HONORABLE EDDIE QUIET MURRAY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF DURING 21-YEAR CAREER WITH HALL OF FAME CHARACTER.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

The summer of 1990 was a struggle for Eddie Murray. It also might be the greatest example of why he is going into baseball's Hall of Fame.

On a night in late June at Dodger Stadium, Murray dove for a ball at first base and couldn't get up. There was a broken bone in his right hand. He knew it was bad, but he knew he had to play.

New teammate Darryl Strawberry was on the disabled list in his first season with the Dodgers. The club already was slipping out of the pennant race. Murray was looking at six weeks in a cast. Instead he spent six weeks batting cleanup.

He never told anyone about his injury, not the trainer, not his teammates or manager Tom Lasorda. Although he will be measured today at Cooperstown for his 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, it was Murray's strength of character during 21 big-league seasons that places him among the all-time greats.

It was a strength so obvious to former teammate Cal Ripken that on the night he broke Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played, Ripken saluted Murray in his remarks to the crowd ``for showing me how to play every day.''

But it also was a character that made him the most misunderstood player of his generation. Unlike fellow inductee Gary Carter, Murray never smiled for the camera. When the once-proud Baltimore Orioles faded in the late 1980s, Murray became a media target and was criticized by team owner Edward Bennett Williams for being lazy and a bad example for younger players.

The scars forced a trade to the Dodgers in December 1988 and took years to heal. Even though his achievements had become legendary, the slights followed Murray around the rest of his career.

There was a sadness to him hidden behind the defiant scowl teammate Jim Palmer once called Murray's ``Darth Vader'' look. On the day he was named to the Hall of Fame, his family buried his sister Tanja.

But the field and the clubhouse was his turf. No one could touch him there.

``I can still hear that high-pitched laugh,'' said Dodgers coach John Shelby, a rookie teammate of Murray's when Baltimore won the World Series in 1983. ``It's too bad people never have gotten the chance to know him the way we did.''

The Hall of Fame, however, has a way of softening the harsh images of the past.

In a conversation last week at Yankee Stadium, where he was working as hitting instructor for the Cleveland Indians, Murray admitted some embarrassment at the attention being paid his induction.

But he added with a youthful enthusiasm how great it was to get calls at his family home in Canyon Country from Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Johnny Bench.

Murray also revealed details of an idyllic childhood, growing up in a loving family of 14 on the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles. Baseball helped insulate them from the outside world and created a fierce competition between the eight brothers, four of whom went on to play professionally.

``We all hit the ball so hard, we had to use other things,'' Murray said. ``Sometimes we'd hit the house and the clock would fall, and someone would have to do chores. So we'd pop the head off my sister's doll and hit that.''

The oldest brother was Charlie, whom Murray called his greatest influence and the best of the bunch. Charlie Murray was signed by Houston and once hit 45 homers at Single-A Modesto. But he went into the military and was not the same player when he returned.

There was Venice, Leon and Rich, all later signed by legendary San Francisco Giants scout George Genovese. They played at Locke High and were teammates of Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith.

In the middle was Eddie, fun-loving but shy around strangers. He pitched, he caught, he learned the game by trying everything. By 1973, Murray was one of the top players in L.A. Genovese brought Giants farm director and Hall of Fame left-hander Carl Hubbell to watch.

Hubbell liked what he saw but thought the Giants could wait a few rounds in the upcoming draft. Baltimore scout Willie Moore learned of the strategy and got the Orioles to take Murray in the third round.

``Carl used to say that every time he watched Eddie on TV he got a little ill,'' Genovese said. ``He must have apologized to me a dozen times over the years for not drafting Eddie.''

Although Murray excelled in the low minors, a turning point came at Double-A when manager Jimmie Schaffer suggested he try switch hitting. One of the Orioles' secrets for getting players out of slumps was having them turn around in batting practice and try a few swings from the other side.

Murray liked the idea and loved the results. Murray went on to trail only Mickey Mantle for home runs by a switch hitter with 504.

Another strong influence in his career was Cal Ripken Sr., Cal Jr.'s father and chief instructor in the Orioles' minor-league department.

Cal Sr. was a stern disciplinarian and not popular with many of the young players. But Murray, already well-grounded by his parents, thrived under Ripken's guidance.

`(Former Baltimore pitching coach) Ray Miller called it tough love,'' Murray said. ``If Cal Sr. liked you, he didn't talk to you. If he didn't, he would ride you all the time. I never wanted him to get on me. But there was something special about a man who put on the uniform early every morning and didn't take it off until 11 o'clock at night. Hard work is part of this game.''

Murray got to the majors in 1977 and was named American League Rookie of the Year. He was a designated hitter but gradually replaced veteran Lee May at first base.

Murray remembered how May became comfortable in the less-demanding designated hitter role and playfully shamed Murray into playing first base through injuries.

``There were times when I would have two rolls of tape on one ankle,'' Murray said. ``But it was people like that who taught you to play with pain.

And play with a vengeance. In addition to 504 homers, Murray had 1,917 RBI and 3,255 hits. Only Willie Mays and Hank Aaron hit 500 home runs and recorded 3,000 hits.

He was especially good in the clutch, hitting 19 grand slams, second only to Gehrig. He batted .400 lifetime with the bases loaded and had a league-record 117 game-winning RBI.

Murray's first World Series was a disappointment, recording the final out in a seven-game loss to Pittsburgh.

But he did much better in 1983, hitting two home runs in the decisive Game 5 of the Orioles' Series victory over Philadelphia.

Cal Ripken Jr. was named American League MVP that year, but Orioles players had other ideas.

``In '83 Eddie missed seven games and we lost all seven,'' Palmer remembered. ``Cal won the MVP that year and he had an outstanding season. But everybody knew Eddie was the MVP.''

Although Murray was the league's dominant first baseman from 1978 through '84, he never was named most valuable player.

And the Orioles never got back to the Series.

Williams blamed Murray, who was seen as uncooperative. His comments were searing. Murray demanded a trade and welcomed a chance to come home.

He played here for three seasons, then spent time with the New York Mets, Angels, Indians and finally back to the Orioles. He ht his 500th homer at Camden Yards on Sept. 6, 1996.

But it was his time in Los Angeles that he remembers with great fondness.

Sadly, his mother was gone by then and his father used to drive up alone to Dodger Stadium to watch his son play.

``I used to come out for batting practice and would stop and see him up in the stands,'' Murray said. ``We started this thing where we would tip our hats to each other. He was a proud dad and it was nice. After a while his whole section started to do it, too.''

Today the rest of the baseball world will tip their hats to Eddie Murray. He says his speech will be short. He won't mention the night he broke his hand and continued to play. He will remember his parents who gave him so much.

And finally he will not be misunderstood.

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com

2003 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

in Cooperstown, N.Y./ TV: 10:30 a.m., ESPN Classic

STORY LINES

Triumphant trio

Eddie Murray's 504 homers and 3,255 hits, during his 21-year career, placed him with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as the only players in history to surpass 500 home runs and 3,000 hits.

Steady swinger

Murray's 1,917 RBI put him eighth on the all-time list and his 11,336 at-bats placed him sixth. Only Mickey Mantle hit more home runs (536) as a switch hitter. Murray's 19 grand slams are second to former New York Yankees great Lou Gehrig's 23.

Numbers game

11: Record number of games in which Murray hit home runs from both sides of the plate, one more than Mantle.

HALL OF FAME CAPSULES

Today's inductees into the National Baseball Hall of Fame:

EDDIE MURRAY

Born Feb. 24, 1956, in Los Angeles. ... Had 504 homers and 3,255 hits to join Hank Aaron and Willie Mays as the only players in baseball history to surpass 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. ... Eight-time All-Star. ... Played 21 seasons with Baltimore, Dodgers, Mets, Indians and Angels. An Orioles cap will be on his Hall plaque. ... Batted .287 lifetime. ... Nicknamed ``Steady Eddie'' for his consistent production. ... First baseman was the strong, silent type. ... Picked as American League Rookie of the Year in 1977 after batting .283 with 27 homers, 81 runs, and 88 RBI. ... In 238 at-bats with the bases loaded, he hit .399, walked 22 times, drove in 298 runs and had a .739 slugging percentage. His 19 grand slams are second all-time to former New York Yankees great Lou Gehrig (23). ... Only Mickey Mantle hit more home runs (536) as a switch hitter, and only six players drove in more runs than Murray's 1,917. ... Hit home runs from both sides of the plate in a game a record 11 times, one more than Mantle. ... Had career-high 33 homers in 1983, leading Orioles to World Series title. ... Teamed for many years with future Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. ... Finished six consecutive years in the top 10 in voting for league most valuable player. ... Drove in at least 75 runs for a major- league-record 20 consecutive seasons. ... Currently batting coach for Cleveland Indians.

GARY CARTER

Born April 8, 1954, in Culver City. ... Will be first player in Hall to have a Montreal Expos cap on his Hall plaque. ... Played 19 seasons with Expos, Mets, Dodgers and San Francisco. Was a teammate with fellow Hall inductee Eddie Murray in Los Angeles. ... Nicknamed ``The Kid'' for his youthful exuberance and omnipresent smile. ... Holds major-league records for most career putouts (11,785) and total chances accepted (12,988) by a catcher in his National League-record 2,056 games behind the plate. ... Hit .262 for his career with 324 home runs and 1,225 RBI. ... Three-time Gold Glove winner and 11-time All-Star. ... Was All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1981 and 1984. ... Led Expos to only playoff appearance in team history in 1981. ... Was a pivotal player on the New York Mets' 1986 World Series champions. Started the famous comeback in Game 6 with a two-out single in the bottom of the 10th inning. ... Had career-high 32 homers and 100 RBI in 1985. ... Had nine seasons with 20 or more homers and four 100-RBI seasons. ... Set major-league single-season record for fewest passed balls in a season of 150 games or more with one in 1978.

BOB UECKER

Receiving Ford. C. Frick award for excellence in broadcasting. ... Hit .200 with 14 home runs and 74 RBI in six seasons with Milwaukee, St. Louis, Atlanta and Philadelphia. ... Played on the 1964 Cardinals team that beat the New York Yankees in the World Series. ... Parlayed his humor into national prominence and turned his jokes into TV and movie roles. ... His line - ``Must be in the front row!'' - in a beer commercial where he gets shunted from the box seats to the bleachers became a catch phrase throughout the country. ... Began announcing Milwaukee Brewers games in 1971. ... Inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2001 and did network broadcasts of the World Series, league championship series and All-Star Game in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Joins Joe Garagiola as the only former players to make the Hall as announcers.

HAL McCOY

Won J.G. Taylor Spink Award and will be inducted into the writers' wing of the Hall of Fame. ... Has covered the Cincinnati Reds for 32 years, the longest tenure of any current beat writer on one team. ... Has covered more than 5,560 games, 900 spring-training games and 500 postseason games, missing only one assigned game because of illness. ... Has won 43 Ohio and national writing awards. ... Was at the forefront of the Pete Rose gambling investigation, breaking many stories during the 1989 season. Also broke numerous stories while Marge Schott was the Reds' owner.

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Former Dodger Eddie Murray will be inducted into the Hall of Fame today.

Jim McKnight/Associated Press

(2) GARY CARTER

(3) BOB UECKER

(4) HAL McCoy

Box:

(1) STORY LINES (see text)

(2) HALL OF FAME CAPSULES (see text)