Joe Murray (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Ambrose Murray was a pitcher
who played in Major League Baseball
during the season. Listed at 6' 0", 165 lb., Murray batted and threw left handed. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
.
At age 29, it had been a long journey to the major leagues for Joe Murray. The southpaw hurler debuted in 1940 with Class-D Easton, a Eastern Shore League affiliate team of the New York Yankees
. He would spend his next three seasons with three different clubs, compiling a 35-25 record and a 3.70 earned run average
in four full seasons, but his baseball career was interrupted in 1943 after he entered service in the United States Navy during World War II
.
Following his discharge in 1946, Murray was part of successive transactions between the Yankees, Washington Senators
and Philadelphia Athletics
organizations. In 1947, he led the Class-B Colonial League with a 2.34 ERA while going 12-7 in 22 pitching appearances. His most productive season came in 1950, when he posted a 20-14 record with a 2.94 ERA and was selected for the Florida International League
All-Star team.
Finally, Murray had his chance to play in the major leagues when he joined the last place Athletics on August 17, 1950. He lost all three of his decisions in eight games (two starts), allowing 20 runs
(19 earned) on 34 hits
and 21 walks
while striking out
eight batters. He registered a 5.70 ERA in 30 innings of work.
After his brief stint with the Athletics Murray returned to the minors and pitched from 1951 through 1953. In a eleven-season career, he finished with a 111-113 mark and a 3.87 ERA in 344 games. He later managed
the Wytheville Statesmen
of the Appalachian League
in 1954.
When his baseball career ended, Murray went to work for Union Carbide
and later worked as a construction company roofing contractor. He was a long time resident of San Clemente, California
, where he died at the age of 80.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
during the season. Listed at 6' 0", 165 lb., Murray batted and threw left handed. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
.
At age 29, it had been a long journey to the major leagues for Joe Murray. The southpaw hurler debuted in 1940 with Class-D Easton, a Eastern Shore League affiliate team of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He would spend his next three seasons with three different clubs, compiling a 35-25 record and a 3.70 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in four full seasons, but his baseball career was interrupted in 1943 after he entered service in the United States Navy during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Following his discharge in 1946, Murray was part of successive transactions between the Yankees, Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
and Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
organizations. In 1947, he led the Class-B Colonial League with a 2.34 ERA while going 12-7 in 22 pitching appearances. His most productive season came in 1950, when he posted a 20-14 record with a 2.94 ERA and was selected for the Florida International League
Florida International League
The Florida International League was a lower- to mid-level circuit in American and Cuban minor league baseball that existed from 1946 through July 27, 1954. It was designated Class C for its first three seasons, then upgraded to Class B in 1949 for the final 5½ years of its existence.The FIL...
All-Star team.
Finally, Murray had his chance to play in the major leagues when he joined the last place Athletics on August 17, 1950. He lost all three of his decisions in eight games (two starts), allowing 20 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(19 earned) on 34 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and 21 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
while striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
eight batters. He registered a 5.70 ERA in 30 innings of work.
After his brief stint with the Athletics Murray returned to the minors and pitched from 1951 through 1953. In a eleven-season career, he finished with a 111-113 mark and a 3.87 ERA in 344 games. He later managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
the Wytheville Statesmen
Wytheville Statesmen
The Wytheville Statesmen were a minor league baseball team located in Wytheville, Virginia. The Statesmen were a member of the Appalachian League. In an Orbit commercial the Statesman appeared in tight sailor-suits and danced the "macarena" while holding large Mickey Mouse lollipops....
of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
in 1954.
When his baseball career ended, Murray went to work for Union Carbide
Union Carbide
Union Carbide Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. It currently employs more than 2,400 people. Union Carbide primarily produces chemicals and polymers that undergo one or more further conversions by customers before reaching consumers. Some are high-volume...
and later worked as a construction company roofing contractor. He was a long time resident of San Clemente, California
San Clemente, California
San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
, where he died at the age of 80.