Dale Murphy Biography

Dale Bryan Murphy, born on March 12, 1956, was an American professional outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1976 to 1993. He earned seven All-Star selections and led the National League in home runs, runs batted in, and slugging percentage on two separate occasions each. Murphy was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in 1982 after leading the Atlanta Braves to their first division title in 13 years and finishing with 109 RBI. He was recognized for his defensive excellence, winning five consecutive Gold Glove Awards as a center fielder and recording the most assists and double plays among NL outfielders during the 1980s. His 398 career home runs ranked sixth among right-handed hitters in National League history at retirement, and he hit 202 home runs while playing center field, placing ninth in major league history. After being chosen by the Braves in the fifth round of the 1974 amateur draft, he chose to sign with the team over a scholarship from Arizona State University. In 1978, he transitioned to first base, posting a .226 batting average and a league-leading 145 strikeouts, while also hitting 23 home runs and driving in 79 runs.