Murphy received six of 12 votes needed to be elected, but maintained the over five needed to stay on the next ballot in 2028.
ATLANTA — Atlanta Braves legend Dale Murphy, a player who is thought by many fans across baseball to be a no-brainer Hall of Fame member, was snubbed once again by the Contemporary Baseball Era committee.
Eight players were on the special ballot after they superseded their time on the traditional MLB Hall of Fame ballot at Baseball’s Winter Meetings. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were among the biggest names along with Murphy on the ballot in 2025. But none of them were selected.
Longtime San Francisco Giants second baseman Jeff Kent, a five-time All-Star and 2000 National League MVP was elected into the MLB Hall of Fame by the committee on Sunday night.
Murphy received six of 12 votes needed to be elected, but maintained the over five needed to stay on the next ballot in 2028.
Former longtime 11Alive anchor Jeff Hullinger broke down the case for Murphy’s candidacy several years ago, saying it’s “not fair, not right, and here in the South, we know better.”
Murphy is the only multiple-time MVP winner, without the asterisk of PEDs or steroids, to not be selected into the Hall of Fame. He won the 1982 and 1983 MVP award with the Braves, and was a seven-time All-Star.
In his career, Murph compiled 398 home runs, 1,266 RBI and batted .265.
Murphy’s numbers — they are similar to Allan Trammel’s and Harold Baines’ — and they are in the Hall of Fame. He was a dominant player for eight years — but the case against Murphy is this: He falls short on the benchmark stats you would expect from a Hall of Fame power hitter.
Other great players from his era, Hank Aaron, Phil Niekro, Nolan Ryan, Ron Darling, all support Murphy and his inclusion. From 1982-1985, Murphy was the only player with more than 30 home runs and 100 RBI, while also playing in all 162 games.
When Ron Darling, who pitched for the Mets in the 1980s, was asked about Murphy’s HOF candidacy several years ago, he had this to say: “Among those names, I played against all, Dale Murphy played like a Hall of Famer, behaved like a Hall of Famer, and was a Hall of Famer.”
The Braves Hall of Famer will give it another go for baseball’s greatest honor in three years.