Bobby Murcer (b. May 20, 1946 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) was a professional baseball player for 17 seasons. After coming up briefly in with the New York Yankees in 1965 and 1966, Murcer fulfilled his military obligation before being called up to the majors to stay in 1969. A shortsop in the minor leagues, Murcer was slated to be the team's third baseman but ended up being the centerfielder following in the footsteps of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio. Almost anyone would suffer in comparison to those members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, but Murcer did well enough during the years the Yankees finished in the second division to become one of the team's most popular players of that time.
Murcer averaged 21 home runs, 89 RBIs, and a .277 average over a full season during this career. He had a career high .331 batting average in 1971 and the following year posted highs of 33 home runs and 96 RBIs. Murcer ended with 252 home runs, 1,043 RBIs, and a .277 average. Murcer played for the New York Yankees until 1975 when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Bobby Bonds. In 1977 he was traded to the Chicago Cubs and returned to the Yankees as primarily a designated hitter in 1979 where he played in the 1981 World Series before retiring in 1983 and turning to a career in broadcasting. Murcer made the All-Star teams in 1971-72-73-74 in the American League and 1975 in the National League. He also won a Gold Glove in 1972.[[Category:1946 births
