Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 28, 1993 TAG: 9305280143
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: HOUSTON LENGTH: Medium
Murphy, hitting .143 with no homers and seven RBI as a backup for the expansion Colorado Rockies, made the announcement at a hastily arranged news conference before a game against the Houston Astros.
"I had a few tears this morning . . . as I guess most guys do when they say goodbye to something that's close to them," Murphy said. "I'll miss the game of baseball."
The seven-time All-Star choked back tears while discussing the game he started playing when he was 8. He said there were "many reasons" for the decision, which he arrived at Thursday morning.
He said it was time for him to "become part of real life."
"Playing baseball is not real life, it's a fantasy world. To be able to go out there and play baseball, it's a dream come true," he said.
Murphy, 37, acknowledged his poor performance with the Rockies. He said club officials, needing to make a roster move, had hinted at his release.
"I have no problem with that, they have to do what they have do," he said. "I haven't really been doing the job, which was fairly obvious."
Aside from not winning a World Series, Murphy said he regrets not reaching 400 homers.
"I should have done it," he said. "I had plenty of pitches and plenty of opportunities to do it. I didn't do it. I'm thankful to be able to be around and hit those that I did."
The Rockies asked Murphy to stay with the club in some capacity. He declined, saying that while he hasn't decided what his future holds, his baseball life is over.
On April 3, Murphy was released from his minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies so he could sign a one-year contract with Colorado, which needed veteran bench support.
Murphy was Atlanta's first pick in the June 1974 amateur draft. He won Gold Gloves from 1982-86 and was the NL MVP in 1982 and '83.
He was traded to the Phillies with pitcher Tommy Greene in August 1990 for Jeff Parrett, Jim Vatcher and Victor Rosario.
Murphy was 27th on the career home run list and fourth among active players.
This spring, he hit .231 in 14 games as a non-roster player. He played in only 18 games last year because of knee surgery, hitting .161 with two home runs.
Murphy said he planned to return Thursday to Grantville, Ga., where he lives with his wife, Nancy, and their seven sons.
by CNB