Atlanta Braves Flashback: My Darkest Day as a Braves Fan
By Dan Horton
The Stand-up Guy
But here is what made me respect the man I had adored for so many years wearing the baby blue of the ’80’s. Below is an excerpt from Murphy’s blog:
"“There had been trade rumors off and on through the mid-80’s (and even up through ’88 or so—the Mets were one team that always seemed to be mentioned) but I never paid much attention to them because, quite honestly, I could never see myself leaving the Braves. But by the end of the decade, that had changed. I started feeling kind of excited at the prospects of going to a new team. I wondered whether a change of scenery would rejuvenate me, and my career. At the same time, I was aware of what can happen when a long-time player has some success with one team and sticks around longer than he should: production eventually falls off and the team is left with the uncomfortable task of figuring out whether to renew his contract (even though his best years may well be behind him) or release him (usually against popular opinion.) The Braves had done so much for me through the years that I just didn’t want to put them in that position.” – Dale Murphy"
#RESPECT!
Dale Murphy will ALWAYS be my favorite player. The Atlanta Braves will ALWAYS be my favorite team, and, Dale Murphy will always be an Atlanta Brave. I have a wall at home dedicated to this man, a shrine of sorts, if you will. A framed, autographed jersey, game-used broken bat (from a spring training game one year, complete with nails), baseball card, baseball, and a phantom patch commemorating the Braves as 1991 World Series Champions.
” … there’s no two ways about it: Atlanta will always feel like home and I’ll always be a Brave.” – Dale Murphy
Dale Murphy, from the time I could walk and talk, WAS the Atlanta Braves. Dale Murphy will always be my favorite player of all time, period!
In 1990, I learned a valuable lesson as a fan.Players get traded and players retire, but the franchise still remains, players and fans (although reluctantly, move on). In this day where free agency reigns supreme and trades happen at crazy rates, the team is still there.
It’s never easy to watch your favorite player get traded or retire, but life goes on. We, as fans, move on and continue to celebrate post-season appearances, or suffer through droughts, or get frustrated with rebuilds, but we always come back for more (why do we do this to ourselves)? But the fact remains, no matter who your favorite player is, or was, your team, will still be there. Sometimes your favorite player does get traded, then, when you least expect it, and need it most, you learn the real truth.
Thank you, Mr. Murphy, for your candor, your honesty, and your appreciation for the fans. You didn’t have to tell this story, but I’m so grateful that you did.
** To read Murphy’s blog, and more, visit www.DaleMurphy.com