Remembering Shea: Bob Murphy and the No Hitter

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Bob Murphy and the No Hitter

A thought went through my head in the few days since Johan Santana pitched the first No Hitter in Mets history. We heard Howie Rose's call on WFAN. We heard Gary Cohen's call on SNY. They are holding down the fort as the voices of the Mets.

Howie Rose's call on WFAN with Jim Duquette

Gary Cohen's call on SNY with Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez

On Monday, I suggested that Santana appear on Kiner's Korner.

And today, I want to think about the man that I call "forever the voice of the Mets", Bob Murphy. Bob Murphy was an original Mets broadcaster in 1962. He wasn't the "network guy". He wasn't the "All-Star Player". He was the voice of the Mets for a couple of generations, until his retirement after the 2003 season. We lost him in August 2004. He was known as a "homer", a broadcaster (in fact, a Hall of Fame broadcaster), but one who rooted for the team which he called.

So how would Bob Murhpy have called the last out of Santana's no hitter? For argument's sake, let's put him on WFAN with his old partner Gary Cohen. That's how I grew up listening to the Mets, and that's where he was when he retired. This is how I think it would have sounded (you'll have to meet me half way and imagine his voice and emphasis saying these words). If you remember Bob Murphy, you remember the emphasis that he put on certain words and certain parts of words, so I am attempting to capture that with capital letters and extra letters.

now the crowd standing, roaring as loud as they can.
three and two, here's the pitch.
swing and a miss. STRIKEEE THREEEE! STRIKEE THREE!
it's all over, the mets win it!
JOHAN SANTANA HAS THROWN A NO HITTER!
the first one by a METS pitcher.
they're all racing towards the mound, MOBBING Johan Santana.
they had gone over fifty years without one, and now a mets pitcher has thrown a NO hitter.
and we'll be back with the very happy recap in just a moment!

Especially here, feedback and alternate suggestions are welcome.

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hector vargas · 669 weeks ago

nice job, can almost hear Murph

1 reply · active 669 weeks ago

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DyHrdMET 55p · 669 weeks ago

that's the idea

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Epic miss · 668 weeks ago

Poor Josh Lewin. The life long Mets fan yet to see the Mets throw a no hitter (replay only semi-counts if it does at all, has it's thrills but not the same). Looking at posts from die hards e who missed it. I found most like Josh had legitimate other commitments that night, some fell asleep or that one night forgot to set the DVR. Some are ecstatic anyway (or putting up a good front), but many a just as miserable as most of the Met nation is ecstatic. I imagine when the next Met get close to a no hitter while the most Met fans will be ok, these people will be like all Met fans pre 6/1/12 nervous and filled thoughts of doom and never be able able to see a Met no hitter in their lifetimes. Clips of Santana's last out and discussions of it during slow games out won't be fun for some of them When no-hitter number 2 occurs for most while anything but ho-hum it won't and can't compare, not close. And there likely won't be all those side Cardinal related side stories. Probably will occur in front of 5,000 in Pittsburgh during the last week of the season. But for those for whom it has not happened (hopefully they don't miss it again!!) what will it be like for them? Will it be like it is for the rest of the Met nation very nice but not epic? More misery because it is just another reminder of the event they missed? Or will it be their epic moment?. It will be their first time after all. The euphoria of 6/1 was a product of bizarre failures and endless waiting. Josh Lewin and his fellow unfortunates will have a leg up the rest of the Met nation on both counts. In a perfect world Met no hitter number 2 and their number 1 will be every bit as epic as number 1 was for those who saw it, but the emotions work in strange ways what do you think?