Johnny Murphy

Johnny Murphy
Johnny Murphy
	Murphy in 1947
	Pitcher
	Born: July 14, 1908; New York City, New York, U.S.
	Died: January 14, 1970 (aged 61); New York City, New York, U.S.
	Batted: Right Threw: 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
	New York Yankees (1932, 1934–1943, 1946); Boston Red Sox (1947);
Career highlights and awards
	3× All-Star (1937–1939); 7× World Series champion (1932, 1936–1939, 1941, 1943); New York Mets Hall of Fame;

John Joseph Murphy (July 14, 1908 – January 14, 1970) was an American All-Star right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (1932, 1934–1943, 1946–1947) who later became a front office executive in the game.

Yankees' relief ace

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.^[1]

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^[2]), Murphy was on seven World Series winning teams, the most of any pitcher in history.

Executive with Red Sox and Mets

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.^[3]

Front-office boss of "Miracle Mets"

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.

Death

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

References

^ MLB career statistics for Johnny Murphy, Baseball Reference
^ Vorperian, John. "Johnny Murphy". Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
^ "Ultimate Mets Database - Bill Denehy". Ultimatemets.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
^ Cady, Steve (January 15, 1970). "Johnny Murphy is Dead at 61; General Manager of the Mets" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (October 31, 1995). "Thomas Murphy, Police Head And Prosecutor of Hiss, 89". New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2015.

External links

Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
The Deadball Era
Johnny Murphy at Find a Grave

Achievements
Preceded by Firpo Marberry	All-Time Saves Leader 1946–1961	Succeeded by Roy Face
Sporting positions
Preceded by Bing Devine	New York Mets General manager 1967–1970	Succeeded by Bob Scheffing

[1] MLB career statistics for Johnny Murphy, Baseball Reference

[2] Vorperian, John. "Johnny Murphy". Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project. Retrieved July 16, 2018.

[3] "Ultimate Mets Database - Bill Denehy". Ultimatemets.com. Retrieved April 6, 2020.

[4] Cady, Steve (January 15, 1970). "Johnny Murphy is Dead at 61; General Manager of the Mets" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2015.

[nytobit-5] Van Gelder, Lawrence (October 31, 1995). "Thomas Murphy, Police Head And Prosecutor of Hiss, 89". New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2015.

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v t e New York Yankees 1932 World Series champions
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 Arndt 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

v t e New York Yankees 1936 World Series champions
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 Arndt 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

v t e New York Yankees 1937 World Series champions
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 18 Arndt Jorgens 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

v t e New York Yankees 1938 World Series champions
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 18 Arndt Jorgens 19 Johnny Murphy 21 Spud Chandler
Manager Joe McCarthy Coaches 29 Art Fletcher 30 Earle Combs 31 Johnny Schulte
Regular season

v t e New York Yankees 1939 World Series champions
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 18 Arndt Jorgens 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