Leo Joseph "Red"
[ ] Murphy (January 7, 1889 – August 12, 1960) was a
catcher
Catcher is a Baseball positions, position in baseball and softball. When a Batter (baseball), batter takes their at bat, turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home plate, home) Umpire (baseball), umpire, and recei ...
in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
who played for the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
during the season. Listed at , 179 lb, Murphy batted and threw right-handed. He was born in
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, about 5 miles east of the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a ...
.
Murphy started his professional career in 1912 with Double-A
Columbus Senators
The Columbus Senators Minor league baseball team was created in as a founding member of the Tri-State League. After that, the Senators played in the Western League (1897-1899), Interstate League (1900), Western Association (1901), and America ...
of the
American Association American Association may refer to:
Baseball
* American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891
* American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997
* American Association of Profe ...
. He spent three years in the
Minor leagues
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...
before joining the Pirates early in the 1915 season. While in Pittsburgh, he served as a backup for regular catcher
George Gibson. He hit .098 (4-for-41) in 31 games, including four
RBI and four
runs scored.
Following his majors career, Murphy returned to minor league action for five more years between 1916 and 1927. In a nine-season career, he was a .255 hitter with 15
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
s in 801 games. He later
coached in the minors and also
managed during five years in the
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was a professional women's baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. The AAGPBL is the forerunner of women's professional league sports in the Uni ...
for the
Racine Belles
The Racine Belles were one of the original teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing from through out of Racine, Wisconsin. The Belles won the league's first championship. The team played its home games at Horlick Fi ...
, leading them to three consecutive playoff appearances, including the Championship Title in 1946. He posted a combined 310–259 record for a .554
winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of match ...
.
Murphy was a longtime resident of
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River. Racine is situated 22 miles (35 km) south of Milwaukee and approximately 60 ...
, where he died at the age of 71.
Fact
* The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League folded in 1954, but there is now a permanent display at the
Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-re ...
at
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in and county seat of Otsego County, New York, United States. Most of the village lies within the town of Otsego, but some of the eastern part is in the town of Middlefield. Located at the foot of Otsego Lake in the C ...
since November 5, 1988 that honors those who were part of this unique experience. Murphy, along with the rest of the league, is now enshrined in the Hall.
References
Sources
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League entryBaseball.Reference.com – major league statisticsBaseball.Reference.com – minor league statistics
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, Leo
Major League Baseball catchers
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Columbus Senators players
Fargo-Moorhead Graingrowers players
Kalamazoo Kazoos players
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league) players
Waco Cubs players
Winona Pirates players
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League managers
Baseball players from Indiana
Sportspeople from Terre Haute, Indiana
Baseball players from Racine, Wisconsin
1889 births
1960 deaths