on Baseball Reference and it is hard to see why one is in and the other out. Dawson played about 400 more games and had the one monster year with the Cubs.

Dawson’s BA is about 15 points higher, but Murphy’s OBP is higher. Both won multiple GG and SS awards. Murphy had the back to back MVPs and Dawson had 1 with the Cubs.

Murphy missed 50 games in 2 seasons, but played all 162 4 straight years.

Their 162 game averages are very similar. Murphy averaged more HRs. Dawson a couple more doubles.

Dawson hit about 50 more home runs, but again played 400 more games.

He had an amazing peak but was something of a late bloomer and then injuries really took a toll and caused the last 5 years of his career to be not very good either.