Mike Murphy makes history as SF Giants Wall of Fame inductee
Mike Murphy, longtime SF Giants clubhouse manager, inducted into Wall of Fame
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The guest list for Mike Murphy’s Wall of Fame induction speaks volumes about his impact on the Giants organization.
Fifty current and former Giants players, coaches, and executives gathered at Oracle Park before the Giants’ game against Atlanta on Sunday afternoon to honor “Murph,” their clubhouse manager. They were just a few of the players Murphy worked with in the Giants clubhouses between Candlestick and Oracle Park during his 65-year career.
In his ceremony speech, Will Clark, a fellow Wall of Famer, recalled his favorite Murphy quote: “I’ll be here when you get here, and I’ll be here when you’re gone.”
It’s fitting that Murphy became a permanent fixture within the Oracle Park walls, because no other ballpark fixture compares to him. He’s a Giants lifer who began as a 16-year-old ball boy in 1958, the first year the Giants moved west from New York, and retired in 2022 as clubhouse manager emeritus.
Murphy was in the heart of the ballpark for all of the Giants’ highs and lows. Murphy moved from bat boy to visiting clubhouse manager to home clubhouse manager in two different ballparks during his six-plus decades with the Giants, seeing three World Series, six pennants, and working with every superstar from Willie Mays and Willie McCovey to Barry Bonds, Tim Lincecum, and Buster Posey.
What was Murphy’s philosophy that made him so popular and drew so many ex-Giants to town?
“Just take care of the guys and make them happy,” Murphy said during the second inning on KNBR. “When they’re happy, they win.”
For the ceremony, Murphy’s favorite singer, Frank Sinatra, sang over the speakers as generations of Giants were introduced before the honoree walked out to a standing ovation from fans who had arrived an hour early to watch. Willie Mays, Murphy’s favorite friend, sent him a message of congratulations. Clark, Ryan Vogelsong, Barry Bonds, and Larry Baer also spoke.
Everyone remembered Murphy’s catchphrase: “I don’t bother nobody.”
But everyone remembered how much he was bothered by the thousands of players he worked with.
“Murph was my first babysitter,” Bonds explained, adding that he met Murphy when he was four years old and Murphy was in his mid-20s during his father Bobby Bonds’ time in San Francisco. During games, he recalls Murphy telling the mothers to go relax while he watched the players’ children.
Murphy was a reliable shoulder for players being shuttled to and from the minor leagues.
“That’s not something that Barry, Buster, or Will can relate to,” Vogelsong explained. Vogelsong, on the other hand, remembers the guy who knew how to support the nervous call-ups and console the guys who were demoted while taking good care of their belongings.
“You are, by far, the most Forever Giant person there is,” Vogelsong continued.
Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow emceed, each recalling a memory of Murph.
“Murph has more awesome stories and information on every player that has ever walked through the clubhouse,” Kuiper said. “Murphy is like J. Edgar Hoover in terms of the amount of information he has on people.” He doesn’t seek information; players sought him out because they trusted him and still do.”
Pat Burrell, Shawon Dunston, Buster Posey, Omar Vizquel, Atlee Hammaker, and other Hall of Famers such as Bonds, Clark, Chili Davis, Tito Fuentes, and a long-haired Brian Wilson were among those in attendance. Former owner Bob Lurie was present, as was Murphy’s family, who were all dressed in black and orange “1958” shirts.
“He loved Willie Mays and Frank Sinatra,” Krukow explained. “We were all royalty in his eyes.” He kept us looking good and feeling confident.”
The Wall of Fame honors mostly players, as well as previous owners Jeff Lurie and the late Peter Magowan. Murphy is the first non-player and non-owner to have a plaque on the King Street brick wall, according to Giants president and CEO Larry Baer.
“And how appropriate is that,” he said.
