TTM Stats
- Sent: 6/13/2022 | Received: 7/11/2022 | 28 Days
- ’70 Topps, ’78 Topps
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Tom Murphy’s baseball career in the 1970s is a testament to perseverance and adaptability. Spanning over a decade, his journey through Major League Baseball (MLB) saw him evolve from a promising starter to a reliable reliever, leaving a lasting impact on the teams he played for.
Born on December 30, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio, Thomas Andrew Murphy grew up in Euclid, a suburb of Cleveland. He was raised in a family with a rich baseball heritage; his great-uncle, Buttons Briggs, pitched for the Chicago National League team in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Murphy attended Euclid High School and later played college baseball at Ohio University. After being drafted by the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants in earlier drafts, he finally signed with the California Angels, who selected him sixth overall in the January 1967 draft.
Murphy made his MLB debut with the California Angels on June 13, 1968. In his rookie season, he posted a commendable 2.17 ERA over 15 starts. The following year, he led the American League in wild pitches and hit batsmen, reflecting some control challenges. However, 1970 marked his best season, achieving a 16–13 record and a career-high in innings pitched at that time.
As his career progressed, Murphy transitioned from a starting pitcher to a reliever. In 1974, while with the Milwaukee Brewers, he appeared in 70 games, recording a 10–10 record with a remarkable 1.90 ERA and 20 saves. This performance highlighted his adaptability and effectiveness out of the bullpen.
Murphy continued to serve as a valuable reliever for teams like the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. He concluded his MLB career in 1979 with the Blue Jays, finishing with a career record of 68–101, a 3.78 ERA, 621 strikeouts, and 59 saves over 439 games.
Tom Murphy’s career is a reflection of determination and versatility. Whether starting games or closing them, he consistently contributed to his teams, adapting to new roles and challenges throughout the 1970s. His journey through multiple teams and positions underscores the resilience required to sustain a lengthy and impactful MLB career.
The Score on Tom Murphy – 7.0
Tom did a great job on these cards. I think my favorite of the two is the 1978 Topps card. One thing I really like about these two cards is the difference between the styles in the eight years between them. The 1970 card he looks clean cut and the style of the uniform is more vintage. On the other hand the 1978 Topps card he has long messy hair and that Blue Jays style is so 70’s.
Thanks Mr. Murphy! I’m giving this return a 7.
This is my second successful return from him. To see the first success, check out my post from November 2023.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.