Murph's top 10 career moments

Dale Murphy was one of baseball’s top players during the 1980s and the two-time National League MVP remains one of the most beloved figures in Braves history.

Murphy ranked second in home runs and third in RBIs among all MLB players during the 1980s. He earned seven All-Star selections, captured five Gold Glove Awards and won consecutive MVP Awards in 1982 and ’83.

Here is a look at the top 10 moments of Murphy’s career, as he turns 66 years old on Saturday:

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1. First MVP
Braves fans old enough to have experienced the 1982 season likely have fond memories of turning on TBS on a nightly basis to see Atlanta make an unexpected run toward a National League West title. A club that had struggled throughout the late 1970s was now catching the attention of the nation via the power of cable. Murphy became the star attraction, as he belted 36 homers and collected an NL-best 109 RBIs. His success for the division champs earned him the first of two consecutive NL MVP Awards.

2. Second MVP
Murphy was even better in 1983, as he hit 36 homers, for the second straight year, and led the NL in both RBIs (121) and OPS (.933). The Braves fell short in their bid to repeat as division champions. But Murphy won a second straight MVP Award. He remains the only player in Braves history to win multiple MVP Awards.

3. The streak
Murphy’s march toward his first MVP Award began as the Braves won their first 13 games of the 1982 season. The talented outfielder belted four homers and produced a 1.017 OPS within this span that electrified Atlanta. His third homer of the season was a two-run homer off Nolan Ryan that propelled the Braves to a 5-0 win over the Astros on April 11.

4. Three-homer game
Murphy provided a glimpse of his great potential when he tallied a career-best three home runs during a 6-4 win over the Giants on May 18, 1979 in Atlanta. Murphy homered twice of Vida Blue within the first three innings and then added another off Tom Griffin in the seventh. The former catcher produced this memorable day before moving to the outfield. He joins Bob Tillman (1969) and Gene Oliver (1966) as the only Braves players to have a three-homer game as a catcher.

5. Five-hit game
Another indication of future success was witnessed when Murphy produced a career-best five hits, including two home runs and a triple, in a 10-7 win over the Padres on Sept. 14, 1979. Murphy homered in the second inning, tallied a go-ahead triple in the seventh and then provided cushion by hitting back-to-back homers with Bob Horner in the ninth.

6. 300th homer
Whether you blame the 1981 players’ strike or the defensive struggles that delayed Murphy’s attempt to stick at the Major League level, it doesn’t seem right that he ended his career with 398 homers. Would 400 home runs have earned him election to the Hall of Fame? Maybe not. But there was a point where it looked like he might reach the 500-homer milestone. He hit his 300th homer against the Pirates’ Brian Fisher on Aug. 21, 1987. He was just 31 years old and within a six-season stretch during which he averaged 36 homers per season. But chronic knee issues took a toll as the slugger’s production significantly declined over the next few years.

7. 44th homer
Murphy capped his last great season by hitting his career-high 44th homer during a 5-4 loss in San Francisco on Oct. 4, 1987. His sixth-inning solo shot off Atlee Hammaker left him five homers shy of Andre Dawson’s NL-leading total (49). Murphy led the NL in homers during the 1984 (36) and 1985 (37) seasons.

8. MLB debut
Murphy was the fifth overall selection in the 1974 MLB Draft and he made his MLB debut as a 20-year-old catcher on Sept. 13, 1976. He recorded a pair of singles that day at Dodger Stadium. He played just 18 games for Atlanta in 1977 and then transitioned to first base, where more throwing issues led to him becoming an outfielder in 1980. The move proved quite beneficial as he won five straight Gold Glove Awards from 1982-86.

9. All-Star Game
Coming off consecutive MVP seasons, Murphy drew plenty of attention leading up to the 1984 All-Star Game at Candlestick Park. He didn’t disappoint as he helped the National League claim a 3-1 win courtesy of his run-scoring single in the first and solo homer in the eighth.

10. Dale Murphy Night
When Murphy arrived at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium on June 4, 1991, it marked the first time he played at his former home park since being traded to the Phillies in 1990. The Braves staged a 30-minute pregame ceremony, which Murphy shared with family, friends, former teammates and dignitaries like former Georgia Gov. Zell Miller. Murphy shed a few tears when it came time for him to say thanks to the fans who had supported him during his 15-season stint with the Braves.