Murph almost channeled King Joffer at BBWAA dinner ... but thought better of it

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PHOENIX -- Pat Murphy still isn’t taking himself too seriously, even after winning a second consecutive NL Manager of the Year Award. On the desk in his office at American Family Fields of Phoenix sits a framed 8x10 photo of Murphy as King Jaffe Joffer, the character played by James Earl Jones as the imposing King of Zamunda in the 1988 film Coming to America.

This past offseason, Murphy toyed with the idea of dressing as King Joffer for the Baseball Writers' Association of America’s awards dinner in New York, complete with a lion pelt over his shoulders.

“I didn’t feel worthy of going there with a straight face with [Aaron] Judge and [Shohei] Ohtani, [Tarik] Skubal, [Paul] Skenes. Those are stars of the game,” Murphy said.

It’s not the first time he’s battled that feeling of inferiority. When he first won the honor following the 2024 season, Murphy and AL Manager of the Year Award winner Stephen Vogt talked about showing up in baby blue and bright orange tuxedos like the characters in Dumb and Dumber. Murphy went as far as acquiring his tux.

Ultimately, they decided to play it straight. But after both men won the honor again for 2025, Murphy returned to the King Joffer idea. He pictured his two young sons, Austin and Jaxon, leading him to the dais while throwing rose petals at dad’s feet as he wore a lion’s pelt across his shoulders.

He “chickened out” once again, to the dismay of the AL MVP.

“It would have been funny,” Murphy said. “Aaron Judge said so.”