Jim Murray (writer)

Jim Murray

• Born December 29, 1919 in Hartford, CT USA
• Died August 16, 1998 in Los Angeles, CA USA

After Jim Murray graduated from Trinity College he immediately joined the Hartford Times, beginning a 55 year career covering sports.

Moving to the Los Angeles Times in 1958, Murray cemented his reputation as one of the nation's greatest sportswriters. Covering several sports, including the Dodgers, Murray was named national sportswriter of the year fourteen times by the NSSA. He combined perceptive analysis with a great deal of humor.

After suffering vision problems, Murray retired from writing in the early 1980s. He returned, writing columns, in 1982.

In 1990, Murray became only the third sportswriter to win the Pulitzer Prize. He also won the Red Smith Award from the Associated Press Sports Editors. Murray was honored by the Hall of Fame with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award in 1987.

Further Reading

• Jim Murray (The Los Angeles Times): "Most Dangerous Hitter Returns as Silverfinger: Pitcher-killer McDougald on trail of Mexican mine," Baseball Digest (June 1965), pp. 20-22
• Jim Murray (The Los Angeles Times): "GAME NO. 3 - The Bunt That Never Happened: Robertson misses sign and hits homer," Baseball Digest (January 1972), pp. 13-15
• Jim Murray (The Los Angeles Times): "Clemente Handles Spine Curves: Roberto Also Hits Curve Ball," The Milwaukee Sentinel (Saturday, March 25, 1972), Page 3, Part 2
• Jim Murray (The Los Angeles Times): "Babe Herman Debunks a Famous Legend: There never were three Dodgers on the same base - well, not really," Baseball Digest (January 1973), pp. 94-96
• Jim Murray (The Los Angeles Times): "I Remember Roberto," The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star (Monday, January 8, 1973), p. 7

Related Sites

ESPN Classic - Jim Murray biography