Researching Danny Murphy

He spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Athletics and moved from second base to outfielder in 1910 to make room for the Athletics' new second baseman Eddie Collins. In the Athletics 1913 World Championship season, Murphy's playing time was limited by a broken knee cap, and he did not play in the World Series, but he served as the team's acting captain.

In 1,496 games, Murphy batted .289 (1563-5399) with 705 runs scored, 289 doubles, 102 triples, 44 home runs, 702 RBI, 193 stolen bases,, an on-base percentage of .336 and a slugging percentage of .405 in 16 seasons. In 16 World Series games, he hit .305 (18-59) with one home run and 12 RBI.

Murphy signed with the Cubs for a $100,000 bonus as an outfielder on June 15, 1960, following his graduation from St. John's Preparatory School (Danvers, Massachusetts) after an illustrious career in youth and schoolboy baseball. Three days later, he made his professional and Major League debut as the Cubs' starting center fielder in a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. He went hitless in four at bats against Jay Hook, but the following day, he took over from the Cubs' regular center fielder, Richie Ashburn, late in the game and collected his first MLB hit, a single against left-handed relief pitcher Bill Henry. He became the youngest Cub to hit a home run at the age of 18 years, three weeks, when he connected on September 13, 1960, off the Reds' Bob Purkey with two runners on base. However, Murphy would collect only 23 total hits in 49 games played during his Cub career, batting only .171 during his tenure. He was traded to the Houston Colt .45s during spring training in .

Murphy then disappeared into minor league baseball for the next six full seasons, converting to pitcher in 1966 at the Double-A level in the White Sox' organization. After promising campaigns in the Southern and Pacific Coast leagues, the White Sox recalled Murphy in August, and he debuted as a relief pitcher against the Boston Red Sox at Comiskey Park on August 11. He had a successful two months coming out of the White Sox bullpen, compiling a low 2.01 earned run average with four saves. Murphy then spent the entire campaign with Chicago, with markedly less impressive results. His ERA rose to 5.69 and he yielded 82 hits and 49 bases on balls in innings pitched—although Murphy connected for his fourth and final career home run off Bill Zepp in a winning effort against the Minnesota Twins on June 28. All told, he appeared as a pitcher in 68 games played and 112 innings, and gave up 100 hits and 59 bases on balls, with 58 strikeouts and nine saves as a Major Leaguer.

The following spring, Murphy was traded to his hometown Red Sox. He spent the 1971 season at Boston's Triple-A Louisville Colonels affiliate before leaving baseball after 12 professional seasons.

Murphy was a quadriplegic as the result of a diving accident that took place at Martha's Vineyard on August 8, 1974. His friend and director, Peter Farrelly, was with him at the accident.

Murphy criticized Farrelly for not including disabled people in his movie Dumb & Dumber. This led to Murphy's first movie role in Farrelly's comedy movie Kingpin.

Murphy died in Florida from cancer, aged 58.