Baltimore Orioles Mount Rushmore
By David Hill
Eddie Murray (1977-1988)
One of four players in baseball history with 3000 hits and 500 homers, Eddie Murray was a quiet superstar. His steady production with the Baltimore Orioles helped keep the franchise in contention during the majority of his tenure.
Murray was considered “snakebit” when it came to awards. He won the 1977 AL Rookie of the Year, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. In between, Murray was a seven time All Star with the Orioles, taking home three Gold Glove awards and two Silver Sluggers. However, that snakebit reputation came from his two second place finishes in the AL MVP vote, and how he has the highest career voting share of any player to never actually win an MVP award.
During his time in Baltimore, Murray established himself as one of the best hitters in the American League. He produced a .294/.370/.498 batting line, hitting 343 homers and 363 doubles. Murray hit more than 20 homers in 12 of his 13 seasons in Baltimore, helping him earn his nickname of Steady Eddie.
He was also a solid first baseman. Murray was placed in different spots on defense, including left field and third base, as Earl Weaver looked to find a way to keep his bat in the lineup. he became a Gold Glove caliber first baseman, leading the league in putouts and double plays three times. Murray also ranks 11th overall in runs saved at first, and was typically amongst the league leaders in that metric as well.
A quiet star, Eddie Murray helped power the Baltimore Orioles attack during the end of their Golden Age. One of the greatest switch hitters of all time, Murray made quite the impact upon the Orioles.