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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Murphy Inducted in Braves' Hall of Fame
ATLANTA, GEORGIA -- Former LDS Mission President Dale Murphy was inducted
into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame on Monday, thanking the Braves'
organization for its support, "To have worn the Braves uniform number three
was a special and humbling experience in my life," Murphy said. "It's
something I'll always be proud of." Murphy was inducted alongside Braves
owner Ted Turner, joining former Braves Hank Aaron, , Eddie Mathews, Phil
Niekro and Warren Spahn, who were inducted last year.
Murphy had originally been asked to join the initial group last year, but
asked the Braves to hold-off inducting him while he completed his three-year
term of service as Mission President in Boston, Massachusetts. Murphy played
for the Braves from 1976 to 1989, initially as a catcher, but later as an
outfielder.
While Murphy eventually became a star player for the Braves, he initially
didn't perform well as a cather, struggling with throwing errors, often
overthrowing second base. "I thought he was going to be a great catcher,"
said then teammate and fellow Braves Hall-of-Famer Phil Niekro. "If second
base was 50 feet further out in center field, no one would ever steal on
him. He'd still be playing catcher." Team owner Ted Turner took the credit
for getting Murphy moved from catcher, pushing then Braves General Manager
Bill Lucas to make the move, "I got you as far as first base," Turner said,
"All those errors got you to the outfield."
During his own remarks, Murphy stopped twice to regain his composure. He
recognized the support of his wife, Nancy, and that ove many of his team
mates during his career.
While Murphy was a shoo-in for the Braves Hall of Fame (he still holds many
team individual batting records), his prospects for the Baseball Hall of
Fame aren't so clear. Now in his third year of eligibility, observers
believe that he is unlikely to be added to the Hall of Fame, although he has
garnered some votes in each of the past two elections.
Braves Hall of Fame Inductions: Eloquent entrances
Atlanta Journal-Constitution 15Aug00 S2
By Thomas Stinson: Staff
Murphy, Turner epitomize Braves' lean Atlanta years
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