Steve Mura – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Steve Mura’s baseball journey really shows how a pitcher can ride the highs and lows during eight seasons in Major League Baseball. Born February 12, 1955, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mura managed to put together a solid career as a right-handed pitcher from 1978 to 1985, suiting up for four different teams in both leagues.

Mura found his biggest success with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982, winning 12 games and grabbing a World Series ring, even though he didn’t pitch in the postseason. He bounced around after that, with stops at the San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, and Oakland Athletics, which really sums up the reality of a journeyman pitcher’s career in the majors.

You can see the ups and downs in his story, starting from a promising college stint at Tulane University to his last season with Oakland in 1985. His career numbers—30 wins, 39 losses, and 360 strikeouts—show a guy who hung in there at the highest level, even as he dealt with shaky performance and constant roster moves.

Early Life and Education

Stephen Andrew Mura arrived on February 12, 1955, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up learning the game in his hometown before moving on to play college ball at Tulane University from 1974 to 1976.

Birth and Family Background

Stephen Andrew Mura was born in New Orleans, right in the heart of the Deep South, during the mid-1950s when baseball was huge in America.

His family encouraged his love for sports. People started calling him Steve once he hit the professional baseball scene.

At 23, Mura made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres on September 5, 1978. He spent his early years in New Orleans sharpening the skills that took him to the pros.

Growing Up in New Orleans

New Orleans gave Mura a pretty unique environment to grow up in. The warm weather meant he could play baseball all year, which really helped him develop as a pitcher.

Back in the 1960s and early 1970s, he watched professional sports start to integrate. That era shaped the outlook of a lot of young athletes.

The city’s culture probably had a big impact on Mura’s personality. With strong community support and a love for local athletes, New Orleans was the kind of place where a young ballplayer could thrive.

Mura learned to pitch and bat right-handed during these years. That solid foundation from Louisiana stuck with him through his career.

College Baseball at Tulane University

Mura headed to Tulane University and played college baseball from 1974 to 1976. The Green Wave gave him the chance to play against tough competition and get noticed.

He worked on his pitching under the college coaches at Tulane. That experience made him better prepared for the professional game.

Major league scouts started to pay attention to him at Tulane. The San Diego Padres ended up drafting him in the second round of the 1976 June Amateur Draft.

He played three seasons at Tulane from 1974 to 1976. That stretch was key in getting him ready for pro baseball.

Path to the Major Leagues

Steve Mura’s road to MLB started at Redemptorist High School in New Orleans, then moved through his standout years at Tulane. After the San Diego Padres drafted him, he spent some time in the minors before making his MLB debut in 1978.

Amateur Baseball Experience

Steve Mura pitched for Redemptorist High School in New Orleans. Born in 1955, he developed his game locally.

After high school, he joined Tulane University and played college baseball from 1974 to 1976. Those years at Tulane helped him get better as a pitcher.

He impressed scouts enough in college to get noticed. Mura later became Tulane’s winningest pitcher to make it to the majors.

MLB Draft and Signing

The San Diego Padres picked Mura in the amateur draft because they saw his potential. At 6’2″ and 190 pounds, he had the size teams wanted in a starter.

He signed with the Padres organization and started his pro journey. The team invested in his development in their minor league system.

The details around his draft slot and bonus are a bit murky, but he made it to the majors, so the Padres’ bet paid off.

Minor League Development

Mura kicked off his pro career in 1976 with the Padres’ minor league teams. He spent two years with the Hawaii Islanders, working on his pitching and learning the ropes of pro ball.

He also played for the Walla Walla Padres, Amarillo Gold Sox, Denver Bears, Portland Beavers, and Tacoma Tigers. Those stints helped him sharpen his skills for the big leagues.

After two years, he was ready for his MLB debut. On September 5, 1978, he pitched his first game as a major leaguer with the San Diego Padres.

MLB Career Overview

Steve Mura pitched in the majors for eight seasons from 1978 to 1985, suiting up for four different teams. He finished with a 30-39 record, a 4.00 ERA, and 360 strikeouts in 170 games.

San Diego Padres Years

Steve Mura started his MLB career with the San Diego Padres on September 5, 1978, when he was 23. The Padres drafted him out of Tulane in the second round back in 1976.

He pitched for San Diego from 1978 to 1981, becoming a reliable pitcher in their rotation. Mura threw right-handed, stood 6’2″, and weighed 188 pounds.

San Diego gave him his longest run in the majors. He learned the ropes as a starter and got valuable experience in the National League.

He spent nearly four full seasons with the Padres. That was the core of his pro career and his longest stay with any team.

St. Louis Cardinals Season

Mura moved to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982, and that turned out to be his best year. The Cardinals won the World Series, so Mura ended up a champion.

His time in St. Louis was short, but it stood out. The 1982 World Series win over the Brewers gave him his only ring.

The Cardinals used Mura in their pitching staff that season. He helped the team reach their championship goal.

After 1982, Mura’s run with the Cardinals wrapped up. He headed to his third MLB team the next year.

Chicago White Sox Tenure

The Chicago White Sox picked up Mura as a free agent compensation pick from St. Louis before the 1983 season. His time in Chicago was really brief.

He pitched just six games for the White Sox in 1983. The team won the division that year, but Mura couldn’t hold onto a roster spot.

The White Sox released him after those six games. That was one of the shortest stops of his career.

The White Sox stint showed just how tough it is to stick in the majors. Even on winning teams, players have to deliver.

Oakland Athletics Final Year

Mura finished his MLB career with the Oakland Athletics in 1985. He pitched in 23 games for Oakland that year, which ended up being his last season.

The Athletics gave Mura one last shot in the big leagues. He made his final MLB appearance on October 6, 1985.

With Oakland, Mura mostly worked out of the bullpen. That was a switch from his earlier years as a starter.

The 1985 season with the A’s closed out his eight-year MLB run. He wrapped up with 30 wins, 39 losses, and 360 strikeouts.

Career Achievements and Highlights

Steve Mura’s eight-year run in the majors had its moments, especially his role on the St. Louis Cardinals’ 1982 World Series championship team. His best season came that year, notching 12 wins for the Cardinals.

1982 World Series Championship

Mura’s top career moment came as part of the Cardinals’ 1982 World Series team. St. Louis beat the Brewers in seven games to take the title.

That season, Mura went 12-11 with a 3.48 ERA in 34 games for St. Louis. It was his best year in the big leagues.

Even with a solid regular season, Mura didn’t pitch in the playoffs. The Cardinals had a deep pitching staff, so manager Whitey Herzog used other starters in October.

That championship stands out as the highlight of Mura’s pro career. It happened during his only season with the Cardinals.

Notable Game Performances

Mura had some strong outings over his career, though it’s tough to find specific game details now. His best years came with the Padres from 1978 to 1981.

In San Diego, he became a regular starter. He made his MLB debut on September 5, 1978, at 23.

His 1982 season with St. Louis was his statistical peak. He won 12 games that year, the most in any season for him.

After leaving St. Louis, Mura struggled to find a role. He pitched just six games for the White Sox in 1983, then finished with 23 games for Oakland in 1985.

Awards and Honors

Mura’s main career honor is his World Series ring from the 1982 Cardinals. That’s his only major team or individual award from his MLB days.

His career stats: 30-39 record, 4.00 ERA, and 360 strikeouts in 170 games. Those numbers might not jump off the page, but they show he lasted eight seasons in the majors.

The Padres drafted him in the second round in 1976 after his college career at Tulane from 1974-1976.

He stood 6’2″ and weighed 188 pounds as a right-handed pitcher. Mura batted and threw right-handed throughout his pro career.

Pitching Profile and Statistical Legacy

Steve Mura finished with 30 wins, 39 losses, a 4.00 ERA, and 360 strikeouts over seven MLB seasons. His stats paint the picture of a pitcher who had trouble with consistency but sometimes showed real flashes of talent.

Pitching Style and Techniques

Mura pitched right-handed, standing 6’2″ and weighing 188 pounds. That build gave him a solid base on the mound as he bounced between four teams.

He leaned on traditional techniques that most hurlers used back then. Instead of throwing heat, he focused on control and hitting his spots.

Later in his career, Mura found that relief work fit his style better. In his final season with Oakland in 1985, he pitched in 23 games, mainly coming out of the bullpen.

His delivery and mechanics looked pretty typical for pitchers from the late ’70s and early ’80s. That conventional approach helped him stick around in both MLB rotations and bullpens for a while.

Career Statistics and Metrics

Mura’s career stats really show how tough it was for him to keep things steady on the mound. His 30-39 record speaks to the struggles he faced as he moved through several organizations.

Key Career Statistics:

• Games Played: 170 total appearances
• Win-Loss Record: 30-39
• ERA: 4.00
• Strikeouts: 360

He finished with a 4.00 ERA, which was just a bit above the league average during his years in the majors. So, he allowed four earned runs for every nine innings pitched.

Across his career, Mura struck out 360 batters, averaging about 51 strikeouts per season. That was a pretty average rate for pitchers who logged regular innings at that time.

Performance Analysis

In 1985 with Oakland, Mura’s numbers at home and on the road looked completely different. At home, he put up a sharp 2.53 ERA over 11 games and 21.1 innings.

But when he pitched on the road, things went south. Over 12 games and 26.2 innings, his ERA shot up to 5.50.

He gave up just 14 hits at home but surrendered 27 on the road. That gap suggests he pitched better in familiar surroundings, maybe thanks to Oakland’s ballpark.

His control didn’t really change much depending on location. Mura walked 14 batters at home and 11 on the road, so his command stayed fairly steady.

Sites like Baseball Reference track his journey through four organizations. He never managed to stick with one team for too long, which really shows how tough it was to hold onto a spot in those crowded MLB pitching staffs.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Steve Mura wrapped up his baseball career in 1985, making his final MLB appearance with the Oakland Athletics on October 6th. After baseball, he moved on to new chapters in life, but details about what he did next are pretty scarce compared to his playing days.

Decision to Retire in 1985

Mura decided to retire in 1985, closing the book on an eight-year MLB career that took him through four teams. That last season with Oakland marked the end of his big-league run at age 30.

The 1985 season was his final shot at the majors. He’d spent time in the minors from 1983 to 1985, and his last MLB game came on October 6, 1985.

Mura left behind a 30-39 win-loss record, a 4.00 ERA, and 360 strikeouts. Those stats pretty much tell the story of the ups and downs he faced in the big leagues.

He chose to retire after struggling to keep his performance consistent at the MLB level. Still, he did notch some highlights along the way, like being part of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 1982 World Series championship roster.

Post-Baseball Activities

Not much is out there about what Mura did after he left baseball. Like plenty of former MLB players, he probably tried his hand at something outside the game.

Moving from pro sports to regular life isn’t easy—retired players deal with a lot of unique challenges. Many end up working in coaching, business, or some other field where their baseball skills still come in handy.

Players from Mura’s era often got help from MLB pension programs, which gave them some financial security if they met the service time requirements.

Since there’s not much public info about his life after baseball, it seems like Mura has kept things pretty private and stayed out of the spotlight since his playing days.

Legacy Among MLB Fans

Most people remember Steve Mura for his spot on the Cardinals’ 1982 World Series championship team. That moment stands out as the highlight of his baseball career.

He spent eight years in the majors. During that time, he dealt with the ups and downs that come with trying to stick around at the highest level.

Baseball fans from the early 1980s still think of him as a pitcher who gave it his best shot. Sure, his stats show more losses than wins, but he still reached the big leagues and made his mark.

He managed 360 career strikeouts, which says a lot about his ability to get batters out when things went right. That’s not something every pitcher can say.

Mura played for four teams, including the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, and Oakland Athletics. That kind of journey was pretty common back then for players trying to keep their MLB dreams alive.