Danny Murtaugh Biography and Justification
So in addition to his loyalty to one team of almost 30 years which is rarely seen, what makes Danny Murtaugh so special and why should he be elected to the Hall of Fame? Well, outside the statistical realm, it is simple – it is his heart. He was not just a player or manager, he was family to those around him and he touched the lives of so many during his career. Statistically, he matches other managers in the Hall very favorably. Keep in mind that he did not manage the Yankees or Dodgers. He managed a team in a very small media market and kept them competitive almost every year that he managed. His love for the game and fire he displayed on the field led to him being given a minor league manger’s position by the Pirates after his playing career ended in 1951.
During the 1950s, the Pirates were the worst team in Major League Baseball. Finally, in August, 1957, he was called upon to finish the season as the Pirates’ manager. When he took over that year, the Pirates had a 36-67 record. Under Danny Murtaugh, they finished the rest of the year 26-25, which gave an immediate indication as to what Murtaugh could do as a manager. In 1958, he led them to a second place finish and their best record since 1944.
Then in 1960, he led them to their first World Series appearance since 1927. No one gave them a chance against the powerful New York Yankees led by Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, and their legendary Manager – Casey Stengel. They virtually had an all–star at every position. But the Pirates pulled off one of the major upsets in all of sports history by defeating the Yankees in seven games when Bill Mazeroski hit his dramatic 9th inning homer to win the series for Pittsburgh. Of note, that is my first recollection of baseball as I remember my father telling me about how Mazersoski just shocked the world with his home run. To me this is a very key moment as to why Murtaugh should be in the Hall of Fame. He was matched against the immortal Yankees’ manager Casey Stengel, who is considered to be one of the greatest managers of all time. But Danny did not have the fire power to match Stengel’s Yankees. The Yankees won their three games by scores of 16-3, 10-0, and 12-0. The Pirates’ wins were by 6-4, 3-2, 5-2 and 10-9 – all close games where managerial decisions could tip the game either way.
Following the 1960 championship, Murtaugh began having health problems that forced him to retire from managing twice over the next decade. But again in 1971, he led the Pirates back to the World Series against the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles, led by Hall of Fame Manager Earl Weaver. Again, no one gave them a chance. I remember that before the series began one of the newspapers in the Baltimore area posted “Orioles in Three!” But again, somehow the Pirates prevailed and won a dramatic 2–1 game seven to bring home the championship to Pittsburgh one more time.
So, two times Murtaugh was in the World Series. Two times he managed against Hall of Fame managers. Two times his teams were not supposed to win more than one game. BUT BOTH TIMES THE PIRATES WON. Both times Danny Murtaugh led teams with lesser skilled players to wins against legendary managers who were managing teams with far more stars than Danny had. You just can not tell me he does not belong in the Hall of Fame. When he was again forced to retire from managing in 1976, he had built another team that was ready to contend for another championship, but Danny would not get to see it as he died a few months after he retired.
Statistically, of the 19 managers currently in the Hall of Fame, only nine have a higher winning percentage than Danny’s .540. Murtaugh’s two World Series Championships have only been surpassed by seven of the 19 Hall of Fame managers. His only drawback is that, due to health problems, he did not manage as many years as the other managers. BUT, when he was not managing, he still served as a player evaluator and special advisor to the Pirates’ General Manager. Even though he was suffering health–wise, he still maintained his support and loyalty to the Pirates.
The Pirates have been in existence since 1891 and have won five World Series Championships – Murtaugh won two of those five (40%) and was the only Pirate manager to win more than one. Only Fred Clarke has won more games as a Pirate manager and he is already in the Hall as a player. There have been nine people to have their numbers retired by the Pirates – clearly something the Pirates do not take lightly, as seven of those nine are in the Hall of Fame. Only Danny and Billy Meyer are not in the Hall. Danny Murtaugh is and always will be Pittsburgh Pirate baseball. When stories are told of the Pirates’ history, players mentioned will be Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell, the Waner brothers, Kiki Cuyler, Pie Traynor, and DANNY MURTAUGH. He is the only one of those names not already in the Hall of Fame. We need to change that next year.
I tried to keep this explanation short, but he did so much for baseball and for people that it is impossible. In the era of racial tensions, he was the first manager to ever field an entire all-black lineup in 1971. When asked about that historic lineup, he replied “I just put the best nine players out on the field.” Danny did not see race when he looked at someone, he saw people and respected each and every one for their value they brought to humanity.
Danny Murtaugh gave his life and soul to the day he died to baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates’ players. If he had managed a team in a major media market, he would already be in the Hall of Fame. If his health hadn’t forced him to retire four times, his record would eclipse most of those managers who have already been selected. A person’s record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the game are to be considered when deciding I if the person should enter the Hall of Fame. I can not think of anyone who can surpass Danny when discussing these attributes. Let’s do the right thing for Danny Murtaugh, the Pirates, and baseball and put him in the 2010 class of the Hall of Fame.
