Timothy J. Murtaugh (born May 6, 1943 at
Chester, Pennsylvania
Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located within the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, it is the only city in Delaware County and had a population of 32,605 as of the 2020 census.
Incorporated in 1682, Chester ...
) is an American former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding ...
catcher
Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catcher ...
and
manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities ...
. The son of former
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. Founded as part o ...
infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.
Standard arrangement of positions
In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...
and manager
Danny Murtaugh
Daniel Edward Murtaugh (October 8, 1917 – December 2, 1976) was an American second baseman, manager, front-office executive, and coach in Major League Baseball ( MLB). Murtaugh is best known for his 29-year association with the Pittsburgh Pira ...
, Tim fashioned a 13-year career in the Pirates'
farm system (1965–1977), six of them as an active player, and seven as a manager or playing manager.
The 5 foot, 11 inch (1.8 m), 195 pound (89 kg) Murtaugh signed with the Pirates after graduating from the
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is a private, Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts, about 40 miles (64 km) west of Boston. Founded in 1843, Holy Cross is the oldest Catholic college in New England and one of the olde ...
. A
switch hitter
In baseball, a switch hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed, usually right-handed against left-handed pitchers and left-handed against right-handed pitchers.
Characteristics
Right-handed batters generally hit better aga ...
, he threw
right-handed
In human biology, handedness is an individual's preferential use of one hand, known as the dominant hand, due to it being stronger, faster or more dextrous. The other hand, comparatively often the weaker, less dextrous or simply less subjecti ...
. The
Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. n ...
called him a "bona fide major league prospect". After his playing career peaked with five games at the Triple-A level with the 1968
Columbus Jets
The Columbus Jets were a Minor League baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, from 1955 to 1970. The team moved from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada where they were known as the Ottawa Athletics. The Jets were a member of the Triple-A International ...
of the
International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ( ...
, he became a skipper in the Pittsburgh
minor league organization, where he won championships in the
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 un ...
(1972) and
Eastern League (1974). He spent 1½ seasons managing at the Triple-A level with the 1976
Charleston Charlies
The Charleston Charlies were a Triple-A minor league baseball team located in Charleston, West Virginia. Two separate Charlies franchises played in the International League from 1971 to 1983. The team was the relocated Columbus Jets. In 1977 th ...
and the 1977
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy merchant sailing vessels known as clipp ...
. As a player, he appeared in 513 games and
batted .259, with 13
home runs
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run is ...
.
After leaving the game after the '77 campaign, Murtaugh worked in insurance and successfully entered local politics, serving as a member of the board of commissioners of
Ridley Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Ridley Township is a township (Pennsylvania), township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The population was 30,768 at the 2010 census. Ridley Township contains the census designated places of Folsom, Pennsylvania, Fo ...
, and multiple terms on the Delaware County Council.
Our Campaigns political website
/ref>
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murtaugh, Tim
1943 births
Living people
Baseball players from Pennsylvania
Caribbean Series managers
Clinton Pilots players
College of the Holy Cross alumni
Columbus Jets players
Gastonia Pirates players
Holy Cross Crusaders baseball players
Minor league baseball managers
Raleigh Pirates players
Salem Pirates players
Salem Rebels (baseball) players
Sherbrooke Pirates players
Sportspeople from Chester, Pennsylvania
Thetford Mines Pirates players
Waterbury Pirates players
York Pirates players
American expatriate baseball people in the Dominican Republic