Born 5 October, 1954
BWA Hall of Fame Inductee 2025
From a playing career that started in a Little League team in the Perth suburb of Tuart Hill, to the international stage representing Australia in Seoul Stadium in Korea, Murray Westphal has enjoyed a wonderful and fulfilling career both on and off the field. He was an outstanding multidimensional player for West Stirling at the State League level, a starting pitcher and excellent hitter for Western Australia at the Claxton Shield level and played with distinction for our national team both domestically and overseas.
He was a regular selection in the WA Claxton Shield Teams in the late 70’s and early/mid 80’s as both a front-line pitcher and an excellent hitter and was a key member of the 1979 and 1985 Claxton Shield Championship teams.
Following the WA Claxton Shield victory in Melbourne in 1979, Murray was selected to represent Australia to tour Korea and Japan. His performances in both Korea and Japan were exceptional. He was the only undefeated pitcher on the Australian Team with multiple victories in both Korea and Japan. The hi-lite of the tour was Australia’s historic victory over Korea at Seoul Stadium. Murray started and pitched a complete game. Australia had never beaten Korea in their home stadium until that day on the 9th of September 1979. Australia’s win over the Korean team was considered the greatest victory any Australian team had achieved up to that date. His pitching effort in beating Korea at Seoul Stadium in Korea was, and still is, one of Australian baseball’s greatest international victories.
Murray’s selection to the ABF National Board (Baseball Australia) was another outstanding achievement. His drive, impact and contribution over 5 years on the ABF Board was outstanding and he ultimately was appointed Vice President of the ABF. There would be very few Western Australian Baseball players that have succeeded as Murray has done both as a player and as a governance leader. Induction into the Western Australian Baseball Hall of Fame is fitting recognition for an individual that used all his talent, commitment, and determination to achieve success within our sport, both on and off the diamond, at the highest levels.