Right now, it is hard to imagine a time when the Atlanta Braves were not relevant in the world of Professional Baseball, but in the 1980’s, frankly, Ted Turner’s team wasn’t a spectacular one. The exception to that rule was Dale Murphy, who in his prime drew comparisons to legends such as Mays and DiMaggio. No, really, he did.
For a five-year stretch, Dale Murphy was among the most feared hitters in the league. He hit for power, had a decent average, and was excellent in the clutch. In addition, Murphy knew how to handle himself in the field, as shown by his five Gold Gloves. He played every day and was a huge favorite among the Braves faithful. He was the only Brave at the time who could get National attention, and he did so quickly with his loud bat and quiet demeanor.
Unfortunately for Dale Murphy, his offensive numbers seriously took a tumble by the age of 32, and he posted substandard numbers thereafter. Of course, all great players suffer a decline, but because it happened to him earlier than it does to others, he did not reach the milestones that stat lovers will point out. Subsequently, he struck out a lot in his career, even during his MVP years. Had his career tailed off at the age of 34, and he put up a career that added two or three hundred more hits, his stock would greatly improve, and his contributions on a bad Braves team might be celebrated more outside of Georgia than they have.
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