Robert Albert (Rob) Murphy (born May 26, 1960 in Miami, Florida) is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1985 through 1995, Murphy played for the Cincinnati Reds (1985-88), Boston Red Sox (1989-90), Seattle Mariners (1991), Houston Astros (1992), St. Louis Cardinals (1993-94), New York Yankees (1994), Los Angeles Dodgers (1995) and Florida Marlins (1995). He batted and threw left-handed.

In an 11-season career, Murphy compiled a 32-38 record with 30 saves and a 3.64 ERA in 597 games. At retirement, ranked 18th all time for left-handed relief appearances. Pitched longer in the Major Leagues than any pitcher in University of Florida history.

During his career, Murphy was a valuable set-up man and left-handed specialist. He attended the University of Florida and was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the secondary phase of January 1981 amateur draft, debuting with Cincinnati in the 1985 midseason.

A hard fastball thrower, Murphy posted a minuscule 0.72 ERA in 34 relief appearances in 1986. He had a 6-0 record allowing only 26 hits in 50.1 innings. In 1987, he followed with another superb year as the busiest left-handed reliever in major league history. His 87 relief appearances were most ever by a LH, as he pitched 100.2 innings and struck out 99 batters. Used as a setup man for closer John Franco, Murphy collected seven saves for Cincinnati during four seasons. After led the National League with 76 games pitched in 1988, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox.

In 1989, Murphy collected career-highs nine saves and 105.0 innings pitched behind closer Lee Smith in the Boston bullpen.

High School
Christopher Columbus High School, Miami, Florida 1974-1978
CCHS Explorers (Baseball)
1977 – Pre-season 1st team All American
1977 – 1st team All City
1977-78 – All Catholic
1978 – drafted by Milwaukee Brewers
Set school record for most wins (17) and strikeouts (207)
2005 – First baseball player inducted into CCHS Baseball Diamond Hall of Fame
2009 – Inducted into CCHS General Hall of Fame

College
University of Florida (Computer Science major) 1979-80
1979 – Led Gators in ERA 2.53 - Career record 6-3
1981 – Drafted by Cincinnati Reds 1st round, 3rd pick overall

Professional Experience
Cincinnati Reds 1985-1988
1986 – 6-0 record - 0.72 ERA lowest ERA in National League history, 2nd lowest in MLB history with min. 50 innings pitched
1987 – 87 appearances sets MLB mark for relief appearances by left-handed pitcher
1988 – Led National League with 76 appearances

Boston Red Sox 1989-1990
1989 – Red Sox Fireman of the Year
74 appearances sets Red Sox mark for appearances by a left-handed pitcher
1990 – set MLB record for consecutive errorless games at start of career (332), previous Record (175)

Houston Astros 1992
1992 – set MLB mark for consecutive games without a win (146)

Murphy also pitched for the Mariners, Astros, Cardinals, Yankees, Dodgers and Marlins, retiring at the end of the 1995 season.

A horse racing and thoroughbred training expert, Murphy has devised his own method for handicapping and breeding. Rob's company, M375 Thoroughbreds, Inc., has bred, raised, and raced such successful horses as Platinum Tiara, Swing and Miss, Diamond Studs, Strike Three, and Golden Spikes.

Charity work 1986-1988 Muscular Dystrophy Association telethons 1989-1990 Jimmy Fund/65 Roses 1992-Present Redbone Organization to benefit Cystic Fibrosis

Fact

• By the time the veteran hurler hung up his spikes, his mother had named eight of her horses after the franchises Murphy played for: Cincy Dancer; King of Beantown; Mariner Hawk; Houston Honey; Calling Card; Ninedaznpinstripes; Djones (after Dale Jones, a Dodgers scout); and Molly Kelly -- after sweet Molly Malone, who sold cockles, mussels (but no Marlins). - Shepard C. Long/James G. Robinson, at Baseball Library [1].

Sources

• Baseball Reference - career statistics and analysis
• The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia – Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English. ISBN 1402747713