Murry Dickson – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Murry Dickson pitched in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons, from 1939 to 1959. He played for six different teams during one of baseball’s most competitive eras.

This right-hander from Missouri finished with a career record of 172 wins and 181 losses and a 3.66 ERA. Over nearly two decades, he took the mound in 625 games.

Dickson’s career touched some of baseball’s biggest moments. He made multiple World Series appearances, and his military service during World War II interrupted his prime years. Manager Eddie Dyer gave him the nickname “Tom Edison Jr.” because Dickson never stopped tinkering with his pitches and delivery. That habit kept him effective into his 40s, and he was still pitching when he retired after the 1959 season.

From his early days with the St. Louis Cardinals to his final years with the Kansas City Athletics, Dickson’s baseball journey mirrored the sport’s shifting landscape. He experienced championship highs, tough stretches with losing teams, and built a reputation as one of the game’s most inventive pitchers. He threw nearly every pitch you can think of, from all sorts of arm angles.

Early Life and Path to Major League Baseball

Murry Monroe Dickson was born August 21, 1916, in Tracy, Missouri. He learned the game in amateur leagues before the St. Louis Cardinals signed him in 1936.

His path from small-town Missouri to pro baseball included family moves and standout performances that got him noticed by major league scouts.

Childhood in Missouri and Kansas

Murry Monroe Dickson arrived in Tracy, Missouri, named after the country doctor who delivered him. He was the youngest of five kids born to William Dickson and his wife.

When Murry was nine, his father William moved the family to Leavenworth, Kansas. That move ended up shaping Murry’s future.

The Dicksons settled in their new Kansas community during the 1920s. Growing up in Leavenworth meant Murry could join organized baseball programs.

The shift from rural Missouri to Kansas gave him more chances to develop his skills.

Amateur Baseball Experiences

Dickson’s amateur baseball days were full of memorable moments with local teams. He pitched for Leavenworth’s American Legion team as a teenager.

His talent on the mound started drawing attention from scouts and local fans.

One of his wildest baseball memories happened on Decoration Day 1933. He was pitching for Leavenworth against Topeka at the state prison in Lansing, Kansas.

Suddenly, a gang of convicts led by Wilbur Underhill tried to escape. The convicts rushed the stands and took the warden hostage.

Prison guards carrying tommy guns surrounded the field and stopped the game. That chaos actually saved Dickson from what looked like a tough day on the mound.

Signing with St. Louis Cardinals’ Organization

St. Louis Cardinals scout Jack Ryan saw something in Dickson and signed him in 1936. Like a lot of players back then, Dickson knocked a year off his age when he signed his first contract.

Dickson kicked off his pro career in 1937 with Grand Island in the Class D Nebraska State League. Even though his team finished last, he racked up 14 wins and showed real promise.

His strong season got him promoted to Decatur, Illinois, where he won 16 games.

The Cardinals’ big farm system gave Dickson plenty of opportunities to grow. In 1939, he joined manager Eddie Dyer at Houston in the Texas League.

That season changed everything for Dickson. He won 22 games and earned his first shot at the majors.

On September 30, 1939, Dickson made his MLB debut with the Cardinals. He threw 3⅔ innings of shutout relief in his first big league appearance, kicking off what would become an 18-year career.

MLB Debut and Rise with the St. Louis Cardinals

Murry Dickson’s trip to the majors started in 1939, when he debuted for the St. Louis Cardinals at 23. Working with manager Eddie Dyer shaped Dickson’s experimental pitching style.

His role on the Cardinals’ deep pitching staff shifted from reliever to key contributor during their championship runs.

Major League Debut in 1939

Dickson broke into the majors on September 30, 1939, with the Cardinals. At 23, he took the mound for his first MLB game.

He faced the Chicago Cubs and pitched 3.2 innings in relief. He gave up just one hit, struck out two, and walked one.

Dickson tossed shutout ball in his first taste of the big leagues. That strong outing followed a 22-win season for Houston in the Texas League.

Even after his promising debut, the Cardinals sent him back to the minors for more experience. He spent the next two years with Columbus in the American Association.

At Columbus, Dickson kept developing. He won 17 games in 1940 and 21 in 1941.

Developing Under Eddie Dyer

Eddie Dyer had a huge impact on Dickson as a pitcher. They first worked together in 1939 when Dyer managed Houston.

Dyer called Dickson “Tom Edison Jr.” because Dickson was always experimenting on the mound. This creative approach defined Dickson’s style for his whole career.

Under Dyer, Dickson learned to throw several pitches from different arm slots. He figured out how to change speeds and deliver the ball overhand, three-quarters, sidearm, and even underhand.

He also learned to move around on the rubber during games. All that variety made it tough for hitters to get a read on him.

Dyer’s influence went beyond mechanics. He encouraged Dickson to keep thinking outside the box, which helped Dickson adapt as he got older and lost some velocity.

Role on the Cardinals’ Pitching Staff

Dickson finally stuck with the Cardinals in 1942 after his time in the minors. Early on, the team mostly used him as a reliever.

In 1942, he posted a 2.91 ERA in 36 games for a Cardinals team that won 106 games. The Cardinals took the National League pennant and upset the Yankees in the World Series, though Dickson didn’t pitch in that Series.

The Cardinals had one of the deepest pitching staffs in baseball at the time. Guys like Max Lanier, Harry Brecheen, and Howard Pollet all came up through the Cardinals’ farm system.

Dickson kept working mostly in relief in 1943 as the Cardinals won 105 games. Right before the World Series, the Army drafted him, but he got a furlough to pitch in the championship.

He pitched in the ninth inning of the deciding game of the 1943 World Series against the Yankees. Dickson got the last two outs, though the Cardinals lost 2-0.

Military Service and Postwar Career

World War II interrupted Dickson’s baseball career. He served in the European Theater with the 35th Infantry Division.

When Dickson came back to baseball in 1946, he started his most successful years as a pitcher.

World War II Service and Impact

In September 1943, Dickson joined the Army and got stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served as a Sergeant in the 1st Platoon, 35th Cavalry Recon Troop of the 35th Infantry Division.

Before heading overseas, Dickson got a rare 10-day furlough in 1943. Baseball commissioner Kennesaw M. Landis asked for his temporary release so he could pitch in the 1943 World Series for the Cardinals.

He pitched two-thirds of an inning in the final game, making him one of only two active military members to appear in a World Series.

Dickson shipped out to Europe on May 12, 1944, landing in Liverpool, England. He reached mainland Europe on July 7 and spent 10 months moving through Europe as a point jeep driver.

He saw combat in several major battles:

• The breakout at St. Lo
• Battle of the Bulge
• The crossing of the Rhine
• The final push through Germany

During enemy fire, Dickson once dove into a foxhole. General Patton jumped in right after him and later asked Dickson to be his personal driver, but Dickson turned him down.

Return to Baseball After the War

Dickson came back to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1946 after almost three years away. His time in the war seemed to sharpen his pitching, not slow him down.

The 1946 season was one of his best. He went 15-6 with a .714 winning percentage, tops in the National League.

At just 5-foot-10 and 155 pounds, Dickson relied on skill, not size.

He used a wide range of pitches—six in all: fastball, curve, slider, knuckler, sinker, and screwball. “Sometimes early in a game, some of them aren’t working so well. So I drop the bad ones and stick with the ones that will do me the most good,” he told Time magazine in 1948.

Manager Eddie Dyer called him “Thomas Edison” for always trying out new deliveries and pitches. That inventive streak kept Dickson effective into his 40s.

The Pittsburgh Pirates bought him for $125,000 in 1949. Dickson paid off with a 20-win season in 1951, proving he was no fluke after the war.

Career Highlights, Achievements, and Key Seasons

Murry Dickson’s 18 years in the big leagues included multiple World Series titles with the Cardinals and a standout 20-win season with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1951.

His career numbers: 172 wins, 181 losses, and a 3.66 ERA in over 3,000 innings.

World Series Champion and Postseason Play

Dickson won two World Series rings with the Cardinals, in 1942 and 1946. He played a big part in the 1946 World Series win over the Boston Red Sox.

In Game 2 of the 1946 National League playoff against the Dodgers, Dickson held Brooklyn scoreless until the ninth. He gave up three runs late, but still helped send St. Louis to the World Series for the fourth time in five years.

He started Game 7 of the 1946 World Series against Boston. Dickson carried a 3-1 lead into the eighth before letting the tying runs reach base.

After he left the game, “Slaughter’s Mad Dash” sealed the championship for St. Louis.

Dickson pitched in four World Series during his career. He also saw action in the 1958 World Series with the Yankees against the Braves.

Statistical Milestones and Records

Dickson’s biggest statistical feat came in 1951 with the Pirates. He won 20 games for a team that only managed 64 wins all year, meaning he accounted for nearly a third of their victories.

He finished his career with 172 wins, 181 losses, and a 3.66 ERA. Dickson struck out 1,281 batters in 3,052 innings.

The righty completed 108 games and threw 28 shutouts. His career WHIP was 1.339, and he posted a WAR of 43.0 across 18 seasons.

Dickson lost 20 games in a season twice, in 1952 and 1954. In 1948, he gave up a National League record 39 home runs while pitching for St. Louis.

Teams and Transitions Across Major League Baseball

Dickson bounced around five franchises over 18 seasons. He spent his most important years with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1949-1953, had a run with the Philadelphia Phillies, and wrapped up his career with the Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees.

Pittsburgh Pirates Years

The Cardinals sold Dickson to Pittsburgh for $125,000 in January 1949. St. Louis fans weren’t happy—they didn’t get any prospects in return. That deal apparently helped break up the partnership between Cardinals owners Robert Hannegan and Fred Saigh.

Pittsburgh challenged Dickson in ways he hadn’t expected, but it also gave him a chance to shine. The Pirates sat in the lower half of the National League standings the whole time he played there.

1951 ended up as Dickson’s standout season. He won 20 games and lost 16 for a Pirates squad that only won 64 games total. He finished 19 of his 35 starts and threw 288⅔ innings, pretty much carrying the pitching staff on his back.

The next few years brought more headaches than highlights. Dickson lost 21 games in 1952 and 19 more in 1953, even though his ERA stayed better than average. Pittsburgh landed in last place both years.

General Manager Branch Rickey, who originally signed Dickson with the Cardinals, started criticizing Dickson’s expensive contract and his habit of tinkering with his pitching.

Philadelphia Phillies and Beyond

Rickey traded Dickson to the Philadelphia Phillies after the 1953 season. The deal included two journeyman players and somewhere between $70,000 and $80,000 in cash.

Dickson’s time in Philadelphia was all over the place. He lost 20 games in 1954 for a fourth-place team, though his 3.78 ERA was still solid. Manager Mayo Smith reportedly told Dickson not to throw his knuckleball, which made him less effective.

He bounced back a bit in 1955. Dickson finished 12-11 with a 3.50 ERA, proving he could still hang in Major League Baseball.

Philadelphia sent him back to the Cardinals in May 1956. Returning to St. Louis gave his career a temporary jolt. Dickson posted a 13-8 record and a 3.07 ERA for the rest of the season.

He even tossed a two-hit shutout against the Cubs, and weirdly, he picked up more hits himself in that game—with two singles and a triple—than he allowed.

Time with the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics

The Cardinals released Dickson after the 1957 season. He signed with the Kansas City Athletics for 1958, which brought him closer to home in Leavenworth, Kansas—just a 40-minute drive from the ballpark.

At 42, Dickson pitched out of the bullpen for Kansas City and did surprisingly well. He managed to keep his weight at 148 pounds—the same as his rookie year—and credited his longevity to eating only one meal a day. Not everyone could pull that off.

The New York Yankees picked up Dickson on August 22, 1958, right after his 42nd birthday. The trade stirred up talk that Kansas City acted like a Yankee farm team.

Dickson pitched in his fourth World Series with New York. He logged four innings across two games against the Milwaukee Braves, giving up two runs as the Yankees took the championship.

He spent his last season in 1959 splitting time between Kansas City and New York, closing out an 18-year career that spanned a couple of decades and a handful of teams.

Pitching Style, Reputation, and Legacy

People called Murry Dickson “Tom Edison Jr.” because manager Eddie Dyer noticed how much he loved messing with different pitches and deliveries. His offbeat style and stamina earned him serious respect from teammates like Harry Brecheen, and he built a reputation as a crafty pitcher who got the most out of what he had.

Pitching Techniques and Nicknames

Dickson was a “little righty” who outsmarted hitters instead of overpowering them. He threw just about every pitch you could name, always mixing up his speeds and arm angles.

His delivery could be overhand, three-quarters, sidearm, or even underhand. He’d move around on the rubber between pitches, just to mess with batters some more.

Manager Eddie Dyer started calling him “Tom Edison Jr.” because Dickson never stopped experimenting. Catcher Joe Garagiola joked that he didn’t have enough fingers to call for all of Dickson’s pitches.

As he got older, Dickson leaned more and more on his knuckleball. People suspected he threw spitballs, but he insisted he just used “woofle dust” on the ball. Whatever that means.

Sometimes his constant experimenting drove teammates and managers a little nuts. They felt he focused too much on trying new things and not enough on just getting outs.

Comparisons with Teammates and Contemporaries

Dickson shared the field with some notable Cardinals pitchers like Harry Brecheen, Max Lanier, and Howard Pollet. While Brecheen got noticed for specific strengths, Dickson stood out for being able to do a bit of everything.

His career ERA of 3.66 was pretty respectable for the era. He pitched more than 3,000 innings over 18 seasons, showing remarkable durability.

He hit double-digit wins in eleven straight seasons. Not many pitchers stick around into their 40s and still get results, but Dickson did.

Instead of blowing hitters away like the power pitchers of his day, Dickson thrived by outsmarting them and constantly adapting. In 1951 with Pittsburgh, he completed 19 of 35 starts—that’s pretty wild.

Influence on Baseball and Lasting Impact

Dickson’s approach changed how teams thought about veteran pitchers who relied on craftiness. His longevity showed that you didn’t have to throw hard if you were smart and adaptable.

He worked as a scout after he retired, passing along his knowledge to younger players. That experimental mindset? It was kind of a preview of today’s pitch design trends.

Dickson played in four World Series with three different teams. He bridged baseball eras, really.

His 172-181 career record says a lot about his willingness to pitch for teams that weren’t exactly contenders. Branch Rickey once said, “a pitching staff of ten Dicksons would finish about mid-way in the race,” which sums up both his value and his limits.

He was a carpenter’s union member who got stronger swinging hammers, and that blue-collar determination stuck with him throughout his baseball life.

Retirement, Personal Life, and Net Worth Information

Murry Dickson finished up his 18-season MLB journey in 1959. He wrapped up with a 172-181 record and a 3.66 ERA in over 3,000 innings. After baseball, he went home to Leavenworth, Kansas, and kept working as a carpenter, but he never really left the game behind.

Final MLB Season and Retirement in 1959

Dickson’s final season came at age 43 with the Kansas City Athletics in 1959. He’d spent his last years bouncing between teams, including a short run with the Yankees in 1958 that got him one more World Series appearance.

Kansas City was a convenient last stop. The ballpark was just 40 minutes from his house in Leavenworth, which made it a pretty ideal setup for a veteran winding down.

By the time he hung it up, Dickson had stacked up some impressive career statistics. He won 172 games, lost 181, and posted a 3.66 ERA over 18 years. Not bad, especially considering he often played for teams that struggled.

Dickson managed to both win 20 games and lose 20 games in different seasons—a rare feat. His 1951 season in Pittsburgh, where he won 20 for a team with just 64 wins, really stands out.

Life After Baseball

After leaving baseball, Dickson went back to carpentry in Leavenworth, Kansas. He’d worked construction during off-seasons his whole career, alongside his dad and two brothers as members of Union Local 499.

Dickson always said carpentry helped his pitching. Swinging a hammer, he believed, mimicked the pitching motion and kept his arm strong, which probably helped him last so long.

He married his hometown sweetheart, Julia Wood, on February 28, 1939. They stayed together through his playing days and into retirement.

He kept close ties to baseball and his community after he retired. Dickson had lived in Leavenworth since he was nine, after his family moved from Tracy, Missouri, so it really was home.

His health declined in his later years. Dickson died of emphysema in Kansas City in 1989 at age 73. He left behind a legacy of toughness and longevity that people still remember.

Net Worth and Recognition

No one really knows Dickson’s exact net worth since people didn’t keep detailed financial records back then. During his playing days, he pulled in about $25,000 a season, which was actually pretty decent money in the 1950s.

Pittsburgh struck his biggest trade when they sold him to Philadelphia, getting somewhere between $70,000 and $80,000 in cash plus a couple of players. That’s a hefty sum for a 37-year-old pitcher, isn’t it?

Dickson didn’t just rely on baseball. He also worked as a carpenter, which gave him a steady paycheck during the off-season and after he hung up his glove.

He never became a household name, but folks in the baseball world respected him for sticking around so long and adapting when he needed to. They even called him “Tom Edison Jr.” because he loved tinkering with new pitches and different ways to throw.

The Society for American Baseball Research has dug deep into his career, shining a light on what made him stand out. Honestly, his story feels like it belongs to a whole generation of players from baseball’s golden age who gave a lot to the game, even if they never became superstars.