[TheBigB]

If they had a Hall of Fame for great two-or-three-year stretches, Dale Murphy would be in it

I repeat..

Led the major leagues in home runs AND RBIs over the 10-year span from 1981 to 1990

Led the National League in games, at bats, runs, hits, extra base hits, RBI, runs created, total bases, and plate appearances in the 1980s

His peak was undoubtedly only a 3 to 4 year span, but I will defy anyone to say that from 1982 to 1987, Murphy was not only one of the best in the NL (alongsize Schmidt and Ozzie Smith), but that he was one of the best in the majors, period. :-)

[Charles Henrickson]

You make a good case. Not the Boy Scout stuff--that's nice, and I am all in favor of good sportsmanship, I root for guys like that, but that doesn't put him in the Hall. The case you make is the "relative to his era" case. That works if it is over an *extended* period of time, more than just a few peak seasons. You try to show that. You add the defensive excellence factor, which is a plus.

However, his more-than-a-couple mediocre years still diminish the overall impact. Also, the offensive standard for outfielders and first basemen is significantly higher than for other positions. At best Murphy is marginal. The fact some other marginals made it in in the past should not lower the bar.

[kevinm13]

The HoF is for a career's statistics. Dale Murphy had a good career but not really HoF numbers.

Jack Morris was a great pitcher in his time. He had the best record for pitchers in the AL in the 1980's. He isn't in the HoF and probably never will be. Same with Murphy. A few good years that he was dominant, but not a complete career where that excellence was consistent and better over time than most. Morris also has 3 rings while Murphy has none.