The two will cross paths again today to enter the Hall of Fame.
By Associated Press
Published July 27, 2003
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Outwardly, they couldn't have been more different: Eddie Murray, the silent slugger, and Gary Carter, the nonstop-talking and smiling "Kid."
Yet their lives have been almost mirror images: They were born in the Los Angeles area two years apart, both were drafted in the third round and both played on one world champion.
Today both will enter the Hall of Fame.
"This is pretty awesome," said Murray, the 38th player elected in his first year of eligibility. "This is the main place to be. I can't wait."
Carter's election in January came on his sixth try.
"My emotions are running sky-high," he said. "It completes my life, my career."
Joining them on the podium will be Brewers announcer Bob Uecker and Ohio sports writer Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News.
Murray was drafted by the Orioles in 1973 and made the jump from the minors out of spring training in 1977. He hit .283 with 27 homers and 88 RBIs and was named AL rookie of the year.
The switch-hitting Murray hit 504 homers, including 19 grand slams, second in major-league history to Lou Gehrig's 23. He also drove in at least 75 runs for a major-league-record 20 consecutive seasons.
Murray played in three World Series in his 21 seasons, winning the title in 1983 with the Orioles.
Carter was selected by the Expos in the 1972 free-agent draft and made it to the big leagues in 1975. As a rookie, he was named an All-Star and finished the season with a .270 average, 17 home runs, and 68 RBIs.
He became the Expos' full-time catcher in 1977 and developed into one of the game's best defensive backstops. In his first full season at catcher, Carter led NL catchers in putouts, assists, total chances, and double plays.
Despite career highs in hits (175) and average (.294) and his league-leading 106 RBIs in 1984, Carter was traded to the Mets.
In 1986, Carter drove in 105 runs, 11 in the postseason, to lead the Mets to a World Series title.
Carter holds the career record for most putouts (11,785) and most chances accepted (12,988) by a catcher.
