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
Skillet
December 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
First
Skillet
December 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
First
Skillet
December 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
I would like to thank the academy. Acting is wonderful, but what I really want to do is direct.
Jeff Schultz
December 11th, 2012
3:21 pm
Skillet — Funny.
Benjamin
December 11th, 2012
3:29 pm
LOL Skillet. I shall audition to be your agent, and we’ll do wonderful things together. Can you do commercials?
Regarding Murphy, anyone who knows me knows that I love him (childhood hero, clean-cut, et al, etc.), but the more I look at his numbers, the more I begin to feel like he isn’t the biggest snub of our era. His production steeply declined late in his career at an age where he should’ve still been productive, and I’m not sure his longevity is enough to warrant Cooperstown attention.
For 8 years, he was among the top five baseball players in the game. For the rest of his career, though, he was largely mediocre, at best.
Ostrich Racer
December 11th, 2012
3:29 pm
Murphy was one of baseball’s last true heroes. Before his knees went — a result, in large part, of playing every inning of every game for a team with no other weapons — he was one of the two best players in the game. In George Will’s “Men at Work,” Orel Hershiser called him the most feared hitter of his day. He was a 30/30 guy when that meant something. And he was the face of baseball during it’s period of greatest expansion. He belongs in Cooperstown.
Peter
December 11th, 2012
3:30 pm
Murphy was a very good player, but not Hall material……. Bonds, Clemens or Sosa are not either because they all cheated.
shameful
December 11th, 2012
3:34 pm
That he not already in the HOF.
Robards
December 11th, 2012
3:40 pm
I don’t necesarily think Murphy belongs in the HOF based on his numbers. However, Bill Mazeroski is in the HOF. Therefore, Murphy should be.
5150 UOAD
December 11th, 2012
3:52 pm
Great guy but not HoF worthy.
5150 UOAD
December 11th, 2012
3:55 pm
If people we should be in were in most players would be there.
The Greatest Player BO JACKSON should be in the MLB & NFL HoF but he didn’t qualify.
Bo Jackson was the Greatest to watch play for sure.
annette
December 11th, 2012
3:55 pm
Yes Murph should be in the HOF,he deserves and has earned it.I love him and if given the chance would vote for him myself
SMITTYSTHEMAN
December 11th, 2012
3:55 pm
Hey Jeff — If I remember correctly, Murph hit 398 homeruns. Where does stack up on the all-time list? Out of all the thousands and thousands of players that have made it to the majors over the years, there’s probably not that many who have accomplished that feat. Maybe 50 or so, I’m guessing.
upsetum
December 11th, 2012
3:55 pm
He should be in the brave h.o.f. thats it
The letter
December 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
The letter his son wrote was spot on. If he was with Boston or New York he would’ve been in by now. He is a perfect example of what you’d want from MLB player to act on and off the field.
SMITTYSTHEMAN
December 11th, 2012
4:00 pm
I bet there are many players below him on the all-time career homerun list that are already in the hall.
Mike
December 11th, 2012
4:01 pm
There is no mention that for several of the years he was with the Braves, they were awful. It is hard to have good numbers when the pitchers can get around you because of the poor team supporting you.
SMITTYSTHEMAN
December 11th, 2012
4:02 pm
One player I’m sure he hit more homeruns than is Joe DiMaggio!
MC
December 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
If Andre Dawson is in the HOF, Dale Murphy should be a shoo in.
T-Bone
December 11th, 2012
4:04 pm
Schultz, just so you’ll know. The answer to your question, Where’s Charles Colson when you need him? He died in April.
BB
December 11th, 2012
4:07 pm
Why do the votes fluctuate so much? How can someone vote him as HOF one year, but not the next? Seems like his total should have risen some over the years.
SMITTYSTHEMAN
December 11th, 2012
4:12 pm
MC — agreed! They were two best players in the league for several years.
blazerdawg
December 11th, 2012
4:17 pm
Agreed. Well written. Please convince your fellow scribes, particularly in the NE and MW. Thank you!
gfc
December 11th, 2012
4:21 pm
<<>>
You can’t have it both ways. If Bonds, Clemens and Sosa don’t deserve to get in because they cheated (i.e. substandard integrity that significantly offset their performance accomplishments) then Murph deserves to get in because his far above standard integrity offset this supposed mindset of his substandard accomplishments. Do Murph’s numbers stack up to Bonds or Sosa? Absolutely not. But if you could quantify integrity, his “score” would far exceed Bonds, Clemens, Sosa – even Chipper – and be the push that got him in. O’Brien’s blog yesterday was spot on.
kimmer
December 11th, 2012
4:32 pm
No he should not be in the hall. Nice fellow but no.
Regarding the steroid age players being undeserving for cheating, how about the likes of Don Sutton, Whitey Ford, and Gaylord Perry who all doctored baseballs during their careers?
Pepe Frias played here.
December 11th, 2012
4:33 pm
One thing you forgot Jeff, didnt he play in over 800 consecutive games during that stretch. I mean if there was any argument to be had , it would be who was the player of the decade during the ’80’s. I would have to say it would be Murph or Andre Dawson.
Dawson is in , Murph should be too.
l jones
December 11th, 2012
4:36 pm
If you compare Murphy’s career with Jim Rice, yes Rice had better numbers, but not so much better that Rice is a Hall of Famer and the voters spit on Murphy year after year (not even 15% of the vote).
Ken
December 11th, 2012
4:39 pm
Dale Murphy should be in the Hall of Fame!! This guy is a real class act and represented baseball honorably on and off the field. He should be honored by baseball by being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
davis
December 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
definitely in!
Mr_Buckhead
December 11th, 2012
4:41 pm
I’ve always felt that if they keep Pete Rose out of the Hall Of Fame because he’s such a low life, they should vote Murph into the Hall because he’s such an outstanding class act and ambassador for the game. Also had many great seasons while he carried a bunch of awful teams on his back.
Powder Blue
December 11th, 2012
4:45 pm
If the Hall of Fame has room for Bill Mazeroski and Ron Santo, Dale Murphy deserves enshrinement.
W Reid Whitaker, Jr.
December 11th, 2012
4:46 pm
Great guy, but I have never thought his numbers were good enough for HOF. Home Runs are not the only stat considered.
itpdude
December 11th, 2012
4:49 pm
More than any other year previously, with Sosa, Clemens, and Bonds on their first year of eligibility, the Hall voters should send a message that character counts and vote for Murphy.
He played without cheating, was an exemplary role-model, and had a damn good run. His 398 HR’s may seem small now, but it was a different era. It was an era before steroids. If Murph did steroids, he would have hit 500-plus HR’s, no problem. The injuries he suffered later would have healed more quickly. And if he played on better teams, with a decent supporting cast, he would have done much better.
But those are excuses. His numbers alone are borderline. His character, and this years ballot should be about character more than any other time in the history of the Hall, puts Murphy over-the-top.
bowwowdawg
December 11th, 2012
4:50 pm
murph belongs,do the right thing voters!
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 11th, 2012
4:51 pm
I question some of the voters integrity and their interpretation of rule #5.
I mean some voter is not going to vote Greg Maddox as a first ballot HOFer simply so they can say they prevented a unanimous vote.
Dale’s legacy will be his decency. The Veteran’s Committee will right this wrong.
Wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone’s legacy were like his.
Until then, Murphy Plaza at Turner Field has a nice ring to it don’t cha think?
Powder Blue
December 11th, 2012
4:52 pm
“More than any other year previously, with Sosa, Clemens, and Bonds on their first year of eligibility, the Hall voters should send a message that character counts and vote for Murphy.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
W Reid Whitaker, Jr.
December 11th, 2012
4:53 pm
The reason Murphy had more home runs that DiMaggio is because DiMaggio spent 3 years in the middle of his career in the Armed Forces.
Reebok
December 11th, 2012
4:54 pm
Hall of Fame isn’t for nice guys, or guys who had a handful of really good seasons. It’s for players who are the absolute best of the best, and Murphy never was. Classy, nice, honorable…all those things are true about him, but those don’t make him a HOF contender.
Powder Blue
December 11th, 2012
4:55 pm
I’d also like to see the Braves step up and put up a long overdue statue of Murphy at Turner Field. The story of the Braves goes from the years of Spahn, Mathews, Aaron, and Niekro….TO DALE MURPHY…to Cox, Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux, and Jones. Let’s not forget the only reason worth watching the Braves during the 1980s.
Contrarian
December 11th, 2012
4:56 pm
A lot of haters here, but no one is sharing their opinion as to ‘why’ Dale Murphy should not get in. As Jeff pointed out, it was all but a given back in the day.
Murphy has three roadblocks that the voters can’t get around: 1) his 398 HR total is two shy of acceptable; 2) he played in an era where hitters didn’t have the stellar numbers that we’ve seen before and since; and 3) he played for the Ted Turner-owned Atlanta Braves.
All three are more of a reflection of the voters’ bias against 80’s baseball than Murphy’s performance. It’s a shame that he has been punished more for when he played than how.
kbl
December 11th, 2012
4:56 pm
While he was in a slump in about 82 or 83 I tried to sell him a new bat, he didn’t buy it. He deserves to be in the HOF because of the type of person he is, and the way he played the game.
Mr_Buckhead
December 11th, 2012
4:58 pm
I forgot something in my post above. Murph joined the Braves as a young man. He couldn’t fulfill his church’s requirement to do a couple of years of missionary work. After he retired, he did that missionary work overseas…for peanuts. How many retiring Major Leaguers, with millions in the bank, would do that??? A Class Act !!!
DH
December 11th, 2012
5:00 pm
Dale Murphy absolutely belongs in the Hall of Fame. He is the epitome of class and integrity, and they don’t make them like him anymore. And I totally agree with him. Any player who has jeopardized the integrity of the game doesn’t belong there.
Stony Stonerson
December 11th, 2012
5:04 pm
“Dale Murphy absolutely belongs in the Hall of Fame. He is the epitome of class and integrity, and they don’t make them like him anymore. And I totally agree with him. Any player who has jeopardized the integrity of the game doesn’t belong there.”
———————
The HOF is not about “classy” players. There are plenty of jerks in there. It is for the absolute best players of all time and Dale Murphy is not one of them.
Wow
December 11th, 2012
5:05 pm
Murphy supporters should be mad at the local media for not pushing him more, not Clemens, Bonds, etc. Being nice isn’t a reason to allow you into the hall of famer.
Not familiar with his career. What else did he do besides 398 HRs? There are alot of nice guys in baseball.
Stony Stonerson
December 11th, 2012
5:08 pm
Murphy has three roadblocks that the voters can’t get around: 1) his 398 HR total is two shy of acceptable…
———————
There are plenty of players with fewer than 400 HRs in the HOF. Murphy just wasn’t good enough for a long enough period of time. If Murphy wanted an automatic invitation, he’s actually 102 HRs short. Fred McGriff isn’t getting in either and he has 100 MORE home runs than Murphy.
"Chef" Tim Dix
December 11th, 2012
5:09 pm
“Stony Stonerson”
Sounds like a co-worker of Fred Flintstone.
bruce
December 11th, 2012
5:10 pm
Charles Colson is in heaven
TonyH
December 11th, 2012
5:12 pm
Murph should be elected into the HoF. If either of the aforementioned juicers even get on the ballot for the HoF (I hope not), so should Pete Rose. Pete should be on the ballot and be elected into the HoF.
j
December 11th, 2012
5:13 pm
Lets not forget to mention he won those MVP awards on terrible teams. This makes them that much more of an acomplishment. There was no better Center Fielder in the game in 80’s. If you are the best player at your position for a decade you deserve to be in the Hall.
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.
Jeff Schultz
December 11th, 2012
10:28 pm
Taylor — Thanks for checking in. I’m sure a lot of the Dale Murphy fans here will be checking out your petition. http://t.co/ppG00zMZ
Lou Skunt
December 11th, 2012
10:30 pm
No doubt Murph belongs. Look at Joe Morgan. The only thing he has on Murph is he played on good teams. A .268 lifetime average with 268 home runs yet they rolled out the red carpet for him. Unbelievable.
Mike
December 11th, 2012
10:36 pm
Murph deserves to be in the HOF but because he played on the lowly Braves teams when he won those awards the writers and players will not vote for him. I think he should be in just because he won those awards while playing on a cellar team like the braves.
Powder Blue
December 11th, 2012
10:42 pm
Bill Mazeroski, in the Hall of Fame:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mazerbi01.shtml
Powder Blue
December 11th, 2012
10:43 pm
Ron Santo, in the Hall of Fame:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/santoro01.shtml
Pella
December 11th, 2012
10:51 pm
No.
Boo Boo
December 11th, 2012
11:39 pm
Murph is a Braves HOFer, but not one for all baseball. When he came up he was a catcher that threw the ball into centerfield on steal attempts. He was so bad catching, but so good hitting, they moved him to first base. He was a bad first baseman also. He moved to centerfield and became an All-Star. He could have been in the Cooper’s Town IF he had played 15 years in the position in which he excelled. In addition, he retired at 299 HRs, after playing in Colorado, where popouts become home runs. He also suffered from the same disease that got Andruw Jones late in his career in Atlanta. Neither could keep from swinging and striking out on bad curve, way outside and in the dirt. Murph is a good man and a good ex-baseball major leaguer. Looks like he stands a better chance of being 100% elected into the Murphy family Hall of Fame. For as many kids as he has, that’s the best award he can get.
LawDawg 2002
December 11th, 2012
11:43 pm
Without knowing what will happen with Bonds, this travesty will make Murphy the only back-to-back MVP not in the HOF
Mike A
December 11th, 2012
11:46 pm
Santo was a substantially better player than Murphy (67 WAR to 43), and Joe Morgan (97 WAR) was one of the best players ever.
Mazeroski was simply a bad selection. You can’t compare current eligible players with bottom of the barrel HoFers like Maz (and to a lesser extent, Jim Rice). I mean, I could argue that Brian Jordan and Reggie Sanders deserve to be in because Maz is in, but that’s kinda silly. You put every player better than Maz in, and you’d have a thousand player Hall.
The character argument is a tricky one, and very subjective. I mean, is Murphy that much better a guy than, say, Alan Trammell? Should he get more credit than Trammell? Why? And do we really know? Sportswriters told me for years Kirby Puckett was a great guy. He was not. We’re better off leaving the character aspect as a minor part of the criteria, and going mostly with the stats instead.
I cannot my love for Murph cloud objective judgment. Bottom line is Murphy was a great player, but unfortunately fell short of a Hall of Fame career. That said, I think he’ll be a VC selection someday.
Oh, LawDawg, Roger Maris is a back-to-back MVP not in the Hall. In many ways, he’s similar to Dale.
Boo Boo
December 11th, 2012
11:48 pm
ooops. 398 HRs I meant.
Rob
December 12th, 2012
7:06 am
I absolutely agree Jeff. He should be in as he represented the game they way it’s supposed to be played. He was always my favorite.
Big Dawg
December 12th, 2012
7:10 am
Each year I am shocked when Mr. Murphy is passed up. He deserves the nomination and induction into the Hall Of Fame!!!!!
Reality
December 12th, 2012
7:12 am
This is so cute that there are not one but two AJC articles about a Braves historical artifact that should be enshrined. HOF, yippee! How does that enhance his achievements? Braves fans already know and appreciate Murphy, nobody else really cares. In the meantime while the Brave reminisce, Cleveland and Cincinnati just traded a current player (choo-choo?) for a couple of mediocre players. I would think the current Braves could have gotten that deal done and improved the CURRENT team to relevance.
SuperB
December 12th, 2012
7:19 am
I like Dale Murphy– but he does NOT belong in the Hall of Fame. The Hall should not lower it’s standards to induct marginally deserving players. The talent level in MLB has subsided tremendously in the last 40 years. Admittance should not be lowered just to put in players every year.
Call It Like It Is
December 12th, 2012
7:23 am
@Murphy, who cares brother. You played the game and you played it well. No arrests, no shame, you represented yourself and the Braves with great pride. If you don’t get in does it mean anything, no. All of these so called hall of fames are a joke anyway. Heck just look at the rock and roll hall of fame, took them 30 years to put in Rush, and that only happen because the fans were allowed to vote. The people that matter the Atlanta fans know who you are and what you did for us.
Thomas Brown
December 12th, 2012
8:09 am
So, we are supposed to vote for him because he refused to take steroids before they became commonplace, watching his batting average drop for his last 6 of only 18 years in the Major Leagues to
.226 Atlanta
.228 Atlanta
.245 Philadelphia and Atlanta
.252 Philadelphia
.161 Philadelphia
.143 Colorado
He was a fine defensive center fielder with speed, and a good Mormon who won MVP twice, and did absolutely NOTHING, as ALL Atlanta Braves in the
POST SEASON.
In fact, you could say that Dale Murphy is the quintessential
ATLANTA LOSERVILLE POST-SEASON PLAYER ALL-TIME.
For this, we are to make him Hall of Fame either ?
Then, why not Roger Maris for hitting his home runs into the short seats in Detroit’s left field, Boston’s left field short fence, and New York’s infinitesimally small short left field fence too ? I was a Yankees fan during those years, and Roger Maris was not a favorite of the New York team and was NEVER considered an equal to Mickey Mantle who later would drink himself into oblivion out on I-20 East.
Let’s be realistic here, ok Jeff ?
What are you asking for without pointing out any of this ?
Nice guy ?
Good Church-goer ?
Non-Steroid user, before the Steroid years ?
Defensive Player with speed ?
For these, you lobby for his inclusion 19 years after he last played and nearly 25 years since he last played here, and when he did, he did not only NOTHING EVER in the post-season, but had declining skills long before then too even here.
A career .265 hitter who hit 398 home runs and 161 stolen bases, played wonderful defense, and only played 18 years. He should have played another 10 years, only he was non-competitive for the last 6 as it was.
12-year Career in Baseball does not put you in the Hall of Fame.
Just as hitting 61 home runs in one season, did not for Roger Maris, when back in those days here, we had the Atlanta Crackers winning post-season games – I know, I was here for all this every night at the games.
Thomas Brown
December 12th, 2012
8:26 am
296 feet to right field fence Yankee Stadium, 302 feet to right field fence Boston Fenway Park and 325 Tiger Stadium Detroit, to name just 3 short porches all which I saw as a kid going to those stadiums. I actually remember them being even shorter than that in right field.
Whiskey Breath
December 12th, 2012
8:32 am
Jeff, we could have probably used this article years ago. Shame on the entire media. Murph deserved the vote and the promotion by you media types years ago. One of his problems is the Hall doesn’t think a Brave is worthy. Basically, we haven’t won enough.
DIT
December 12th, 2012
8:38 am
I know this might ruffle some feathers out there, however as much as I respect Dale Murphy as a person AND as a ball player, he lacks the credentials to be in the H.O.F. The Hall is about an entire career. Murphy entire career was not this calibur. The middle of his carrer he played well and had about 3 to 4 years worth of H.O.F. credentials.
The get in the Hall it’s all about consistancy. Sorry Murph, great man, but just not good enough for the Hall!
Mister Frisky
December 12th, 2012
9:57 am
The fact that it has gotten to this point proves Dale Murphy does not belong in the HOF.Great Brave,great man but a severe drop off the last few years.Im more concerned about LF this year,not CF twenty five years ago.
Infield Fly
December 12th, 2012
10:00 am
If Murphy had played for the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox or Cubs, he would’ve gone in first ballot, no questions asked.
Flo-Ri-Duh
December 12th, 2012
10:46 am
If Murphy had been on a decent team he would have hit for a higher average…… mostly he had worn out over the hill guys that USED to be good batting behind him. Unfortunately there is no stat or consideration given for being a good citizen free from drugs. Had he been in NY or LA he would have gotten more votes and if the Braves had be relevant at that time he would be in. To bad.
Sanjeev
December 12th, 2012
10:50 am
Murph wont’ come close to getting in, and I don’t think the Veterans committee will vote him in either. The problem was the last few years of his career. Didn’t he hit sub .200 at Coors Field and have almost no HR’s?
BMChristianCoonservative
December 12th, 2012
11:00 am
Couldn’t get pass the cheapie at Chuck Colson, someone who made his share of mistakes and yet ended up doing more good for society than 99% of us.Guess when the oppurtunity comes for Jeff to take shots at openly Christian people, Jeff will surely take them! Sad to say it kept me from reading the rest of the story of another fine human being!
don
December 12th, 2012
11:06 am
I love Murphy. You love Murphy. Everyone loves Murphy. This country desperately needs more people like Murphy.
Murphy is worthy of many accolades. However, Murphy is not worthy of election into the Hall. His numbers don’t measure up. The Hall has too many mediocre members. It needs less, not more.
Hey Jeff Schultz
December 12th, 2012
11:09 am
How’s that crow tasting d-bag?????
“The players suspensions have been vacated”
- Paul Tagliabu
sam
December 12th, 2012
12:54 pm
If some players with otherwise acceptable credentials aren’t voted in to the Hall of Fame because of character issues, why shouldn’t a player with outstanding character get voted in even if his credentials are borderline? Seems it should work both ways, and Murph belongs in the Hall.
Thomas Brown
December 12th, 2012
12:57 pm
Dale Murphy was never the same after playing catcher, which is hard on anyone. 12 year career of good stats and 6 years of really bad stats.
philip
December 12th, 2012
1:59 pm
It’s sad that baseball players have to depend on baseball writers to elect them into the HOF. They probably have never strapped on a pair of cleats or caught a line drive, but they know enough to keep a decent player out. I think that the players should elect who goes into the HOF. They know what it takes to be able to compile the numbers required.
Carl
December 12th, 2012
3:27 pm
When will he be eligible from a veterans committee perspective?
Sparks
December 12th, 2012
4:46 pm
Murphy represents all the good things I imagined about baseball when I was a kid back in the 50’s. He played hard, played well and represented his team with the highest level of integrity, and never waivered from that after he retired. That’s a baseball hero to me, maybe the the rest is just business.
Bone
December 12th, 2012
6:48 pm
Where were all of these writers the last 14 years screaming that Murph should be in the HOF? Always the last minute for folks in this town to respond.
DawgDad
December 12th, 2012
7:04 pm
I didn’t live in Atlanta during Murphy’s career but he belongs in the Hall and I would vote for him.
Pete Rose does NOT belong in the Hall.
What will ever be done about players in the Hall who are discovered to have cheated in a material performance-enhancing manner? I mean, I have serious reservations about whether or not Gaylord Perry belongs, but he is in. What if it becomes apparent someone in the Hall was doing PEDs (or isn’t it already)?
Vermont 39
December 12th, 2012
7:22 pm
He could have easily won 3 MVPs
Andre Dawson did NOT have a better MVP year than Murphy when he won the award!!!
Big Al
December 12th, 2012
8:29 pm
If Murphy is never inducted into the HOF, then the sport of baseball will no longer deserve to be called, “the Great American Pasttime,” anymore!
Vince
December 12th, 2012
8:40 pm
Dale Murphy doesn’t belong in the Hall of Fame. He was a very good player throughout his career and great for a few seasons, but his numbers simply don’t stack up. And I’m not talking about to Bonds, Sosa, etc, but to the peers of his era. He just wasn’t good enough, long enough. I wish he was, b/c he’s a great guy, but I wouldn’t vote for him. The HOF is about stats, not whether or not you’re a great guy.
JSS
December 12th, 2012
9:38 pm
@ Thomas Brown…
Did you mean “right field” in Tiger Stadium? By the way, he hit only 10 home runs there in his prime years for power at that stadium… In 61, he only hit 5 homers there…
DC Brave
December 12th, 2012
10:04 pm
When I was about six, my dad and I were walking down the street in downtown Atlanta. My dad-who wasnt a huge baseball fan–grabbed my arm in mid-stride, pulled me aside and pointed at this mountain of a man standing on the sidewalk: “That’s George Foster,” he said. “He hit 50 home runs last year.” That was the summer of 1978.
Foster was the only player to hit 50 home runs from 1965 (Willie Mays) to 1990 (Cecil Fielder). A lot of very good hitters played in that quarter century, many who made the Hall.
In 1996, Brady Anderson hit 50 home runs — BRADY ANDERSON! It should have been obvious then that a distorting disease had infected Major League Baseball, basically destroying the rough constancy that had linked generations from the late 1920s to the mid 1990s. From 1928 to 1997 only one player hit 60 home runs. In 1998, two players beat 60 home runs by 10% and 17% respectively. Absurd. The MLB HR leaders in 1982 and 1983–Murphy’s MVP seasons–had 39 and 40 home runs. Even in the juiced ball year of 1987, the MLB leader only had 49 — Murphy had 44, by the way, on a team that lost 92 games.
It is impossible to legitimately compare the statistics of players who played before 1995 and those that played after. Therefore, players like Dale Murphy –whose cases for the Hall are admittedly not iron clad — can only be appropriately judged by how they fared relative to their contemporaries.
Murphy’s case has some holes — low batting average, massive drop off after 1987 — but the suggestion that Murphy was “never the best” is absurd. He was actually DEFINITIVELY the best player in the NL in 1982 and 1983 (one of only 10 players ever to win back to back MVPs in either league). Indeed, there is a VERY legitimate argument that Dale Murphy was the best player of the entire decade. He was second in MLB in home runs during the 1980s (five behind Mike Schmidt and about 30 ahead of Eddie Murray) and tied with Mike Schmidt for second in RBIs (behind Eddie Murray). He also won five gold gloves while playing most of his career on terrible Braves teams.
Five players dominated the decade: Mike Schmidt, Eddie Murray, George Brett, Andre Dawson and Dale Murphy. Four of those guys are in and Murphy can barely scrape together 15% of the vote. Its ridiculous.
The guy was absolutely the most feared hitter from 1981 through 1987. Its not Hank Aaron type longevity, but its not bad either. That he was an incredible class act and carried a pathetic franchise from 1984 to August of 1990–seasons Gerald Perry said would have been a good years to “paint the seats” should work in his favor.
He belongs. Vote him in.
DC Brave
December 12th, 2012
10:11 pm
Vince,
You are dead wrong that he doesnt stack up to his peers.
Dale Murphy hit 308 home runs in the decade of the 1980s, second only to Mike Schmidt (who hit 313) and about 30 ahead of Eddie Murray.
Dale Murphy had 929 RsBI in the decade of the 1980s, tied with Mike Schmidt for second behind only Eddie Murray.
Dale Murphy won five gold gloves.
Dale Murphy is only one of 10 players in the history of the game to win back-to-back MVPs.
Four players dominated the decade: Murray, Schmidt, Dawson and Murphy. All are in, but Murphy, who cant manage more than 15% of the vote. That is absurd.
His case has holes–the apex of his career was only about 7 seasons, his batting average was low (.270, I think) and his drop off after 1987 was dramatic and sustained–but one of those holes is NOT that he doesnt stand up well against his peers. No player was more dominant over the course of the decade than was Dale Murphy.
John
December 13th, 2012
8:50 am
Most people posting here have the right idea. He doesn’t deserve to be in the HOF just because he was a “nice” guy. With regards to the “cheaters” with steroids that they are not voting in, don’t people realize that the HOF already has cheaters in the HOF???
JCL
December 13th, 2012
10:01 am
Murphy is right where his numbers suggest he should be. He has borderline numbers that don’t present an overwhelming case for getting into the hall. There are players with similar numbers who got in & players with similar numbers who got left out.
In all categories not related to the numbers Murph is a shoe in. He was a great ambassador & played the game the right way. He was a 5 tool player not just a big bomber. He was respected by fans & peers alike. These are not the only reasons one should get in but it is called the hall of “Fame” & he was a big star in the game & was good for the reputation of the game. That should mean something.
In areas related to numbers he’s borderline because his 8 years of dominance are clouded by the mediocre years. Again, borderline. He won’t get in this year but I think the veterans committee will put him in which, with all due respect to Mr Shultz & other writers, should be more meaningful. If the other HOF players think he deserves to be in then he will be…..I’m betting he gets in.
nc82
December 13th, 2012
11:12 am
Is it me or am I the only one that thinks that Dale Murphy shouldn’t be in the HOF?
Sparks
December 13th, 2012
11:15 am
So, the HOF is just all about stats…and character doesn’t matter. If that’s the case Pete Rose should already be in.
Skeptic
December 13th, 2012
12:10 pm
I’m late to the party, so someone may have already said this–Braves sucked during that time, and no one regards individual achievement anymore. The first thing they look at now is–man, his unis sure looked cheesy, and, let’s check out his tweets and facebook.
Shouldn't have done all that acid in the 70's
December 13th, 2012
3:49 pm
Skillett: Have you been in touch with Lindsay Lohan yet? I hear she’s connected.
Last white guy in Stone Mountain
December 13th, 2012
3:54 pm
Murph, I know what it’s like on the outside looking in. All I have to do is open my front door. Here’s some advice with the caveat that I’d sure as heck vote for you. Learn how to drink Bud Ice, smoke Kools and get on with life. You have accomplished much much more than 99 percent of the morons presently leaving carbon footprints on our fair planet. BTW: You son still in the NFL?
oldfart
December 13th, 2012
5:02 pm
For those that say it is all about the numbers you have to balance out how some of them achieved those numbers. No one that has dishonored the game by cheating should be allowed into the Hall. Period. Murphy’s only real damage to a stellar career was trying to hang on after he had clearly peaked but many other athletes have been guilty of trying to hang on too long. I’m not saying the Hall should just be reserved for choirboys because the Lord knows Ruth and Cobb were not but they didn’t cheat the game and neither did Murph.
For love of the game I would like for the Hall to treat the steroid boys just like Kenesaw Mountain Landis treated the Black Sox boys but this oldfart knows that won’t happen. Baseball should at least have the gumption to run Bud Selig out on a rail for allowing the game to be run into the ground.
DC in Gvegas
December 13th, 2012
8:19 pm
Murph played his butt off…..in a 14 year stretch he played at least 151 games in 12 of those years, at one point playing in 740 straight. How many of today overpaid softies could put up numbers like these? HOFer Dale Murphy
Hoyal
December 14th, 2012
1:05 am
Dale Murphy carried the Braves during his tenure there. He had no protection from the batters hitting in front of him and only briefly with Horner behind him. Someone commented that Pete Rose was a lowlife. Just because he had a gambling problem doesn’t make him a lowlife. They both belong in the HOF because of their playing ability. There are plenty oput ‘em in!f players in the HOF that have less character and less athletic ability than these two guys. I say
John
December 14th, 2012
7:50 am
hey schultz, why don’t you opine about the idiot black guy on espn who said those vitriolic things against rgIII? Funny you’re so silent. His words were disgusting and worthy of every paper in this country to condemn it. Sadly, you always bash conservatives but never attack leftist racist b s like this.
KB
December 14th, 2012
12:23 pm
Nice article on Murph. Good points. Now how about an article on the former Brave that absolutely belongs in the HOF – Fred McGriff? Led the MLB in HR’s for almost a decade (1988-1996). Was the centerpiece of the Braves dynasty in the 90’s including their only World Series title. 1500 RBI’s; 2500 hits…Fred should be a no-brainer. Fred was affected by steroids probably more than anybody. He entered 1997 season with more career HR’s than Bonds or McGwire! And it’s not that his numbers trailed off (he continued to hit around 30 home runs every year after). It’s a shame the Atlanta sports community doesn’t take up his cause as fervently as someone like Murphy who truly is a boderline candidate.
Andy
December 14th, 2012
4:14 pm
The two ways into the HOF are through sustained excellence or through smaller peaks of utter dominance. I honestly believe Murphy was that good of a player from ‘81-’87. He was one of the two best players in the NL at all times during that stretch. While he fell off precipitously, do not let that diminish what he did. If he would have retired in 1988 due to mounting injuries and cut his career shorter, would he have been in the HOF (ala Koufax)? I would venture to say YES!
John
December 15th, 2012
3:22 am
The HOF is for great players, not good ones. Murphy is a great guy and was a good ball player but should not be in the HOF. Plain and simple. Only reason people are wanting him in is because of the hometown hero aspect of him being a Brave. If he was with the Cardinals, no one would even care about him.
jer
December 15th, 2012
11:03 pm
I am glad to see that Dale does not want steroid users in the Hall of Fame. At the height of steroid abuse, my oldest son was a nationally ranked swimmer and I was always concerned that steroid stars in sports might influence him. While he never made the Olympic team, I much more proud of the fact that he never used steroids.
Jeff you never said that you would not vote for a steroid user. Please don’t ever do that. Remember the kids who would be influenced by steroid Hall of Famers.
By the way, I agree that Dale should be in the Hall of Fame. However, I have to admit that I am prejudiced. My last name is Murphy (unrelated).
Paul Lentz
December 16th, 2012
6:51 pm
David O’Brien (DOB Douchebag) has to be the WORST BEAT WRITER in the history of Major League Baseball. Dude’s next original thought, will be his first, EVER!
I would love to see the AJC hire a REAL BEAT WRITER…you know, someone who doesnt write FLUFF pieces that push the kool-aid drinkers on his blog to swallow down believing the BS that Braves management wants them to drink.
$75 mil for BJ Upton? Dude hasnt hit .250 since 2008. His career high in RBIs is 82. Him and Dan Uggla will make for lots of strikeouts, lots of meaningless solo homers…and lots of runners left on base.
Picking up Brian McCann’s (McFatty) $12 mil 2013 team option? What for? Dude will be out AT LEAST ONE MONTH….possibly 2 months (dude’s fat A$$ has always been slow coming back from injury). He’s been a shell of his former self the past two years. He’s regressed defensively. He’ll be a free agent after 2013. If he’s going to get paid..it will be in the American League….which will allow him to stay healthy because he can DH instead of playing catcher full time.
Letting David Ross go in exchange for signing Gerald Laird….just to save $1 mil a year? What was Frank Wren thinking? David Ross is three times the hitter Laird is….AND better defensively. Givent that McFatty will be missing the first part of the season…..why go all cheap and let Ross go?
DOB keeps trying to shove Gattis, Teheran and Delgado down our throats. Gattis is a JOKE. Dude cant play anywhere in the field….he has no future in the National League. NO WAY is Teheran worthy of being a #1 prospect. Dude had an ERA of over 5 in Triple A in 2012. Delgado starting 17 games is the reason why we were a Wild Card in 2012 (the Braves were 5-12 in his starts). If Medlen wasnt stuck in the bullpen until late July…..we’d have won the division.
Yet DOB, on orders from Braves management, is writing on fluff piece after another on Gattis, Teheran and Delgado (as well as that hacking fat slob Juan Francisco)….because they are raking against a bunch of Winter League baseball players who are playing Winter League ball BECAUSE they SUCK at the Major League Level.
Keep writing fluff pieces DOB….I know you dont want to give up access to the team spread.
Paul Lentz
December 16th, 2012
7:54 pm
AH HA! Cowboys WIN! All you Cowboys haters can KISS MY A$$!!!!
cabravesfan, Tom O’Hawke, Lew, nolie, Venice Jim, etc…..SUCK NUTZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul Lentz
December 16th, 2012
7:59 pm
vabravesfan…you SUCK! We face your sorry A$$ Redskins the last game of the season. We will take the division on that day! We got something for gimp-knee sellout Republican RG3!