Quote:
Originally Posted by mlyons
Dale Murphy's OPS+ was right around 150 during those six big seasons. For centerfield points of reference: Ken Griffey, Jr.'s five big seasons averaged around 160 and Bernie Williams ran around 147 during his six peak seasons. The gold standards, Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, were around 190 and 170, respectively, during their peaks.
I have a tough time thinking of Williams in the HoF, and I can't really justify putting Murphy in without putting Williams in. I'm a small Hall guy, though.
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I am not sure what goes into OPS+ but I think the biggest difference between Murphy and Williams was that at his peak Williams was very good but Murphy was the best player of the 80's. Between the years 1980 and 1989 Dale Murphy scored 77 more runs than any other player. Murph hit 28 more home runs than any other player and had 21 more RBI than any other player. While it has been argued that Gold Gloves do not necessarily equal the best defender, Murph was definately one of the best defensive center fielders in the game at that time.
Looking at Williams between the 1994 and 2003 seasons Williams was number four in runs scored trailing the leader by 166. Williams was #14 in HR and #4 in RBI trailing the leader by over 200 in both categories.
The biggest reason Murphy is not going to make the Hall is because his career did not last long enough for him to amass high enough totals for him to be judged against the other greats. Add to that his totals are also looked at agianst today's players and it makes it that much harder to elect him.
I would love to see him make it into the Hall of Fame because he was one of my favorite players and one of the biggest reasons I was drawn into the game of baseball. He was the most exciting player to watch back then.
But fifty years from now, I imagine not too many people will be talking about him. That is the biggest reason one should be elected into the hall of fame in my opinion.