Meet “Honest Eddie Murphy”

Born in 1891 in HANCOCK, NEW YORK John Edward Murphy earned his moniker “Honest Eddie” playing right field for the Chicago White Sox in the infamous 1919 World Series and what became known as the “Black Sox Scandal.”

As a young boy Eddie earned money during the summer playing in the semi-pro Anthracite League for Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He attended Villanova College on a scholarship and was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles in 1912. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1912 – 1915 when his contract was sold to the Chicago White Sox.

In 1919 the White Sox made the world Series. The series was forever tarnished by a scheme to throw the game for money. Eight members of the White Sox were accused of throwing the series in exchange for a hefty payout of around $100,000. But Murphy refused to take a small fortune from gamblers

2022 Baseball Roster

: Logan Barnes, Noah Bass, Zech Beagal, Kacper Bielecki, Jesse Burrows, Jacob Dobromirescu, Landen Estus, Blake Fortunato, Caden Fortunato, Chris Gross, Wyatt Jacobs, Peyton Johnson, Brennan Karcher, Donovan Layman, Anton Leonard, Nick Locke, Tom Reis, Joe Rumola, Nathaniel Westbrook and earned a reputation that long outlasted his playing days. Decades later, in an interview with Chic Feldman of the Scrantonian newspaper in Pennsylvania, Murphy said, “We might have started the dynasty that was the (New York) Yankees’ good fortune. But our best players … sold their honor and souls to the gamblers and a pennant purgatory came upon the White Sox.”

Eventually those eight players were banished from baseball and Murphy played several more years in the major leagues finishing his baseball career playing in the minor leagues. He retired to Dunmore, Pennsylvania (near Scranton) and remained involved with baseball, managing a semipro team in Stroudsburg. He died at age 77 in 1969 at his home in Dunmore.

Hancock, his hometown, did not forget. A statue dedicated to “Honest Eddie” was placed in the Hancock Town Square and his grandson and great-grandson were in attendance for the ceremony.

~ by Cindy R Ray