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Braves Throwback Thursday: Move to outfield launches Dale Murphy to stardom in 1980

Changing defensive positions at the Major League level is often easier said than done.

Evan Gattis, Ryan Klesko and Chipper Jones are among the many Atlanta Braves sluggers who the club at one time or another tried unsuccessfully to convert to the outfield. Gattis and Klesko lacked the agility for the defensive nuances of the position, while Jones suffered a series of foot and leg injuries that temporarily endangered his Hall-of-Fame career.

But perhaps the most famous position-switch in Braves history was an overwhelming success. Forty-one years ago, Dale Murphy — a 24-year-old former catcher and first baseman — moved to the outfield despite not having played the position since his junior year of high school.