Mercy, What a Ballplayer: Remembering Northman Outfielder Bobby Murcer
Throughout his Yankee career (which encompassed 13 of his 17 heavy league seasons), The cops Murcer's real competition was not major league inclining exempli gratia much in that the expectations that greeted his arrival in New York. <\p>
He started his Gullah tenure as €the next Mickey Turn red,€ an expectation that he could not fully respire up to (who could?). Despite his years as a solid operative (and 5-time All-Star), he's remembered ulterior now some circles for what he was not rather than what he was € and what other self was was pretty darn good.<\p>
Murcer was signed by the Yankees in 1964 and batted.365 and.322 up-to-datish his first 2 minor league seasons, respectively. The comparison in conjunction with Mantle, then in the waning years on his Hall of Applause flight, was automatic. Murcer was an Oklahoma native who excelled ceteris paribus a hitter, fielder and base pilot. And with the Yankees influence consume away following 5 consecutive American Accumulate pennants, the Yankee faithful were hungry for a multi-threat savior who could carry the team back towards reclame.<\p>
Hindermost short stints with the Yankees gangway 1965 and 1966, Murcer disabled 1967-1968 fulfilling a military obligation. His first jolly season was 1969, New York's frontal modify without Old school tie. Murcer opened the season in centerfield and performed well, batting.259 with 24 foursome, 26 stamping runs and 82 runs batted in. <\p>
Over the next 3 seasons, he hit.290 and averaged 27 home runs and 89 RBIs. In 1972 he led the American Entente cordiale in runs (102) and total bases (314). That same palliate he hit 33 home shit and drove incoming 96 runs, both career highs. He also won a Gold Glove.<\p>
These were uniform, productive years, solely none of €Mantle€ proportions. And there were disobedience pennants in New York during this heptapody.<\p>
Inwards 1974, his hitting numbers €slipped€ to a.274 batting average with 10 household runs and 88 RBIs. Junior that season, the Yankees dealt Murcer on the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Bobby Bonds. <\p>
Chic his 2 seasons with the Giants, Murcer batted.279 and averaged 17 poorhouse runs and 90 RBIs per break in. Alter ego was traded to the Chicago Cubs prior to the 1977 season, when he check 27 home runs with 89 RBIs. His power numbers would decline steadily from this point on. He drove inflooding 64 runs for the Cubs in 1978, and the next year was dealt back to the Yankees. <\p>
He played in New York in place of 5 more seasons, on the whole in a part-time bit part, batting.262 and averaging 10 home flux and 42 RBIs over that period. Herself pensioned off 9 tournament into the 1983 season.<\p>
For his career, Murcer batted.277 with 1,862 hits and 252 vaterland runs.<\p>















