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Atlanta Braves top ten outfielders number three: Dale Murphy

By Fred Owens

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 11: Former Atlanta Brave Dale Murphy and Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field on July 11, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 11: Former Atlanta Brave Dale Murphy and Freddie Freeman #5 of the Atlanta Braves after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Turner Field on July 11, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Braves outfielder Dale Murphy moved to right field in 1985. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

Number 3 – Dale Murphy the boy scout

BA OBP SLG OPS AVG+ OBP+ SLG+ wRC+ wOBA WAR fWAR
.268 .351 .478 .829 102 107 123 123 .362 47.3 44.3

Dale Murphy was the stereotypical All-American boy, the guy who you wanted your daughter to bring home, and a player who defined role model for kids. Joseph Wancho’s SABR biography of Murph opens with this description.

"The face of the Atlanta Braves was Dale Murphy.He was described as a boy scout. He didn’t smoke, didn’t drink, didn’t curse and didn’t carouse."

Murphy caught the eye of scouts as a high school catcher who hit .465 as a senior and earned a scholarship offer from one of the great college baseball programs at Arizona State University.

The 1974 Rule 4 draft had four parts – January, January secondary, June, and June secondary. The Atlanta Braves selected Murphy with their first pick in June and the fifth pick overall. The franchise drafted a total of 28 players, and six spent some time in the majors; five pitchers and Murphy.

His debut in the Appalachian League in saw him struggle at the plate, something that carried over to his 1975 season in A-Ball.  Wancho says the Atlanta Braves almost lost Murphy before the 1975 season began.

"Murphy, who was raised a Presbyterian, liked what he heard from his new friend. Eventually, Murphy converted to the Church of Latter-Day Saints . . . wanted to serve a two-year mission with the Mormons . . . Ted Turner tried to talk him out of it, to no avail. An official with the church convinced Murphy that he could continue his professional baseball career, while also serving the church."

Murphy’s bat returned in 1976. He batted .267/.313/.435/.747 in double-A, then moved to triple-A and batted .260/.269/.560/.829, and earned a callup to Atlanta. He impressed as a catcher that September, throwing out 21 runners trying to steal second in 17 games and looked set to start the 1977 season as the Atlanta  Braves catcher.  However, when spring training rolled around, Murph had developed the Yips.

The once-powerful, accurate arm couldn’t throw the ball back to the pitcher. He worked on it at AAA, and one day the Yips left as quickly as they arrived.  The Braves called him up again in September, and he had his first two-homer game.

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