"As the legendary Jim Bouton wrote in his classic baseball book Ball Four” 'You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end, it turns out that it was the other way around all the time” These words encapsulate the journey of Daniel Murphy, the former New York Mets playoff hero, whose story has taken an intriguing turn from the diamond to the broadcast booth. Murphy's is a story of resilience and passion for the game. Following a memorable comeback attempt with the independent Long Island Ducks and later the AAA affiliate of the Anaheim Angels, the Salt Lake Bees, Murphy now finds himself less than one year later transitioning into the world of broadcasting, ready to share his wealth of experiences with a fresh perspective on the sport that has defined his life.”
I talked with Daniel about his evolution and the prospect of working with seasoned broadcasters Gary Cohen and Ron Darling, Murphy expressed gratitude, acknowledging his past struggles with the media. "I would say that I was more of a petulant child earlier in my career than necessary," he admitted. However, with age, he has come to appreciate the media's role in storytelling. Excited about the opportunity to "talk ball for three hours," Murphy also touched on his pre-game rituals on Long Island, walking the field while listening to Lawrence Ritters The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball . Reflecting on the historical context of baseball, Murphy highlighted the value of embracing baseball history, drawing inspiration from legends like Hans Lobert, Christy Mathewson, and Lou Gehrig.
As we continued to talk Murphy’s passion for the game was evident declaring, "It's American. It's art. It's a gift." He further likened spring training to a rebirth, stating, “As a ballplayer we go into the winter, at least I did, in hibernation and work on these positions, and you come out here in the sun and you try them out on everybody and see how they stack up."With anticipation evident in his voice, Murphy also shared insights about his new role in the broadcast booth, expressing, "The opportunity to work with Gary and Ron, with the achievements that they have, is a blessing. I'm just excited to talk ball for three hours." Highlighting the significance of being in the booth with broadcast legends, he added, "It's an incredible experience, learning from these seasoned professionals who have carved their names in the industry. I'm like a sponge, absorbing their knowledge and hoping to contribute to the broadcast in my unique way.”
In typical Daniel Murphy fashion he referenced the tremendous support his wife Victoria has given him I” feel very blessed, and there is no, not to say that I have a kingdom, but without my queen, none of this exists. So, her patience and grace, she let me play for another two or three weeks longer than I probably should have last year because she loves me and she knows how much I love this. But also, she gives me the freedom to express myself, and then hopefully when I get home, I'm a present father and husband.”
The early reviews of Murphy's debut on Tuesday against the Marlins have been positive, leaving fans and critics alike eager for more of his insights on select SNY broadcasts throughout the season. As we look forward to witnessing Daniel Murphy's continued contributions to the world of baseball commentary, his transition from the diamond to the broadcast booth is shaping up to be another remarkable chapter in his storied career.