Murray, Eddie C.
Baseball
b. Feb. 24, 1956, Los Angeles, CA
A switch-hitter who threw right-handed, Murray entered professional baseball in 1973 and became a starter as an outfielder and first baseman with the AL's Baltimore Orioles in 1977, when he batted .283 with 27 home runs to win the league's rookie of the year award. That was the beginning of an amazingly productive career, unfortunately marred by charges, mostly unfounded, that he suffered from an attitude problem.
After playing first base and third base in 1978, Murray settled in permanently as a first baseman the following season. He led the AL with 78 RBI and tied for the home run lead with 22 in the strike-shortened 1981 season, when he batted .294.
His finest season overall was probably 1982, when he hit .316 with 32 home runs and 110 RBI. He also won the first of three consecutive Gold Glove Awards. By then, Murray had become a Baltimore fan favorite, probably second only to Cal Ripken Jr. in popularity. He was also second to Ripken in American League MVP voting in 1983, when the Orioles won their first World Series championship since 1970. Murray had a career-high 33 home runs that year, and he hit two in the fifth and final game of the World Series victory over the Phillies.
But things began to turn sour in 1986, when Murray went on the disabled list for the first time with a pulled hamstring. Team owner Edward Bennet Williams publicly questioned his dedication and, after Murray's return to the lineup, the Orioles had problems winning. Murray refused to talk to the media, fans began to boo him, and after the 1988 season he asked to be traded.
The Orioles obliged by sending him to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent three seasons with them, hitting .330 in 1990, then went to the New York Mets as a free agent. When his two-year contract with the Mets ran out, he returned to the American League with the Cleveland Indians. In the middle of the 1996 season, the Indians traded him back to the Orioles. He hit his 500th career home run in Baltimore and, when the Orioles got into the playoffs for the first time since 1983, fans warmed to him once more.
Again a free agent, Murray signed with the Anaheim Angels in 1997. They cut him in August and he rejoined the Dodgers, but had only 7 at-bats with him. He announced his retirement when the season ended and went back to the Orioles as a bench coach.
Murray never put up really big numbers in a single season, but he was consistently productive throughout his long career. He's one of only three players, with Henry Aaron and Willie Mays, to collect both 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, and he's the only hitter who reached the 500 home run mark without ever hitting 40 or more in a season. He holds the major league record with 20 consecutive seasons driving in 75 or more runs and he ranks seventh in career RBI. Murray hit 19 grand slam runs, second only to Lou Gehrig, and he hit more career home runs than any other switch-hitter except Mickey Mantle.