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O’s Black History Legends: Eddie Murray

As Black History Month comes to a close, our Stephen Heckman recognizes the most influential Black players in Orioles’ history, continuing with first baseman Eddie Murray:

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Stephen Heckman

When you think of first basemen, Eddie Murray has to enter the conversation, and that’s not just in Baltimore. 

Murray was one of the best first basemen of his time, leading the majors with 996 runs batted in during the 1980s decade. Nicknamed “Steady Eddie” for his calm demeanor at the dish, Murray’s legend status is as big as the numbers he put up during his career. 

Murray was selected in the third round of the 1973 Amateur Player Draft after hitting .500 during his senior year at Locke High School in Los Angeles. Fun fact, he was teammates with Ozzie Smith at the time.

Murray would spend four years tormenting the minors before debuting on April 7, 1977. He would go on to play in 160 games, collecting 173 hits, including 27 home runs and 29 doubles, while driving in 88 runs. It was the first and only time during his career that he struck out over 100 times in a season.

For his efforts, Murray would become the second Black Orioles player to win the Rookie of the Year Award, the first being Al Bumbry in 1973. 

Murray would become a consistent presence at the plate, becoming an All-Star in 1978 and again from 1981-’86. During that time, Steady Eddie would finish in the top 10 in MVP voting seven times, finishing second in 1982 and 1983. He also won three straight Gold Gloves from 1982-’84.

Cal Ripken Jr. and Murray became close friends, with Ripken Jr. giving credit to Murray for teaching him proper work ethic. They teamed to win the 1983 World Series, which was unfortunately the last Fall Classic that the Orioles have won.

It was in 1986 when things began to sour between Murray and the Oriole brass. He accused team officials of pressuring him to return from an ankle injury prematurely.

Murray would request to be traded after team owner Edward Bennett Williams would criticize Murray’s work ethic, his offseason habits and his defense. The request to be traded would not be fulfilled until December of 1988.

He would be dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Ken Howell, Brian Holton and Juan Bell. The Baltimore Sun called it one of the lowest moments in the city’s sports history. It was likened to the Colts leaving Baltimore and Johnny Unitas being able to leave and play for the San Diego Chargers. 

Murray would go on to have a very strong career after the trade. However, in July of 1996, the Orioles would trade pitcher Kent Merker to the Cleveland Indians for a reunion with Murray.

In the middle of the 1996 pennant race, Murray would reunite with the team that drafted him and Cal Ripken Jr. to help the Orioles reach the ALCS before losing to the New York Yankees (the series that the infamous Jeffrey Maier incident occurred).

On September 6, 1996, Murray would hit his 500th career home run, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron as the only players to have 3,000 hits and 500 home runs for their career (Rafael Palmeiro, Álex Rodríguez, Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera have since joined this rare club).

Murray was granted free agency at the end of the year and would sign with the Anaheim Angels before signing with the Dodgers after his release. He would retire at the end of the season. 

Murray would get involved in coaching and became the Orioles’ bench coach for the ’98 and ’99 seasons before becoming the first base coach for the team for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. He served as the Indians’ hitting coach from 2001-2005 and then with the Dodgers for 2006 and part of the 2007. 

Murray was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. He’s also a member of the Orioles Hall of Fame and had his No. 33 retired by the organization in 1998.

Murray was named the fifth best first baseman of all time in 2010 and is listed 77th in the Sporting News Top 100 Greatest Players. He has the most RBIs (1,917) by a switch-hitter in MLB history while also holding the record for games with home runs from both sides of the plate (11).

He holds the record for most sacrifice flies (128) and assists (1,865) by a first baseman and ranks fourth in career grand slams (19) and sixth in career intentional walks (222).

Murray ranks second in home runs for the Orioles and fourth in both hits and games played. 

Outside of baseball, Murray made a donation in the 1980s to the Baltimore City Parks and Recreation Department, which went to establish the Carrie Murray Nature Center, named after his late mother.

In 2008, Murray released a charity wine called Eddie Murray Wine Cabernet 504, named after the total number of home runs he hit during his career. The proceeds from the wine are donated to the Baltimore Community Foundation.

The Orioles unveiled a bronze statue of Murray at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 11, 2012, to celebrate and honor his historic career in Baltimore. He is now a special advisor and community ambassador for the organization.

Steady Eddie was a fierce competitor and a consistent menace at the plate, making him a top player in the history of Baltimore baseball. We celebrate him and his contributions to Birdland this Black History Month.

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