Meet Eddie Murray

EDDIE MURRAY

"Steady Eddie"

Positions: First Baseman

Full Name: Eddie Clarence Murray

Bats: Both - Throws: Right

Born: February 24, 1956 in Los Angeles, California, USA

Organizations: Baltimore Orioles (13), Los Angeles Dodgers (4), Cleveland Indians (3), New York Mets (2), Anaheim Angels (1)

EDDIE MURRAY'S WALL OF GLORY

HONORS AND AWARDS

• Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2003, by BBWAA with 85.3%
• All Star: 8 (1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991)
• Rookie of the Year: 1 (1977)
• Gold Gloves: 3 (1982, 1983, 1984)
• Silver Sluggers: 3 (1983, 1984, 1990)
• World Series Rings: 1 (1983)

BATTING

• HR Leader: 1 (1981)
• RBI Leader: 1 (1981)
• BB Leader: 1 (1984)
• IBB: 3 (1982, 1984, 1990)
• OBP Leader: 1 (1984)
• G Leader: 1 (1984)

FIELDING

• PO: 3 (1978, 1979, 1984)
• Def. Games as 1B: 3 (1978, 1979, 1984)
• PO as 1B: 3 (1978, 1979, 1984)
• Assists as 1B: 3 (1981, 1984, 1989)
• Double Plays Turned as 1B: 4 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1989)
• Fielding % as 1B: 3 (1981, 1982, 1989 )

WHO?

"Steady Eddie" is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) first baseman and designated hitter. Spending most of his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles, he ranks fourth in team history in both games played and hits. Though Murray never won a Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, he finished in the top ten in MVP voting several times. 

No one has ever played more major league games at first base. Lou Gehrig played in 2,130, but the steady, consistent, durable and dominant Eddie Murray chalked up 2,413, with almost 600 more as DH. In his 21 big league seasons, Murray averaged 24 home runs and 91 runs-batted-in. He was the third player in history, after Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, to record 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. 

MY COMMENT:

If the word “consistency” were a baseball player, it is very likely that it would be Eddie Murray. The calm switch-hitter was not only a great fielder but also a model of regularity in the seasons when he was titular, being his stats very similar year after year. That is why it is so difficult to select his best season.  Silently, he stockpiled hits and HR every season, and suddenly, he had 3000 hits and 500 HR! His HR hight (33 HR in 1983) was the lowest for a player that had gotten 500 career home runs.   

BEST FIVE SEASONS

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1980	24	BAL	AL	158	621	100	186	36	2	32	116	7	54	71	.300	.354	.519	.873	*3/D
1983	27	BAL	AL	156	582	115	178	30	3	33	111	5	86	90	.306	.393	.538	.930	*3/D
1984	28	BAL	AL	162	588	97	180	26	3	29	110	10	107	87	.306	.410	.509	.918	*3/D
1985	29	BAL	AL	156	583	111	173	37	1	31	124	5	84	68	.297	.383	.523	.906	*3/D
1990	34	LAD	NL	155	558	96	184	22	3	26	95	8	82	64	.330	.414	.520	.934	*3

Note: If you are using a cell phone to look at this table, put it horizontally for a better experience

What do you think? is he the most consistent player ever? If not, who is? Share your thoughts!