Meredith Warrington "Spud" Murray [1] (October 28, 1928 – September 15, 2011[2] ) was an American minor league baseball player and Major League Baseball (MLB) batting practice pitcher. Murray was possibly the first full-time batting practice pitcher in Yankees history.[citation needed ]
Career
Murray attended Media High School , where he starred in baseball and basketball , ranking among the best players in Delaware County, Pennsylvania . He signed with the Cleveland Indians . However, an arm injury limited his playing career.[3] The Indians sold Murray to the independent Montgomery Rebels of the South Atlantic League in 1954.[4]
Mayo Smith , the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies , hired Murray as his batting practice pitcher in 1958.[3] He joined the New York Yankees in the same role two years later.[1] [3]
Personal
Murray lived in Waterloo, Pennsylvania . He enjoyed hunting and fishing, often going fishing with Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford .[3]
References
^ a b Bradbury, Wilbur (September 9, 1961). "Yank Pitcher Befriends M Squad; Murray Loosens Up Batters in Drills Before Games Maris, Mantle Have Hit 280 Homers Off Hurler" . The New York Times . p. 22. Retrieved October 22, 2012 . (subscription required)
^ "In Memory of Meredith W. "Spud" Murray 1928 - 2011" . Brown Funeral Homes, Inc. Retrieved 14 November 2014 .
^ a b c d Gebhart, Ed (January 18, 2009). "Mickey Mantle, Marilyn Monroe ... if only Spud would write that book" . Delco Times . Retrieved October 22, 2012 .
^ "Indians Sell Spud Murray, Also Catron" . Reading Eagle . February 23, 1954. p. 21. Retrieved October 22, 2012 .
External links