Atlanta Braves History: Dale Murphy – An athlete who cared

Dale Murphy’s clean-living habits off the diamond were frequently noted in the media. A devout Latter-day Saint, or Mormon, Murphy did not drink alcoholic beverages, would not allow women to be photographed embracing him and paid his teammates’ dinner checks as long as alcoholic beverages were not on the tab. He also refused to give television interviews unless he was fully dressed. Murphy had been introduced to the church by Barry Bonnell, a teammate early in his career.

For several years, the Atlanta Constitution ran a weekly column, wherein Murphy responded to young fans’ questions and letters. Murphy both advocated and financially profited from his reputation with frequent endorsements of family-friendly products such as milk, ice cream, and cameras in television commercials. In 1987, he shared Sports Illustrated magazine’s “Sportsmen and Sportswomen of the Year” award with seven others, characterized as “Athletes Who Care”, for his work with numerous charities.