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Eddie Clarence Murray (born February 24, 1956 in Los Angeles, California) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He was known as one of the most reliable middle of the line-up hitters during his 21 year Hall of Fame career, earning the nickname "Steady Eddie". Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters to have ever played the game.

Murray was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 3rd round of the 1973 amateur draft and had several successful seasons in the minor leagues. He debuted at the major league level on April 7, 1977 and played in 160 games for the Orioles in his first season. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award by batting .283, hitting 27 home runs and contributing 88 RBI.

Murray did not suffer the sophomore jinx, instead building on his successes. With the Orioles from 1977 until 1988, Murray averaged 28 home runs and 99 RBI and was a perennial candidate for the MVP award, twice finishing second in the voting. The Orioles also appeared in the post-season twice, in 1979 and 1983, and won the World Series in 1983.

Murray was traded on December 4, 1988 to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Juan Bell, Brian Holton and Ken Howell and had three successful seasons with the Dodgers, knocking in 88, 95 and 96 runs.

Prior to the 1992 season, Murray signed a two-year deal with the New York Mets, for whom he played well despite playing for one of the worst teams in the major leagues. In 1993 he again drove in 100 runs, this time for the final time in his career.

From 1994 to 1997, Murray played for several teams, including the Cleveland Indians (1994-96), Baltimore (1996), Anaheim Angels (1997) and Dodgers (1997). Although he no longer possessed the presence at the plate he had had in the 1980s, he was a valued and still consistent contributor for these teams. On September 6, 1996, he hit his 500th career home run -- fittingly, the home run came as a member of the Orioles. He retired after the 1997 season with 504 home runs, ranking him second among switch-hitters behind Mickey Mantle's 536.

Accomplishments

• 8-time All-Star (1978, 1981-86, 1991)
• American League Rookie of the Year (1977)
• American League Gold Glove Award winner (1982, 1983, 1984)
• Finished second in American League MVP voting (1982, 1983)
• Finished fourth in American League MVP voting (1984)
• Finished fifth in American League MVP voting (1985)
• Finished fifth in National League MVP voting (1990)
• Finished 6th in American League MVP voting (1980)
• Finished 8th in American League MVP voting (1978)
• 504 career home runs (19th all-time) and 1917 RBIs (8th all-time)
• Holds the career record for most sacrifice flies (128)
• His season high for home runs, 33, is the lowest of any player with over 500 career home runs
• One of only four players to have both 3,000 career hits and 500 home runs (others are Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Rafael Palmeiro)
• Hit 19 grand slams (second all-time, behind Lou Gehrig's 23)
• In 1999, he ranked Number 77 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
• Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame (2003)

External links

• Baseball Reference
• Baseball Hall of Fame Biography

Preceded by: Mark Fidrych

American League Rookie of the Year 1977

Succeeded by: Lou Whitaker

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