Why do people continue to insist Dale Murphy should be in the HOF

[djefferis]

Curious - what makes this guy a HOF’er and not just a Hall of Very Good player ?

I remember him in the 80s - absolutely was a top 5 player evidenced by back to back MVPs. Also clear the drop off he experienced beginning in 1990 was sharp.

So 11 “good” years - and a handful of great ones. Lots of guys have comparable resumes and get no consideration. George Foster comes to mind - Bill Madlock is another. Albert Belle/Juan Gonzalez were steroid era guys I know - but again similar period of dominance and shorter careers with a big drop off quickly.

He was on Americas Team at a time where everyone with cable got Braves games and he played for the only baseball team in the SE USA at the time so had a massive fan base - but don’t get it. Dude was very good - end of story. Sure players who played longer with less impressive peaks have gotten in - but that doesn’t mean it’s a snub not letting this guy in. Sometimes players just get lucky thanks to veterans committee.

 

[jjgold]

Hall of Fame are watered down now he’s borderline at best

 

[Tanko]

I really hate to agree with JJ on this one but I will.

I don't think the HOF isn't as elite as it was intended. So many players with slightly above avg careers have made it in when they really shouldn't have.

Think:
Gaylord Perry
Harold Baines

 

[djefferis]

Baines will forever be the poster child for guys who got in - he even admitted it himself - he was very good - not great.

Perry/Blyleven and Phil Niekro all very good. Even growing up near Niekro’s hometown and meeting him a few times - very nice man, good pitcher but HOF - I’d say no.

Ditto Mazeroski up the road in Rayland - everyone knew him and he was a great fielder - but is the difference between an average bat/average fielder and an average bat/great fielder that wide ? I mean it’s not like he was winning 12 or more games for his team a year with his glove. 2 maybe 3 - possibly - not not double digits.

We are too caught up in numbers - 500, 3k, 300 ect - I’m not an elitist - but at a point keep the wing for guys who had great moments and careers and the opposite wing for guys who had HOF careers. Bonds / Rose for example should be in great moments wing - even if not in the HOF member wing.

 

[chuckythegoat2]

I think the Murphy argument is normally a few things:

1) The BB MVPs put him on an exclusive list.

2) He's regarded as one of the nicest guys around. So, people wanted it FOR HIM.

Your point about TBS is good. I watched so many Braves games that I otherwise would not have.

 

[Franz555]

Curious - what makes this guy a HOF’er and not just a Hall of Very Good player ?

I remember him in the 80s - absolutely was a top 5 player evidenced by back to back MVPs. Also clear the drop off he experienced beginning in 1990 was sharp.

So 11 “good” years - and a handful of great ones. Lots of guys have comparable resumes and get no consideration. George Foster comes to mind - Bill Madlock is another. Albert Belle/Juan Gonzalez were steroid era guys I know - but again similar period of dominance and shorter careers with a big drop off quickly.

He was on Americas Team at a time where everyone with cable got Braves games and he played for the only baseball team in the SE USA at the time so had a massive fan base - but don’t get it. Dude was very good - end of story. Sure players who played longer with less impressive peaks have gotten in - but that doesn’t mean it’s a snub not letting this guy in. Sometimes players just get lucky thanks to veterans committee.

Great point

I initially thought he was a very good player back in the day , why shouldn't he get in. Longevity should be a factor imo. A greater exposure certainly tilted public perception , myself included.

 

[djefferis]

Again - dude is genuinely nice - compare him against some of the other guys from the 80s - Strawberry and Gooden come to mind as guys who certainly didn’t seem to be too “fan friendly” - but again people loved them right up until the drugs took them down.

Again 2x MVP Juan Gonzalez not in HOF and unlikely to ever be. Mattingly had a shortened career and a better period of dominance of the 80s (and being a Yankee doesn’t hurt).

Playing a long time is an accomplishment - but again some of it needs to be balanced. Todays game is not what it was 60 years ago - guys make a lot more money - so they not only take better care of themselves (for the most part) - but stick around longer even when not as productive for the money. DH helps too.

Yea it’s always going to be a game of guys who are media darlings getting in - Billy Williams comes to mind, PeeWee Reese too - good players who were friendly with fans and media and got help getting in from peers.

Then you have Rose/Aroid/Bonds - 3 notable players with a poor relationship with media types and not exactly fan friendly but who have the stats - sure ones a gambler and 2 juicers - but even without that would they be in.

 

[ttwarrior1]

and he never took roids and played on some awful awful teams.

 

[RRsilver]

Everybody may disagree and that's fine, but how do you keep Rose out.