Yale Murphy

William Henry "Yale" Murphy (October 11, 1869 – February 14, 1906) was an American baseball player and coach of American football and baseball. He played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants. Murphy served as the head baseball coach at Stanford University (1900–1901), Columbia University (1902), and the United States Naval Academy (1905), compiling a career college baseball record of 24–27–1. He was also the head football coach at Fordham University in 1902, tallying a mark of 2–4–1.

For other people named William Murphy, see William Murphy (disambiguation).
Yale Murphy
Infielder / Outfielder
Born: (1869-10-11)October 11, 1869
Southborough, Massachusetts
Died: February 14, 1906(1906-02-14) (aged 36)
Westborough, Massachusetts
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 1894, for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
July 26, 1897, for the New York Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average.240
Home runs0
Runs batted in45
Teams
  • New York Giants (1894–1895, 1897)

Biography

Murphy was born in Southborough, Massachusetts. He attended Yale University, which is how he got his nickname, and played for the National League's New York Giants in 1894, 1895, and 1897. Also called "Tot" or "Midget", Murphy was small even for his era. He was 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) tall and weighed 125 lbs.[1] He and Dickey Pearce are the two shortest players ever to have a career in Major League Baseball. In 1894, there was a book written about him that was entitled Yale Murphy, the Great Short-Stop, or, The Little Midget of the Giants.

Murphy started his professional baseball career in 1894. That season, he was a backup shortstop and outfielder, playing in a career-high 75 games, batting .272, and stealing 28 bases. In 1895, he played mostly in the outfield. He hit just .201 and did not play for the Giants in 1896.[1] He returned for a few games in 1897 and then played one season (1900) in the New York State League.[2]

Murphy batted .240 in 131 career games. After his baseball days were over, he became a physician.[3]

Murphy died of pulmonary tuberculosis on February 14, 1906 after a period of poor health at his home in Southville, Massachusetts. He was the brother of Mike Murphy, athletic trainer and coach.[4][5]

Head coaching record

Football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Fordham Rams (Independent) (1902)
1902 Fordham 2–4–1
Fordham: 2–4–1
Total:2–4–1

Basketball
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Yale Bulldogs (Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League) (1902–1903)
1902–03 Yale 15–17–11stHelms National Champions
Total:15–1 (.938)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References
  1. "Yale Murphy Statistics and History". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  2. "Yale Murphy Minor League Statistics & History". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  3. "The Players Speak: Heading Home". thedeadballera.com. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  4. ""TOT" MURPHY DEAD.; Yale Athlete Brother of Trainer Murphy, Succumbs to Consumption" (PDF). The New York Times. February 15, 1906. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  5. "Too Young To Die". thedeadballera.com. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
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