Johnny Murphy | |
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Murphy in 1947 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: (1908-07-14)July 14, 1908 New York City, New York, U.S. | |
Died: January 14, 1970(1970-01-14) (aged 61) New York City, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: RightThrew: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 19, 1932, for the New York Yankees | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 16, 1947, for the Boston Red Sox | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 93–53 |
Earned run average | 3.50 |
Strikeouts | 378 |
Saves | 107 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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John Joseph Murphy (July 14, 1908 – January 14, 1970) was an American All-Star right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (1932, 1934–43, 1946–47) who later became a front office executive in the game.
After attending Fordham University in his native New York City, the 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 190 lb (86 kg) Murphy signed a professional contract with the New York Yankees in 1929. In 1934, his first full season with the Yankees, Murphy started 20 games (completing 10); for the remaining 11 years of his major league career, he would start only 20 games more, as he became one of the top bullpen specialists of his day. Moreover, his Yankees were one of the most powerful teams of all time, winning consecutive World Series championships from 1936 to 1939, and again in 1941 and 1943. Murphy's teammates included Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez—and, through 1934, Babe Ruth. Murphy spent his final year in the American League with the 1947 Boston Red Sox.
Overall, he appeared in 415 games, 383 as a Yankee, winning 93, losing 53 (for a winning percentage of .637) with an earned run average of 3.50. He led the AL in wins for a relief pitcher seven times. While the save was not then an official statistic, Murphy four times led the AL in that category, and he was the first pitcher to reach 100 career saves, finishing with 107. In 1,045 career innings pitched, he allowed more bases on balls (444) than strikeouts (378), and 985 hits. His career WHIP was 1.367.
In eight World Series games and 16+1⁄3 innings (spread over six different Series), Murphy won two games, lost none, saved four, and posted an ERA of 1.10. Nicknamed "Fordham Johnny", "Fireman" and "Grandma" (either for his rocking-chair pitching motion, or his fastidious nature), Murphy was on seven World Series winning teams, the most of any pitcher in history.
When his playing days ended, Murphy briefly scouted for the Red Sox, then entered the Boston front office when owner Tom Yawkey appointed him Director of Minor League Operations. Murphy spent 13 seasons running the Red Sox' farm and scouting systems until his dismissal following the 1960 season. In 1961, he joined former Yankees farm director and general manager George Weiss in the front office of Gotham's National League expansion team, the New York Mets.
Rising to the position of vice president, Murphy briefly donned a uniform and joined the Mets' coaching staff for the final 11 games of the 1967 campaign during Salty Parker's term as acting manager. Then, following that season, Murphy returned to the Met front office and took over the general manager responsibilities when Bing Devine rejoined his longtime employers, the St. Louis Cardinals. As one of his final tasks, Devine secured the services of manager Gil Hodges, under contract to the Washington Senators, by sending Washington $100,000 and pitcher Bill Denehy on November 27, 1967, as compensation.
Murphy's promotion to the GM role coincided with the Mets' unveiling of some of the best young pitching talent of the era—including Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Jerry Koosman, Tug McGraw, and others. The 1968 club posted 73 victories, best in their seven-season history, and finished out of the NL basement for only the second time.
Then, with Hodges in command—and with the contributions of Murphy acquisitions Tommie Agee, Donn Clendenon and Al Weis—the 1969 Miracle Mets stunned the baseball community by winning the National League East, sweeping Atlanta in the NLCS, then defeating a heavily favored Baltimore Orioles squad in five World Series games. The Sporting News named Murphy the 1969 winner of its Executive of the Year Award.
However, only 21⁄2 months after the World Series, on December 30, Murphy was hospitalized after he suffered a heart attack. He died at age 61 early on January 14, 1970, in New York's Roosevelt Hospital. He was succeeded by Bob Scheffing. Murphy was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx.
His older brother Thomas was a federal prosecutor and judge.
New York Mets general managers | |
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New York Yankees 1932 World Series champions | |
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1 Earle Combs 2 Lyn Lary 3 Babe Ruth 4 Lou Gehrig 5 Frankie Crosetti 6 Ben Chapman 7 Jack Saltzgaver 8 Bill Dickey 9 Art Jorgens 10 George Pipgras 11 Lefty Gomez 12 Herb Pennock 14 Ed Wells 15 Red Ruffing 16 Wilcy Moore 17 Danny MacFayden 18 Johnny Allen 19 Jumbo Brown 20 Charlie Devens 20 Johnny Murphy 21 Joe Sewell 22 Doc Farrell 23 Tony Lazzeri 24 Sammy Byrd 26 Joe Glenn 27 Myril Hoag 28 Ivy Andrews 32 Eddie Phillips | |
Manager Joe McCarthy Coaches 29 Art Fletcher 30 Jimmy Burke 31 Cy Perkins | |
Regular season Babe Ruth's called shot |
New York Yankees 1936 World Series champions | |
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1 Roy Johnson 2 Red Rolfe 3 George Selkirk 4 Lou Gehrig (AL MVP) 5 Frankie Crosetti 6 Tony Lazzeri 7 Jake Powell 8 Bill Dickey 9 Joe DiMaggio 10 Don Heffner 11 Lefty Gomez 12 Jack Saltzgaver 14 Bump Hadley 15 Red Ruffing 16 Monte Pearson 17 Jumbo Brown 18 Art Jorgens 19 Johnny Murphy 20 Johnny Broaca 21 Pat Malone 22 Bob Seeds 25 Kemp Wicker 26 Joe Glenn | |
Manager Joe McCarthy Coaches 29 Art Fletcher 30 Earle Combs 31 Johnny Schulte | |
Regular season Giants–Yankees rivalry Subway Series |
New York Yankees 1937 World Series champions | |
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1 Frankie Crosetti 2 Red Rolfe 3 George Selkirk 4 Lou Gehrig 5 Joe DiMaggio 6 Tony Lazzeri 7 Jake Powell 8 Bill Dickey 9 Myril Hoag 11 Lefty Gomez 14 Bump Hadley 15 Red Ruffing 16 Monte Pearson 19 Johnny Murphy 21 Spud Chandler 24 Ivy Andrews 25 Kemp Wicker | |
Manager Joe McCarthy Coaches 29 Art Fletcher 30 Earle Combs 31 Johnny Schulte | |
Regular season Giants–Yankees rivalry Subway Series |
New York Yankees 1938 World Series champions | |
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1 Frankie Crosetti 2 Red Rolfe 3 George Selkirk 4 Lou Gehrig 5 Joe DiMaggio 6 Joe Gordon 7 Jake Powell 8 Bill Dickey 9 Myril Hoag 11 Lefty Gomez 15 Red Ruffing 16 Monte Pearson 17 Tommy Henrich 19 Johnny Murphy 21 Spud Chandler | |
Manager Joe McCarthy Coaches 29 Art Fletcher 30 Earle Combs 31 Johnny Schulte | |
Regular season |
New York Yankees 1939 World Series champions | |
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1 Frankie Crosetti 2 Red Rolfe 3 George Selkirk 5 Joe DiMaggio (AL MVP) 6 Joe Gordon 8 Bill Dickey 9 Charlie Keller 11 Lefty Gomez 12 Babe Dahlgren 14 Bump Hadley 15 Red Ruffing 16 Monte Pearson 19 Johnny Murphy 20 Oral Hildebrand 21 Spud Chandler 32 Steve Sundra | |
Manager Joe McCarthy Coaches 29 Art Fletcher 30 Earle Combs 31 Johnny Schulte | |
Regular season |
New York Yankees 1941 World Series champions | |
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1 Frankie Crosetti 2 Red Rolfe 3 George Selkirk 5 Joe DiMaggio (AL MVP) 6 Joe Gordon 7 Tommy Henrich 8 Bill Dickey 9 Charlie Keller 10 Phil Rizzuto 12 Buddy Rosar 14 Jerry Priddy 15 Red Ruffing 17 Charley Stanceu 19 Johnny Murphy 20 Tiny Bonham 21 Spud Chandler 22 Marius Russo 24 Marv Breuer 26 Ken Silvestri 27 Frenchy Bordagaray 28 Atley Donald 34 Johnny Sturm | |
Manager Joe McCarthy Coaches 31 Art Fletcher 32 Earle Combs 33 Johnny Schulte | |
Regular season Dodgers–Yankees rivalry Subway Series |
New York Yankees 1943 World Series champions | |
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1 Frankie Crosetti 2 Snuffy Stirnweiss 3 Bud Metheny 5 Nick Etten 6 Joe Gordon 7 Billy Johnson 8 Bill Dickey 9 Charlie Keller 10 Roy Weatherly 15 Hank Borowy 16 Tuck Stainback 18 Johnny Lindell 19 Johnny Murphy 20 Tiny Bonham 21 Spud Chandler (AL MVP) 22 Marius Russo | |
Manager Joe McCarthy Coaches 31 Art Fletcher 32 Earle Combs 33 Johnny Schulte | |
Regular season |