Spud Murray
Meredith Warrington "Spud" Murray[1] (October 28, 1928 – September 15, 2011[2]) was an American minor league baseball player and Major League Baseball (MLB) batting practice pitcher. Murray was possibly the first full-time batting practice pitcher in Yankees history.[citation needed]
Career[]
Murray attended , where he starred in baseball and basketball, ranking among the best players in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He signed with the Cleveland Indians. However, an arm injury limited his playing career.[3] The Indians sold Murray to the independent Montgomery Rebels of the South Atlantic League in 1954.[4]
Mayo Smith, the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, hired Murray as his batting practice pitcher in 1958.[3] He joined the New York Yankees in the same role two years later.[1][3]
Personal[]
Murray lived in . He enjoyed hunting and fishing, often going fishing with Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford.[3]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bradbury, Wilbur (September 9, 1961). "Yank Pitcher Befriends M Squad; Murray Loosens Up Batters in Drills Before Games Maris, Mantle Have Hit 280 Homers Off Hurler". The New York Times. p. 22. Retrieved October 22, 2012. (subscription required)
- ^ "In Memory of Meredith W. "Spud" Murray 1928 - 2011". Brown Funeral Homes, Inc. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Gebhart, Ed (January 18, 2009). "Mickey Mantle, Marilyn Monroe ... if only Spud would write that book". Delco Times. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
- ^ "Indians Sell Spud Murray, Also Catron". Reading Eagle. February 23, 1954. p. 21. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
External links[]
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- 1928 births
- 2011 deaths
- Batavia Clippers players
- Harrisburg Senators players
- Wilkes-Barre Indians players
- Reading Indians players
- Birmingham Barons players
- Tulsa Oilers (baseball) players
- Montgomery Rebels players
- Charlotte Hornets (baseball) players
- Chattanooga Lookouts players
- Baseball players from Pennsylvania
- People from Media, Pennsylvania