Oakland Athletics: The Top 50 Oakland A’s of All-Time

#19: Dwayne Murphy

Although Dwayne Murphy only hit .246 in his career, he makes this list because he’s quite possibly one of the best defensive outfielders in the history of the game, let alone in A’s history.

Murphy was the recipient of six Gold Gloves, winning the award each season from 1980 to 1985. He could make nearly every play, thanks to a combination of speed, athleticism and good judgment. If there is anyone who deserves to be a top player solely for their defense, it’s Murphy.

He also made contributions with his bat, even if they weren’t as impressive as some of the other names on this list. For the majority of his tenure in Oakland, Murphy was a base-stealing threat who could also hit for a surprising amount of power. His best season was 1984, when he hit 33 home runs – an unexpected total for someone who relied heavily on his glove for value.

Murphy also followed Rickey Henderson in the lineup, so it’s probable that he was overlooked as a driving force in the A’s lineup. But someone had to be at the plate while Henderson worked his magic on the base paths, and that person was almost always Murphy. While Henderson benefited from Murphy’s eye at the plate, Murphy benefited as well – Henderson made pitchers nervous when he was at first base, likely helping Murphy to walk more than he would have otherwise.

Following his retirement in 1989, Murphy spent some time as a coach with the Diamondbacks and the Blue Jays before retiring from that as well.

Next: Top 50 Oakland Athletics: #18