Joe Murray
Joseph Ambrose Murray
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 0", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut August 17, 1950
- Final Game September 28, 1950
- Born November 11, 1920 in Wilkes-Barre, PA USA
- Died October 19, 2001 in San Clemente, CA USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Joe Murray was a 29-year-old veteran minor leaguer when he made the long jump from the West Palm Beach Indians of the class B Florida International League to the last-place Philadelphia Athletics on August 17, 1950. He lost all three of his decisions in eight games for the Athletics. This would be Joe's only work in the majors and he finished with a 0-3 record and a 5.70 ERA while pitching 30 innings. Murray had been 20-14 with a 2.94 ERA for West Palm when called up by the Athletics.
The New York Yankees had signed Murray as an amateur free agent in 1940 and the left-hander spent his first three seasons (1940-1942) with four different clubs, building a 35-25 record with a 3.70 ERA. Joe was then inducted into the United States Military and spent the next three years (1943-1945) with the Navy during World War II.
After returning from the service, Joe had three good years. He led the class B Colonial League with a 2.34 ERA in 1947 while going 12-7 and he also won 15 games for West Palm Beach in 1949. Joe was chosen for the 1950 All-Star team in the Florida International League, with his career-year performance, before his call from the Athletics. He brought a 55-53 post-war record to the Show. After his short stay with the A's, he went back to the minors and played three more years (1951-1953) but did not have another winning season. Murray finished out his eleven active years in the minor leagues with a 111-113 record and a 3.87 ERA.
Not wanting to quit just yet, Murray tried his hand at managing with the Wytheville Statesmen of the class D Appalachian League in 1954. Joe was one of three men who took on the job but the Statesmen finished last in the league with a 36-82 record. This was it for Murray and he chose to leave baseball, going to work for the Union Carbide Steel Company in Niagara Falls, NY.
Murray, who later moved to the West Coast, died October 19, 2001, in San Clemente, CA, where he had been a construction company roofing contractor.
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