Chris Murphy Gets B-Day Gift of a Lifetime from Red Sox
Chris Murphy was planning for an ordinary birthday when he got a call from the Boston Red Sox
The team called him in to make his MLB debut against the Cleveland Guardians
More than just a momentous moment in Murphy's career, the game also served as a tribute to a dear friend he lost a decade ago
What's the best phone call you've ever gotten on your birthday? A grandparent? A friend you haven't talked to in a while? A Major League Baseball team calling you up to the big leagues?
Chris Murphy was preparing for a fun, casual birthday celebration on Monday. "We were cleaning out the back to take some friends to go to an Escape Room last night," Murphy would later say regarding the moments before the fateful phone call came through.
"And once the good news was delivered," NESN notes, "Murphy didn’t put down the phone."
The call Murphy received was from the Boston Red Sox, asking the now 25-year-old to take the field in the big leagues for the first time. By Tuesday, he was out on the mound, facing down the Cleveland Guardians. "It was a great birthday present considering I got that call yesterday," said on Tuesday at Progressive Field. "Ecstatic to be here," he added. "It’s the Boston Red Sox, so I can’t be anything more than thrilled at this point."
And this was a gift for more than just Murphy himself. As MassLive reports, Murphy spoke on the emotional impact of his Major League debut, saying it was "one of those moments where I felt Jessica out there."
Jessica refers to Jessica Tovar, Murphy's childhood babysitter and family friend who the young man has described as "his sister." Tover "attended every one of Murphy’s games growing up," and tragically passed away from rhabdomyosarcoma on July 14, 2012, at only 26 years old. In tribute, Murphy got the words "I play for Jessica" tattooed on his chest.
"Jessica’s mom was here," Murphy informed reporters regarding his debut game. "It was special having her there. She’s never watched me play baseball as far as I can remember. She maybe watched me play in Little League but she hasn’t watched me play in a long time. So it was special that she was there. It meant the world."
With one call, the Boston Red Sox gave a gift not only to Chris Murphy but to many people whose lives he's touched across 25 years.
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