FLORENCE – They say never meet your heroes because you’ll only be disappointed. I met one of my heroes last week, and he did not disappoint.
Dale Murphy is as big in life as he was on the TV screen when I was a kid in the 80s watching the Atlanta Braves on TBS. Seriously, I had no idea he was that tall!
Murphy was the keynote speaker at the Lion Pride Dinner & Auction at the University of North Alabama, the Lions Athletic Club fundraiser that kicks off the new school year.
My mom and I were lucky enough to be able to attend last week, and it resulted in a “core memory,” as the kids say.
Murph takes stage
After introductions from UNA officials and a highlight reel, it was time for the two-time MVP and seven-time National League All-Star, to take the stage. Murphy, wearing a purple North Alabama baseball hat, was greeted with a standing ovation.
As he told stories about his early days in the Braves organization and I recognized all the names, I felt like part of a special club. I knew who Bob Horner, Pascual Perez, and Bruce Benedict were, and I’d met Glenn Hubbard at Lang’s Sporting Goods in Muscle Shoals.
I watched games with my mom and dad and little brother, the Braves in their baby blues, probably about to lose, but Murph always playing hard.
At the Lion Pride dinner, he talked about how he learned to keep going, through good and bad times.
“One of the most important things you can do is build relationships,” Murphy said. “Build good relationships with those who lead you and build good relationships with those you lead.”
Atlanta manager Bobby Cox did that for Murphy, he said. Murphy, who started the big leagues as a catcher, recounted his time behind the plate.
“I got what they now call the ‘yips,'” he said. “One game, I was throwing down to second and I hit my pitcher.”
Murphy said after that he guessed he wouldn’t be behind the plate much longer, and he was right. The next year, he moved to first base, where, he said, he led the league in errors.
“Bobby always had his players’ backs,” Murphy said. “He believed in giving people more chances. And it was a good thing I could hit a little.”
After the first-base experiment, Murphy ended up in the outfield in 1980, making the first of seven All-Star teams.
Prepare yourself for slumps
“The times you struggle are formative,” Murphy said. “They help you develop resilience.”
The back-to-back NL MVP said that when you hit a slump, whether that’s baseball or your day-to-day job, a few things can help you come through the other side.
“Stay coachable,” Murphy said. “Listen to your coaches. Listen to your teammates.”
He also stressed the need to get back to the fundamentals of your job. “Figure out what fundamental you’re not doing,” Murphy said, “then work on that.”
Most importantly, he said, stay confident.
“Have confidence every time you go up to the plate,” Murphy said. “And swing hard in case you hit it.”
In other words, give it your all and when you connect, it’ll be a hit.
Meet-and-greet
After he concluded his talk and UNA officials wrapped up the event, Murphy stayed on the floor, talking with fans, signing autographs, and taking photos.
As we were leaving, my mom said, “Are you sure you don’t want to go get this autograph?”
“I don’t want to bother him and the line is long,” I said.
Truthfully, I felt like a kid, nervous and a little embarrassed. But then I realized I’d likely never get this chance again, so I put aside the nerves and Mom and I got in line.
When it was our turn, Murph couldn’t have been nicer. He signed our photo cards while listening to us talk about how much we loved his Braves and how my late dad would have loved the event. He thanked us for coming and happily posed for a couple of photos. Mom and I were all smiles, both in the photos and in real life.
I’m glad I got in line to meet my baseball hero – Dale Murphy exceeded my expectations. And the autographed cards and photos will have a special place among the artifacts that represent my family’s love of sports.
2026 Lion Pride speaker
Next year, the Lions Athletic Club will welcome hometown hero Ozzie Newsome, of Leighton, back to the Shoals. Newsome played football at Colbert County High School, the University of Alabama, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1978.
After retiring in 1991, Newsome became part of the Browns executive staff. When Cleveland relocated to Baltimore in 1996, he went with them, becoming the Ravens general manager in 2002.
Today, he is the team’s executive vice president for player personnel.
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