Danny Murphy (murphda04)

Daniel Francis Murphy

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• High School St. John's Preparatory School (Danvers)
• Debut June 18, 1960
• Final Game October 1, 1970
• Born August 23, 1942 in Beverly, MA USA

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Biographical Information

Danny Murphy had two separate careers in the major leagues, first as an outfielder with the Chicago Cubs as a teenager from 1960 to 1962, and second as a pitcher with the Chicago White Sox in 1969 and 1970. He was the youngest player in the National League when he broke into the majors in 1960.

Murphy was a huge star in high school, hitting .489 and going 11-0 as a pitcher. He became the biggest bonus baby up to that point, signing for $130,000 with the Cubs. He was soon in the majors, as a 17-year-old.

He hit only .120 in that first season, but became the youngest Cub to hit a homer, which he did after he turned 18.

After 1962, he was traded to the Houston Colt .45's, almost becoming part of their 1963 team that had so many youngsters between 18 and 21 years of age. He did not appear in the majors, however, and after the 1963 season was part of a trade to the White Sox for Nellie Fox.

He came back to the majors with the White Sox in 1969, having in the interim converted to pitching, posting an excellent 2.01 ERA with 4 saves in 17 games. The following year he dropped to 5.69 with 5 saves in 51 games. After the season, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox with Duane Josephson for Tony Muser and Vicente Romo, but he never appeared in the majors again.

In June 1970, he hit a homer in a game in which he earned the victory, thus becoming the last White Sox pitcher to do so until Jon Garland did it in June 2006.