel Jack
December 11th, 2012
10:20 pm
I think Murphy should definitely be in the Hall of Fame. As has been pointed out, he was the only reason to watch the Braves during some really terrible years.
I just hope the Hall of Fame doesn’t do to Murph what they did to Ron Santo. Santo was the NL’s best third baseman during the late 60s and early 70s…but he played for the Cubs, so he didn’t get in until voted in by the Veterans’ Committee. Voted in JUST AFTER HE DIED.
C’mon, Hall of Fame. Live up to your creed of enshrining the best. Dale Murphy belongs, and not after he dies. Now. Do the right thing. Call it your chance to make up (in some small way) for what you did to Ron Santo.
Jeff Schultz
December 11th, 2012
10:26 pm
Haha– Congratulations on the posting the dumbest comment of the day. Your certificate will be arriving in the mail.