Leo Murphy (baseball)

Leo Murphy
Leo Murphy
	Catcher
	Born: January 7, 1889; Terre Haute, Indiana
	Died: August 12, 1960 (aged 71); Racine, Wisconsin
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	May 2, 1915, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
	September 25, 1915, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Games played	31
At bats	41
Hits	4
Teams
	Pittsburgh Pirates (1915);

Leo Joseph "Red"^[1] Murphy (January 7, 1889 – August 12, 1960) was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1915 season. Listed at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 179 lb, Murphy batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Murphy started his professional career in 1912 with Double-A Columbus Senators of the American Association. He spent three years in the Minor leagues 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 runs in 801 games. He later coached in the minors and also managed during five years in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League for the Racine Belles, 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.

Murphy was a longtime resident of Racine, Wisconsin, 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 at Cooperstown, New York 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

^ "He Got the Dollar". The Racine Journal-Times. October 15, 1934. p. 6. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.