Talk:Dale Murphy

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[edit] Disabled girl

Hey, so, can anyone verify that "disabled girl" story? It's a famous story about Babe Ruth -- I find it kind of hard to believe that Dale Murphy did the exact same thing. -- ESP 14:58 17 Jul 2003 (UTC)

I did a little googling and found this: http://lekotekga.org/lekotalk/may03.htm

There are lots of links pointing to sites telling the same story about the same girl. I find it hard to believe that all of these people, some of whom are actual charity organizations, would be making this up, especially long after Dale Murphy has left the city. Thunderbunny 04:47, 25 Dec 2003 (UTC)

http://users.aol.com/brave3/murphy.htm On June 12, 1983 Dale visited a 6-year old girl in the stands who had lost both arms and a leg in a power line accident. The girl's nurse asked Murphy if he would hit a home run for the girl. Flustered as he was, Dale could only mumble "Well, O.K." That night he hit not one but two home runs and drove in all three runs in a 3-2 Braves victory.

Here is the box score from the game: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=198306120ATL

Here is the text from the original story "Murphy's Law Is Nice Guys Finish First" from Sports Illustrated, July 4, 1983:

And the mythologizing of Murphy is under way. Before a home game against San Francisco on June 12, Murphy visited in the stands with Elizabeth Smith, a six-year-old girl who had lost both hands and a leg when she stepped on a live power line. After Murphy gave her a cap and a T shirt, her nurse innocently asked if he could hit a home run for Elizabeth. "I didn't know what to say, so I just sort of mumbled 'Well, O.K., '" says Murphy. That day he hit two homers and drove in all the Braves' runs in a 3-2 victory.

[edit] Hall of Fame (moved from article)

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Despite his career accomplishments, Murphy has become a highly debated candidate for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame Votes    
Year Votes Pct

1999

 96 19.32

2000

 116 23.25

2001

 93 18.06

2002

 70 14.83

2003

 58 11.69

2004

 43 8.50

2005

 54 10.46

In order to be elected to the Hall, a candidate must receive votes on seventy-five percent (75%) of the ballots cast in any given year. The adjoining table shows the number and percentage of votes that Murphy has received each year since he became eligible in 1999.

He will remain on the ballot as long as he appears on a minimum of five percent (5%) of the ballots cast in the preceding election, but at this point Murphy's chances of election appear slim.

Various reasons given for this failure include the lack of success of the teams Murphy played on, and his decidedly mediocre performance in the later part of his career. Murphy's performance suddenly tailed off after the age of 31, and he finished his career with four below-average seasons and two seasons as a bench player.

His career numbers have also been overshadowed by the explosion in offense in the 10-year period just after Murphy's retirement (1993-2002). For example, there have been 50 home runs hit in a season 30 times in the history of baseball: 18 times between 1921-1990 and 12 times between 1995 and 2000. Many believe the general inflation in hitting statistics since the time of Murphy's retirement to the abuse of drugs such as androstenedione and steroids. Perhaps the prevalence of such drug use may cause the Hall of Fame voters to re-evaluate statistics of players such as Dale Murphy and contemporary stars such as Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, and Jim Rice. However, few outfielders with career totals comparable to Murphy before 1993 have made the Hall of Fame. According to Baseball Reference, only one of the ten players with career numbers most similar to Murphy's is in the Hall of Fame (Duke Snider). This of course does not account for how Murphy compares to his contemporaries, how he compares to these other ten (four of whom played significant amounts of time during the recent statistical binge period), or take into account the accolades above mentioned. The debate may be summarized as a question about whether it is more impressive to accumulate large statistical totals or to exhibit dominance over one's contemporaries. The former standard would be much harsher on Murphy while the latter would strongly suggest he be inducted to the Hall of Fame.


The main article says it is unlikely he'll ever get enshrined, but what it should say is by the Baseball Writers Association. There is still the veteran's committee if and when he loses eligibility in the regular voting. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.21.220.156 (talk) 14:34, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Deviant practices?

"It is rumored that teammate Jeff Blauser, the team prankster known for his wild antics off the field, would often litter Murphy's locker with hardcore gay porn. Murphy was often angered by these pranks, supposedly, but true to his Mormon heritage he confronted Blauser only with loving attempts to help his teammate reform his deviant practices."

How is a practical joke a "deviant practice"? This biography seems very biased in favor of Murphy's wholesomeness, without sources. --Mr. Vernon 21:55, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

Its ridiculous to say the article is "biased" in favor of his wholesomeness if he didn't do anything wrong. There's not always two sides. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.21.220.156 (talk) 14:32, 29 April 2008 (UTC)

SIDENOTE:

"He began as a catcher, but had difficulties throwing out runners attempting stolen basessources"

Actually, he had developed a mental block and couldnt throw the ball back to the pitcher

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig5/grigg-w4.html

"Mike Ivie, a 17-year-old recruited by the San Diego Padres in 1970, developed a crippling case after beginning his minor league career, and twice turned down a chance at the Majors because he didn’t want to catch. Before Dale Murphy became one of the most dominant players of the 1980s as a center fielder, he was a frustrated catcher prone to return pitches by casting the ball into center field.

Other position players – such as All-Star second basemen Steve Sax of the Dodgers and Chuck Knoblauch – have been touched by the same plague. And almost without exception the condition has no identifiable connection to an injury or other physical ailment. Some of those who suffered – Dale Murphy in particular – had strong and accurate throwing arms, but found it almost impossible to make routine short throws."

[edit] Position on Bonds

Why does what Murphy thinks about Bonds need to be included in his page? This seems a little out there for me. I suggest that it be removed. Hell, why not put what Murphy thinks about "The Simpsons?" I know Bonds is the hot tamale right now, but I don't see it relevant to Murphy's biography.Atlantabravz 22:06, 20 August 2007 (UTC)

Maybe we put position on Bonds under the iwontcheat foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to deter steroid youth and cheating. Whenever promoting the foundation, Murph is asked something about Bonds. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Treslarsen (talk • contribs) 07:35, 11 September 2007 (UTC)

I still don't see why we have to put what Murphy thinks about Bonds anywhere in his bio. Why not list what Murphy thinks about every single steroid user ever identified by name? It's better just to make the statement that Murphy started his foundation because he is against any steroid usage, not just what he thinks about Bonds. On the flipside, why not put in EVERY single biography on wikipedia what he or she thinks about Barry Bonds? Unless an opinion on something makes serious news and really contrasts to most of the opinions out there, i.e. an extreme minority position, I don't see how it's bio-worthy. Murphy's opinion is in line with significantly more than half of ANYONE ever surveyed, so why is his majority opinion significant? Why not put what he feels about beer commercials or Britney Spears? Do you see where I'm going?Atlantabravz 17:26, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Basketball

Wasn't Murphy something of a basketball player too? To the point that he was scouted by professional teams while in college? Why isn't any mention made of it in the article? I'd add it if I knew anything much about it. — Frecklefσσt | Talk 13:56, 3 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] BYU?

Someone has claimed that Murphy attended BYU sometime after starting his MLB career...does anyone have a source that validates this claim? Thanks. --Eustress (talk) 01:13, 12 May 2008 (UTC)