If Character Counts: Why Dale Murphy Belongs in the Hall of Fame

In a few days, the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2013 will be announced.  Among those eligible for the first time are Barry Bonds, Roger Clemons, Sammy Sosa, Mike Piazza, and Craig Biggio.  Other’s who have been on the list the past few years include Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro, and Jeff Bagwell.  And then, there is a man who will be on the ballot for the last time, whether he is inducted or not.  A man who when it comes to integrity and class is second to none in the history of baseball.  A man who endured many losing seasons but is regarded by his peers as one of the best of his generation.  A man who also happens to be my baseball hero, Dale Murphy.

Much has been made of the fact that this is Murphy’s last chance to get elected into the HOF by the Baseball Writers of America and his last vote happens to coincide with a couple of lightning rod figures who epitomize baseball during what has been deemed the Steroid Era, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.  Bonds, the preeminent hitter, and Clemens, the preeminent pitcher, amassed unbelievable statistics and awards during their playing days but have been the source of much controversy and federal investigation.  Many believe that neither man will be elected to the HOF this year (or ever, for that matter) due to what has become known as the character clause.  It is no. 5 on the voting criteria that voting members are asked to consider when making their vote and it reads as follows:

5. Voting: Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which he played.

So, it stands to reason that if you can keep players whose on the field record are beyond reproach and had playing ability like no other in their generation out of the HOF because of character, shouldn’t a player with borderline numbers who had great ability but played on a bad team yet exhibited the sportsmanship, integrity, and character defined above be given the benefit of the doubt?  That is where Dale Murphy comes into the picture. 

Now, I know all of the objections to letting Murphy in the Hall.  He is a .265 career hitter, he struck out over 1,700 times, and his contributions were negated by the fact that he spent most of his career playing on terrible teams.  I can grant you all of those and admit they are all valid points but when you compare him to two recent HOF inductees, Jim Rice and Andre Dawson, who were contemporaries of his, you can make a great case for the Murph being in, especially with his character being the extra little bit to push him over the top. 

Jim Rice was part of a great outfield in Boston from 1974-1989.  He was a part of a great, young outfield trio that included Fred Lynn and Dwight Evans.  Early in his career, the Red Sox also featured Carl Yazstrzemski and Carlton Fisk and from '75-'88 Boston averaged 88.5 wins per season.  He played in two World Series with Boston and won the MVP in 1978.  Rice was an 8-time All Star and was elected to the HOF in 2009 on his final vote.  

Andre Dawson began his career with Montreal and teamed with Tim Raines to produce the best years in the franchise's mostly dismal history.  Dawson moved on to Chicago in 1987 where he played for another dismal franchise, the Cubs.  But in Montreal, Dawson played with Tim Raines and in Chicago he played with Ryne Sandberg.  Dawson was an 8-time All Star, an 8-time Gold Glove winner, won the 1987 MVP despite playing on a last place team, and was elected to the Hall of Fame on his ninth ballot in 2010.  The Expos and Cubs teams that Dawson played on from '78-'91 averaged 83.4 wins per season. 

Dale Murphy played the majority, and most statistically meaningful, part of his career for the Atlanta Braves before moving onto Philadelphia for a few years.  The teams that he played for from '78-'91 averaged an astonishing 88.6 LOSSES per season.  Bob Horner had some nice years early in his career, but the majority of those 14 seasons were spent with no lineup protection.  Regardless, Murphy was able to win back to back MVPs in 1982-83 along with 5 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers.  Murphy was a 7-time All Star and the highest vote total he has received for the HOF came in 2000 when he was on 23.2% of the ballots. 

Below is a chart of the statistical comparison among the three players.  Murphy's and Dawson's stats are from 1978-1991 and Jim Rice's are from 1975-1988, arguably the best 14-year stretch of each player's career.

Player	HR	RBI	Runs	WAR	BB/IBB	Career OPS
Rice	378	1410	1221	45.1	653/77	0.854
Dawson	358	1263	1126	57.5	483/122	0.805
Murphy	394	1229	1183	44.7	973/158	0.815

As you can see, Murphy's numbers are right there with these guys.  He hit more homers over that span than either player and had many more walks and intentional passes as well.  It can be argued that if Murphy had played in the lineup that Rice did, his numbers would have been significantly better and he would already be in the HOF.  Also, Cal Ripken, Jr. is the only player to play in more ball games than Murphy from 1982-91, who only missed 30 games in that span.  And to put the icing on the cake for the statistical analysis, baseballreference.com lists Dawson's all-time rank as a hitter as #82, Murphy as #128, and Rice as #208.

Now, if you are not convinced that his numbers are good enough, let's invoke the "character clause" that many in the know will use to keep the likes of Bonds, Clemens, Palmeiro, Sosa, and any other admitted, convicted, or suspected steroid users out of the HOF.  If it can be used as a strike against players then it must also be used as mark in their favor as well.  Murphy is generally regarded as one of the nicest, kindest, unassuming players to ever don a uniform.  And to prove his merit in the clubhouse and community, Murphy was also named the recipient of the prestigious Lou Gehrig Award and Roberto Clemente Award given to one ballplayer in MLB each year that exemplifies on the field achievements with off the field community service.  I am not saying that Rice and Dawson were not high character guys but neither of them won either of those awards.

My guess is that Murphy will not get in, making him one of only two two-time MVPs whose eligibility has expired not in the HOF, joining Roger Maris.  If this comes to pass, then shame on the high and mighty writers who apparently hold players to an unattainable standard of personal character.  The good news is that Murphy will have a shot to get elected in by the Veteran's Committee and hopefully will someday sooner rather than later.  Perhaps the greatest thing that has come from this debate, however, is the campaign that Dale's sons started to help get their father enshrined in Cooperstown.  One son, Chadwick, wrote an open letter to HOF supporting his father's final bid.  A second son, Taylor, launched an online petition in support of his father.  And a third son, Tyson, drew a comic depicting his father as more than a great baseball player but recognizing him as a great father as well.  All in all, if when Dale Murphy passes, I am sure that he would love for his tombstone to say Hall of Fame baseball player but would find it more meaningful if it said Hall of Fame father and husband.  Here's to you, Dale, who I know regardless of Wednesday's announcement, will remain a classy role model, as you were in your playing career.