House That Hank Built
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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 Rookie Dale Murphy gave notice in 1978 that his bat was special. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Bobby brings Dale Murphy along

The following spring, the Atlanta Braves had a new boss, Bobby Cox. Cox liked what he saw from Murphy at the plate. As quoted in Wancho’s bio Cox told Furman Bisher of the Sporting News, ‘Give him 500 at-bats this season, and he’ll hit 25 minimum in the National League’. In order to get those homers in the books, Cox brought Murphy with the team but moved him to first base.

Murphy delivered 23 homers in 1978, but struck out 145 times and managed only a .679 OPS and 80 OPS plus. As a first baseman, Murphy was a good catcher; the team made 25 errors at first base, and Murphy made 20 of them in his 125 games there.  Nevertheless, the experiment continued through 1979.

Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves /

Atlanta Braves

Murphy experience knee pain early in 1979 that eventually required arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged cartilage, causing him to miss about two months of the season. Despite playing only 104 games, Murphy delivered 20 homers and found his hit tool, finishing the season batting .276/.340/.469/.809.

In 1980 Cox moved Murphy to center field, an odd place for a catcher, but while Murphy wasn’t a speed demon, he was fast and made the move with ease. No longer worried about manning first base and free of the soreness in his knee, Murphy became a breakout star, batting .281/.349/.510/.858, hitting 33 homers and finishing 12th in NL MVP voting, a season worth 6.6 rWAR – 5.7 fWAR.

The Torre era

When we talk about statistics, the strike season of 1981 is forgettable, so let’s forget it.

The Atlanta Braves began 1982 with Joe Torre as manager, and a team that believed they could win the division; and they did. Murphy played every game, batted .281/.378/.507/.885, hit 36 homers and drove in a league-leading 109 runs, on his way to his first Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and NL MVP.  Even though the Cardinals swept the Braves in the NLCS, most believed the team was on its way up.

Murphy did his best to make that belief a reality in 1983. Once again, he played 162 games and led the league with 121 RBI. He hit 30 round-trippers, and led the league in slugging and OPS, finishing with a .302/.393/.540/.933, worth 7.1 rWAR – 7.0 fWAR.

The Atlanta Braves finished 88-74 but finished second in the West, three games in back of the Dodgers, but Murphy won his second Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and NL MVP. The Braves sank back into mediocrity after the 1983 season, but that wasn’t Murphy’s fault.

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