BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Murphy Retires With 398 Homers

Two homers shy of 400 and struggling at the end of a 17-year career, two-time National League most valuable player Dale Murphy retired Thursday.

Murphy, hitting .143 with no homers and seven runs batted in as a backup player for the expansion Colorado Rockies, made the announcement before their game against the Houston Astros.

“I had a few tears this morning . . . as I guess most guys do when they say goodby to something that’s close to them,” Murphy said.

The seven-time All-Star said there were “many reasons” for his decision and that it was time for him to “become part of real life.”

“Playing baseball is not real life, it’s a fantasy world,” he said. “To be able to go out there and play baseball, it’s a dream come true.”

Murphy, 37, acknowledged his poor performance with the Rockies. He said club officials, needing to make a roster move, had hinted at his release.

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Atlanta third baseman Terry Pendleton was disciplined by the Braves, but not suspended, for walking off the field during Wednesday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Pendleton surprised his teammates by leaving the field during the seventh inning with reliever Marvin Freeman pitching to Red starter Tim Belcher.

Pendleton evidently was upset that Freeman didn’t throw at one of the Reds in retaliation for Belcher hitting Deion Sanders during the top of the seventh.

Pendleton was back in the starting lineup Thursday.

Brave Manager Bobby Cox indicated that the discipline would be a fine.

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The National League warned Cincinnati Red owner Marge Schott about violating terms of her one-year suspension, a day after she sent a note into the dugout during Wednesday’s game against the Braves.

Her suspension for using racial slurs forbids contact with anyone involved with major league baseball, except in social circumstances.