Dale Murphy and the HoF

You and Murphy had a different viewpoint on what at the time was a controversial subject. Doesn't make him "not a nice guy" because your job and his beliefs were at odds. And it certainly doesn't make him a phony, since it was pretty consistent with the old-fashioned, deeply religious beliefs he held.

Sometimes people need to forget about trying to judge people's character on "how easy or difficult they make it for me to do my job."

I understand the frustration of those times. But unless you can come up with someone OTHER THAN a female sportswriter who was ever treated questionably by Murphy, I think the body of his work throughout his life qualifies for Nice Guy Hall of Fame.

 

Controversy or not, discriminating against half the population -- his religious views are quite irrelevant, IMO; old-fashioned gives you no license to be a bigot -- does seem to push his qualifications down a bit.

"Someone OTHER THAN a female sportswriter." That's rich, especially on this site.

 

He discriminated against 0.000004% of the population --- those he was uncomfortable having in the locker room.

I'd say the good works he has done for thousands of other girls and women (and boys and men) tilt the balance in his favor.

 

I am speaking from personal experience. And trust me, it wasn't just about the locker room. He was an ass outside of the locker room and a sexist to boot. Even when people played by "his rules," and did the interviews outside the locker room, etc., he was nasty to them.

 

What about Bob Horner? Granted they were the only two legit major leaguers in the Braves lineup for a long time, but Horner offered Murphy some protection.

 

Magic beat me to it. I lost all respect for Murphy when I saw his reaction to and treatment of female reporters in the locker room.
And his career was in no way Hall of Fame worthy.

 

Dale Murphy falls into the category I've spoken of, where players had noteworthy careers but don't qualify for the Hall.
No Hall for Murphy.

 

Either put Murphy in the HoF or kick Gary Carter out.

 

Carter shouldn't be there either.
Lord, no!

 

Seriously, stump, it was more than that. It was his attitude that women not only didn't belong in the lockerroom, they had no right being sportswriters or thining they could cover the game of baseball.
I remember a day at Shea when he wanted the Braves PR people to keep the clubhouse closed post-game because there were female reporters present and the next day he refused to even speak to one of them in the dugout before the game. Told her "you don't belong here."

 

Maybe not a bad guy, but it's probably a good reason to keep him out of the Nice Guy Hall of Fame.