Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 1, 1995 TAG: 9507030068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MINNEAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium
Murray became the second switch-hitter and only the 20th player in major-league baseball history to reach 3,000 hits when he singled Friday night.
Murray joined Pete Rose, the career hits leader with 4,256, as the lone switch-hitters to reach 3,000. The Cleveland Indians designated hitter did it by grounding a single through the right side of the Minnesota infield in the sixth inning off Twins pitcher Mike Trombley.
``It feels good to get it out of the way,'' Murray said. ``Now the joking's over.
``I hope things get back to normal,'' he said. ``It'll be a lot better once I'm done playing. I never set 3,000 as a goal. I know there were people out there happier than I was. It's not what I was focused on.''
Murray, who picked up his 2,999th hit Thursday night but went hitless in his last four at-bats of that game, drew a walk from Trombley in the second inning and flied out in the fourth. Murray finished 1-for-3 on Friday night in a 4-1 Indians victory.
When he stepped into the batter's box in the sixth, Murray said he was more concerned about moving teammate Albert Belle to third than he was about getting hit No.3,000.
``It was a fastball down,'' he said. ``I know. I had missed enough change-ups.''
After his historic hit, Murray, 39, shook hands with Cleveland first-base coach Dave Nelson and Twins first baseman Scott Stahoviak. They were then joined by the rest of the Indians, led by Dave Winfield, who later took pictures from the dugout.
``I just said, `Congratulations. Way to go, man,''' Winfield said. ``What else can you say at a time like that?''
Winfield had been the last player to reach 3,000 hits, doing it Sept.16, 1993 - also at the Metrodome - while with Minnesota. Murray and Winfield are the first teammates with 3,000 hits since Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Eddie Collins played for the 1928 Philadelphia Athletics.
``I told myself not to let the 3,000th-hit bid to be my mindset,'' Trombley said. ``I should pitch him the same way, whether it be his first hit, 100th or 3,000th.
``He's always been a class act and if he had to get if off someone, it may as well be me. There's several thousand other guys that he's had hits off of.''
While the crowd stood and cheered, a series of Murray's career highlights was shown on the Metrodome scoreboard. Murray, who rarely shows any emotion on the field, smiled as he raised both hands over his head twice to acknowledge the ovation.
``I wanted them to hurry up and get off the field,'' Murray said. ``Then I saw the video board and I said, `Geez, how long is this going to be?' I just wanted to keep playing.''
All eligible players with 3,000 hits are in the Hall of Fame. Rose has been banned from consideration because of his gambling activities, Winfield is active and George Brett and Robin Yount have not been retired for the mandatory five years.
Next up in the chase for 3,000 are Florida's Andre Dawson (2,723) and Toronto's Paul Molitor (2,691). Before Winfield did it, Brett and Yount were the most recent to reach 3,000, both in 1992.
``He acts like it's nothing special, but we're all going, `Wow,''' said Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. ``He has more hits than I have at-bats.''
by CNB