Dick Murphy
From BR Bullpen
Richard Lee Murphy
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.
- School Ohio University
- Debut June 13, 1954
- Final Game September 13, 1954
- Born October 25, 1931 in Cincinnati, OH USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Dick Murphy was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cincinnati Redlegs on June 12, 1954. Murphy had earned All-American honors in both 1953 and '54 at Ohio University. After the left-handed hitting outfielder was signed by his hometown Redlegs, he appeared in a half-dozen games, mainly as a pinch runner, and struck out in his first and only plate appearance in the majors. This would be the sum total of Murphy's big league career.
He was sent down to the Columbia Reds in September of 1954 and appeared in 10 games, hitting .211 before being called up by the United States Military for two years (1955-56) as the Korean War was winding down. He would return in 1957 and play for three different teams - the class A Savannah Redlegs, class AA Nashville Volunteers and the class AAA Havana Sugar Kings. Dick appeared in a total of 111 games, hitting .181 in 320 at-bats.
1958 would find Murphy with the class A Albuquerque Dukes, where he appeared in 41 games and hit for a career high of .212. At this point Murphy, now 26 years old, would call it quits and end his three-year minor league time, appearing in 162 games with a career .192 batting average. Dick had also tried his hand on the pitchers mound, pitching in two games for Savannah in 1957 and the same for Albuquerque in 1958, both with no decisions.
After baseball Dick more or less disappeared off the radar and as of last notice he was believed to be living in Indianapolis, IN.
