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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Murphy's Best Shot at Hall of Fame may have Passed Today
ESPN 11Jan00 S2
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- LDS Mission President and former Atlanta Braves
baseball star Dale Murphy may have lost his best shot at the Baseball Hall
of Fame in the voting announced today. The 499 member Baseball Writers
Association of America passed on Murphy, inducting Carlton Fisk and Tony
Perez into the Hall of Fame Class of 2000. The field of candidates this
year was considered relatively even, with no clear standout among the 30
candidates, giving Murphy the best opportunity he is likely to have.
Murphy first became eligible for the Hall of Fame last year, as part
of a class of candidates that included Nolan Ryan, George Brett and
Robin Yount, who were all chosen above Murphy for the honor. To be
selected, candidates must get votes from 75% of the members of the
Baseball Writers' Association of America.
As a member of the Atlanta Braves, Murphy won back-to-back National
League MVP awards in 1982 and 1983 and hit 398 homers. Last year he
got just 96 votes of the 376 needed for induction. This year his vote
total increased to 116, still far short of induction. Players receiving
less than 25 votes are dropped from consideration.
Next year's class is another strong one, with former star players Dave
Winfield, Don Mattingly and Kirby Puckett becoming eligible.
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