Dwayne Murphy was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Oakland Athletics from 1973 to 1988. As a career .250 hitter with excellent defense and speed, Murphy established himself as a key member of the A’s championship teams in the 1970s and early 80s. His solid play resulted in baseball card companies regularly featuring him in their sets during his playing days.
Murphy’s rookie cards came in the 1974 Topps and 1974 Fleer sets. The Topps card shows Murphy in an Athletics uniform, batting left-handed with the team name and logo prominently displayed. It provides basic stats from his 1973 cup of coffee in the majors. The Fleer card uses a similar photo but with a green background instead of white. Both are fairly standard rookie cards without much fanfare but capture Murphy starting his MLB career.
In 1975, Murphy broke out with his first full season in the big leagues. He batted .277 with 4 home runs, 43 RBI, and 20 stolen bases playing all 162 games in center field. This breakout campaign led to Murphy receiving higher profile cards in the 1975 sets. Topps used an action shot of Murphy leaping for a catch against the wall. The 1975 Topps Traded card, featuring players not in the base set, also spotlighted Murphy with a close-up headshot.
Murphy became a key contributor to the Athletics dynasty teams of the late 1970s. From 1975-1980, Oakland won 5 AL West titles and 3 World Series championships. Murphy was usually their starting center fielder and leadoff hitter during this run. His starring role with the A’s was reflected in his baseball cards. The 1976 Topps and 1977 Topps cards showcased Murphy in the team’s green and gold uniform. They helped connect Murphy to one of baseball’s most popular franchises at the time.
The late 1970s also saw the rise of oddball and regional baseball card manufacturers beyond the “Big Three” of Topps, Fleer, and Donruss. Sets like Glossy Pros, Kellogg’s, and TCMA frequently included Murphy to satisfy demand from A’s fans. In particular, the 1977 TCMA set featured a nice action photo of Murphy leaping for a catch. Regional brands like Bowman also made sure to include Oakland’s starting center fielder.
Murphy’s defensive skills were often highlighted on his cards. The 1979 Topps Traded card showed him making a diving catch. Donruss went with a similar diving play photo for their 1980 issue. Fleer also chose to depict Murphy robbing a home run for their 1980 offering. These defensive-oriented images reinforced Murphy’s reputation as a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder.
Injuries limited Murphy to just 87 games in 1981. But he bounced back strong the next year by batting .300 with career-highs of 13 home runs and 67 RBI. Topps saluted Murphy’s 1982 rebound campaign with an action bat-on-shoulders pose. The 1982 Donruss card went with a headshot to recognize his continued contributions to the A’s.
After the Athletics dynasty years wound down, Murphy remained a steady veteran presence for Oakland into the mid-1980s. Companies like Donruss and Fleer kept featuring him annually to satisfy A’s collectors. His 1985 Donruss card showed Murphy batting left-handed with an intense game face. The 1986 Fleer Update issue depicted him making a running catch in the gap.
Murphy wrapped up his career with the 1988 Athletics after 16 seasons in Oakland’s green and gold. To commemorate his tenure, Topps included a “Final Season” marked card in their 1988 set. It captured Murphy in an Athletics batting stance one last time. The 1988 Donruss card also used a posed batting image as a retrospective on Murphy’s solid career.
In summary, Dwayne Murphy established himself as a dependable center fielder and leadoff hitter for the dominant Athletics teams of the late 1970s. His starring role with Oakland made him a frequent fixture in baseball card sets during his 16-year MLB career from 1973-1988. Murphy’s cards progressed from rookie issues to highlight his breakout years and defensive prowess. Later on, manufacturers recognized his steadying veteran presence for the A’s up through his final season. Collectors can trace Murphy’s athletic career through the changing imagery and highlights featured on his baseball cards over the decades.
