Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

so sad -- he was the BEST Mets announcer they ever had

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.(AP) Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Murphy, who covered the New York Mets from the team's inception in 1962 until his retirement after last season, died Tuesday. He was 79.

Murphy died at the Hospice of Palm Beach County, the team said. He had battled lung cancer since his retirement.

Murphy worked as a baseball broadcaster for 50 years, starting with the Boston Red Sox in 1954 and then moving to the Baltimore Orioles in 1960. He came to the expansion Mets in their first year, joining Lindsay Nelson and Hall of Fame slugger Ralph Kiner as the broadcast team. The trio worked together on radio and television for 17 years before Nelson left for San Francisco.

'It's like losing a brother,' Kiner said in a statement. 'We did everything together, we went to movies, ate together and traveled together. It's so hard to fathom he's gone. It's has been a terrible year for me _ first I lose my wife to cancer and now Bob.'

Murphy spent the final 15 years of his career working on Mets radio broadcasts with Gary Cohen. Kiner called his longtime partner 'the brother I never had.'

Murphy's signature phrases included talking about 'the happy recap,' after Mets victories and cautioning fans listening to broadcasts of tight games to 'fasten your seat belts.'

'He could always find a silver lining, even when things weren't going well. I liked that about him,' said Yankees manager Joe Torre, a former Mets manager and player. 'He loved what he did for a living, right to the very end.'

Murphy was honored by the Mets at Shea Stadium last September.

'I've just loved it. It's been an incredible ride,' Murphy told the fans, who chanted 'Mur-phy! Mur-phy!' when the broadcaster was introduced. 'I'm going to start missing you all the minute I walk off this field.'

Murphy received the Ford Frick Award in 1994 and was inducted into the broadcasters' wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The radio booth at Shea was named in his honor last season.

The San Diego Padres' former ballpark was known as Jack Murphy Stadium from 1981-1997, named after his brother, the former sports editor of The San Diego Union, in 1981.

Murphy is survived by his wife, Joye; daughters Kevin Murphy, Kasey Murphy, Kelly Morris, Penny Haft and Patricia Haft; and son Brian Murphy. A private family gathering is scheduled for Wednesday in Florida, and the Mets said a memorial service in the New York area will take place at an unspecified date.

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

That's so sad! FI and I always used to listen to him.

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

he coined the phrase

'we'll be back with the happy recap'

i used to watch the Mets on TV and mute the sound so I can listen to him on the radio

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

bump for DJPill, OctGroom and my other Met fans

check out my avatar

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

Yeah I have been busy at work today so i havent had a chance to get on the site.

Yeah I heard about this yesterday while I was *listening.. GRRRR* to the game last night.

Sad indeed.

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

We were just talking about how great he is the other day. I'm so sad, he was pretty young. But at least he didn't suffer - he was just diagnosed in June.

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

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Posted by eogara

We were just talking about how great he is the other day. I'm so sad, he was pretty young. But at least he didn't suffer - he was just diagnosed in June.

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me and my dad always used to listen to him in the car on the way to places -- he's the voice i remember growing up, so it's like i lost part of my childhood

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

Very sad. My family is a Yankees family, but I still remember hearing him call games back in the day. He will be missed!

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

him and gary cohen were the best met broadcast team they had

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

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Posted by don424

him and gary cohen were the best met broadcast team they had

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I swear that they're one of the best broadcasting teams ever. I always turn the sound on the tv off and listen to the radio. Maybe slightly less now that Tim McCarver's gone but still often.

Re: Met Fans: Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Murphy Dies

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Posted by eogara

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Posted by don424

him and gary cohen were the best met broadcast team they had

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I swear that they're one of the best broadcasting teams ever. I always turn the sound on the tv off and listen to the radio. Maybe slightly less now that Tim McCarver's gone but still often.

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i have no choice but to listen to the radio --time warner doesn't pick up MSG or Fox Sports right now

that's how i found out he died -- gary cohen and howie rose spent most of the game talking about it