Many historians rank Keith Hernandez as the finest fielding 1st baseman of all-time. His 11 consecutive Gold Gloves are the highest totals for first basemen in baseball history. Hernandez fearlessly charged bunts, fielded sacrifice attempts on the third base side of home plate and made unbelievable diving catches. He led the league in double plays a record six times and was a master of the 3-6-3 twin killing.

In 1979, Hernandez won the NL batting title with his .344 ave. He topped the NL with 48 doubles, 116 runs scored and with a .421 on base percent. He was a hero in the 1982 NL Champion Series and drove in eight runs in the World Series against the Milw. Brewers. In the later part of the 1983 season, in a shocking trade the St. Louis Cardinals shipped Keith to the New York Mets. He became one of their main stars with his torrid hitting and excellent fielding.

He played in five All-Star games and his career stats include a .296 lifetime batting average, in 2088 games, Keith Hernandez powered 426 doubles scored 1124 runs and collected 2182 hits. He only fanned 1012 times in 7370 at bats.

Bobby Grich went on to become one of the better fielding second basemen of his era and won four 'Gold Glove Awards'. In 1973, he committed only five errors and set a major league record with a .995 fielding percentage.

Bobby Grich's power, (he launched 224 home runs) and clutch hitting helped the Orioles throughout this time in their famous pennant battles. He was traded to the California Angels in 1977, however he hurt his back lifting an air-conditioner and underwent surgery for a herniated disk.

Bobby Grich came back in 1979 with his career highs - with 30 doubles, 30 HR's and 101 RBI's and led the Angels to a AL West Title. In 1982, the Angels took the AL West Title only to lose to the Brewers for the pennant. Grich helped them captured another AL West Crown in 1986.

Bobby Grich retired with the highest career fielding mark .984 in history for second basemen, (Later Ryne Sandberg set a new record).

Bobby Grich's career stats: 2008 games, 6890 at bats, 1033 runs scored, 1833 hits, 320 doubles, 224 HR's, 864 RBI's and had a .266 batting average... baseballhistorian.com

Ozzie Smith won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards and set the major league record for SS for assists in a single season (621). He also holds the record for the most years gathering 500 or more assists in a season and tied the record for the most years leading a league in assists with 7 and most years leading in chances accepted - 7. He also tied the record for the most years leading in fielding average (6) and set the major league record for the highest fielding average for a shortstop .987 in 1987.

Ozzie Smith played his first three years with the San Diego Padres, 1978-1981 and was traded in the 1981 season to the St. Louis Cards. He helped lead the Cardinals to the pennant and in the 1982 WS win, he set a major league record for most putouts in a seven game WS with 22. With the Cardinals, Ozzie Smith developed into a fine hitter and in 1987 batted .303, scored 101 runs, whacked 40 doubles, second highest in the league, stole 43 bases and was 2nd in the MVP balloting. In 1988, The Oz stole 57 bases, hit .279 and scored 80 runs.

Ozzie Smith's career stats- .262 BA, .340 on-base-pct, hits 2265, he scored 1154 runs, stole 563 bases, 992 W, 542 K's in 2349 games.

In 1978, Dave Parker captured his second consecutive batting title, .334 and won another slugging title, .585, becoming the first player to win both since Billy Williams in 1972. His' 1978 season which included 32 D, 12 T, 30 HR's with 102 R and 117 RBI's made him the highest paid ball player in history to this time, $900,000 per/year.

Parker in the late 1970s & 1980s was ranked as one of the best fielders and possessed a cannon for a throwing arm. In 1984 as a free agent, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds and drove in 94 runs.

In 1985 Dave Parker led the NL with 42 doubles, in RBI's with 125 and ended second in the MVP voting. In 1986, Parker topped all NL batters in total bases, was 2nd in RBI's with 116 and whacked 31 homers.

Dave Parker career stats: .290 BA, 2712 hits, 526 D, 75 T, hit 339 HR's, 1272 Runs, 1493 RBIs and stole 154 bases.

He won four straight Gold Gloves and captured seven in eight years. Mattingly powered 35 home runs in 1985, a major league leading 145 RBI's and was voted the AL's Most Valuable Player. He set a still unbroken major league record in 1987 by hitting six grand slams in a single season. He also tied the major league record by blasting eight home runs in eight consecutive games.

He injured his back in 1990, and although his power numbers fell off, he was still a fine hitter and fielder. In 1992, Mattingly batted .287, hit 40 doubles along with 14 HR's. Nursing the painful back, he still hit .291 in 1993, 27 doubles, 17 HR's with 86 RBI's. The back injury caused him to retire early, but his career numbers are still high: Don Mattingly's career numbers: .309 batting average, hit over 400 doubles and over 200 HR's and drove-in over 1,000 runs.

J. R. Richard's career: 107-71, .601 pct, 3.15 ERA, started 238 games, completed 76, with 1493 strike outs in 1606 innings. Baseballhistorian.com archives

A submariner with one of the best sinker balls in history, Dan Quisenberry controlled his' game by relying on the batter to hit the ball on the ground. He allowed only 59 homers, appeared in 674 games without ever starting a single game.

Five times Dan Quisenberry led the AL in saves and three times in games appeared. He wasn't a short relief closer, instead he often pitched 3 to 4 innings. Ranking as one of the best relievers in baseball during the '80's, Quisenberry led the Royals to two World Series.

From 1982 thru 1985, he led the league in saves, 35, 45, 44 and 37. Dan Quisenberry's control was so unerring that he walked only 162 batters in 1043 innings, an average of only 14 per/year. Dan Quisenberry's lifetime: 56-46, 2.76 ERA, 244 saves 379 Ks, 162 walks, 1064 hits, in 1043 innings. Baseballhistorian.com

From November 1983 Edition of "Inside Sports Magazine," By Tim Tucker...

You Want to Believe It - You want desperately to believe Dale Murphy is for real.

Especially now, in these disillusioning times when a former Heisman Trophy winner becomes a counterfeiter and two congressmen have sex with their pages, you want to believe there can exist a marvelous athletic who just happens to be an even finer human being - a public figure you can place on an unrealistic pedestal and know he will never knock himself off. You want and old-fashioned American hero, and you want to believe one exists. But it is hard.

It is hard to believe that Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves can be as good as everyone says he is, absolutely above a bad thought or deed.

Dale Murphy is a devout Mormon who gives 12% of his huge income to the church. He does not drink, smoke, or cuss, and heck, he doesn't even know what cocaine is. He considers himself nothing special: "Aw, gee, I sure don't feel like a most valuable player or anything like that."

He has never declined a request for an interview or an autograph. He must lead the league in leaving tickets for friends and relatives. He is a family man, above all. He is aware that he is a role model, that children are watching, and he strives to set a good example.

It concerns him that, two or three times a year, he might show disappointment by throwing a bat or helmet. He feels the most important roles of his life are those of husband, father, and church member.

And he is sincere.

"With Murphy," says Joe Torre, the Braves 1983 manager, "What you see is what you get."

Honest eyes, Straight teeth. A boyish face. At 27 and father of three, Dale Murphy is the National League's reigning Most Valuable Player, and everyone, it seems, wants some of his time. He insists it does not bother him. "The fans pay our salaries," he says, 'and the press has a job to do. I try to be as helpful as possible."

Murphy met his wife Nancy at Brigham Young University after the 1978 season. In their fewer than four years of marriage, Dale and Nancy had three sons, Chad, Travis and Shawn. "Dale and I don't think of ourselves as celebrities," said Nancy. "We're just normal people."

On the baseball field, Murphy is far from normal. Last year - 1983 - he was named the most valuable player in the National League. The last two years, he has been named to the NL starting All-Star outfield. Unquestionably, he is one of the half-dozen or so best players in the game today.

And in this era of the DH and other specialists, he is a rarity - the complete player. He can run, throw, field, and hit, all with accomplishment.

Around the league, there is constant conversation about Murphy and his standing among his colleagues. The consensus: Murphy and Montreal center fielder Andre Dawson are the two best players in the league.

Murphy, typically, says, "I don't think I belong in Andre Dawson's class."

But listen to what others have to say about Dale Murphy, the player:

Hank Aaron, the home run king said, "He is the most valuable commodity in baseball right now. If I were starting a team and could pick any active player in baseball to build around, I'd pick Murphy."

Danny Ozark, first base coach for the San Francisco Giants: "If you put Murphy and Andre Dawson in the same outfield, you wouldn't need a third outfielder."

Hall of Fame shortstop Luke Appling, Chicago White Sox said, "He could hit 70 home runs in one year. Seventy!"

Andre Dawson - "I think, frankly, he is the best player in the game today."

Note: In 1984, Dale Murphy was again voted the NL Most Valuable Player, becoming the youngest player ever to win two consecutive MVP Awards. Baseballhistorian.com

note: this page has moved to: http://www.baseballhistorian.com/fans_favorites.cfm?hero=637