Baltimore Orioles fans can probably still hear the chant ED-DIE, ED-DIE, echoing in their ears amid the clanging of hands and legs on the metal seats of Memorial Stadium.
The Hall of Famer who belted 504 home runs is remembered by many.
His accomplishments on the field were plentiful, but he was somewhat quiet and aloof to the media so he was not the easiest player to get to know.
Through the years, he loosened up and became a fan-favorite especially in Baltimore where his career began.
What happened to him?
Baltimore Orioles – 1977-1988 and 1996
Eddie Murray was an Oriole in the height of the Orioles magic era.
His best playing years were spent as an Oriole.
He was a member of the Orioles from 1977-1988 and made an encore appearance in 1996.
Eddie was AL Rookie of the Year in 1977 and went on to be named to the All Star Team in 1978 and from 1981-1986.
In 1981, he was both the AL Home Run and RBI leader.
He was a three-time Golden Glove Award winner from 1982-1984, and he was awarded the Silver Slugger Award in 1983 and 1984.
His only World Series Championship came in 1983 as the Orioles defeated the Phillies which was sweet redemption for the 1979 World Series the Orioles dropped to the Pirates after leading the series 3 games to 1.
Eddie’s manager for much of his tenure in Baltimore, legendary Earl Weaver said this about him:
“From the time I saw Eddie Murray swing a bat, I felt sure her was going to be something special. I knew right away he was going to be a great asset to the Baltimore Orioles.”
Teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Jim Palmer added:
“I know Eddie ended up playing with teams other than the Orioles, but he learned the game the Orioles Way. To think he is mentioned with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays indicated how complete a player he was. I am just glad he was wearing our uniform; he could help the Orioles win in so many ways. “
The Other Years
Los Angeles Dodgers – 1989-1991 and 1997
New York Mets – 1992-1993
Cleveland Indians 1994-1996
Anaheim Angels 1997
Eddie, the California native, did venture west and played for Dodgers’ legendary coach Tommy Lasorda.
He also played for the Mets, Indians, and Angels in the twilight of his career.
His play garnered him another Silver Slugger Award in 1990 and another trip the All-Star Team in 1991, this time as a member of the National League team.
He retired at the end of the 1997 season.
Coaching
Eddie didn’t leave the game though.
He rejoined the Orioles first as a bench coach and then became the first base coach.
His tenure with the Orioles ran from 1998-2002.
Another former team, the Cleveland Indians, hired him as a hitting coach from 2002-2005.
He rejoined another former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, as hitting coach from 2006-2007.
Records and Statistics
Eddie’s legacy as a player is full of records.
His career batting average was .287.
He hit 504 home runs and had 1,917 RBIs with 3,255 hits.
Eddie is 1 of 6 players in the 500 homerun, 3,000 hit club and the only switch hitter.
Those other players are Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, and Rafael Palmiero.
The only switch hitter to hit more homeruns than Eddie is Mickey Mantle with 536.
He has the most RBIs among switch hitters of all time.
Eddie hit homeruns from both sides in 11 games in his career.
He has 19 grand slams which ranks him fourth all-time behind Alex Rodriguez, Lou Gehrig, and Manny Ramirez.
Eddie was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame in 1999.
He was then inducted into the Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, 2003.
January 8, 2003: Eddie Murray, the only switch-hitter with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, is elected to the Hall of Fame with 85% in his first year of eligibility. In two seasons with the @Mets (1992-1993), Murray batted .274 with 43 HR and 193 RBI. #LGM #MetsRewind pic.twitter.com/9OcgBYeMJ1
— Mets Rewind (@metsrewind) January 8, 2021
Life After Baseball
Murray, who is a native of California, has always had an interest in wine and winemaking.
“About 15 years ago, I really discovered a love and passion for wine, especially those made in the Sonoma and Napa Valleys,” Murray said. “For the last 10 years, I have been visiting and tasting the wines from those areas and been fortunate to taste with many of the owners and winemakers of some of the best wineries in the area.”
Murray has been a supporter of Baltimore’s Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum, putting his name on a wine whose proceeds have been donated to the museum.
Murray still resides in California, but still shows up in Baltimore for charitable events that include schools for at-risk children.
He also returns for most Orioles reunion events.
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