Jim Murray (sportswriter)
Encyclopedia
James Patrick Murray was an American
sportswriter at the Los Angeles Times
from 1961 to 1998.
Many of his achievements include winning the NSSA
's Sportswriter of the Year award an astounding fourteen times (twelve of those consecutively). In 1990, he won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
for his 1989 columns, and the Baseball Hall of Fame awarded him the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in 1987
. Cited as an influence by countless sports journalists, Murray was a fixture at the Los Angeles Times for over 30 years. After he won the Pulitzer in 1990, Murray modestly said he thought the prize winner should have had "to bring down a government or expose major graft or give advice to prime ministers. Correctly quoting Los Angeles Dodgers
manager Tommy Lasorda
shouldn't merit a Pulitzer Prize."
Prior to his tenure with the Los Angeles Times, Murray was a writer and columnist for Sports Illustrated
from 1953-1961 and Time
magazine from 1948-1955. He was also a reporter for the Los Angeles Examiner from 1944-1948, the New Haven (CT) Register and The Hartford Times
. He graduated from Trinity College
in Hartford CT in 1943.
Murray was noted for his great, albeit occasionally caustic, sense of humor and ability to turn a phrase, including the following: he wrote of the Indianapolis 500
automobile race, "Gentlemen, start your coffins"; that baseball player Rickey Henderson
"has a strike zone the size of Hitler
's heart"; and that UCLA
basketball coach John Wooden
was "so square he was divisible by four".
Although eventually afflicted with blindness, Murray continued covering and writing about sports as long as he was able.
Murray created The Jim Murray Memorial Foundation whose primary purpose is to raise money for journalism scholarships. Currently 28 universities participate annually in a national essay competition in which five $5,000.00 scholarships are annually awarded.
In 1982, Murray was honored by the Associated Press
Sports Editors, who awarded him the Red Smith Award
, which is America’s most prestigious sports writing honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportswriter at the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
from 1961 to 1998.
Many of his achievements include winning the NSSA
National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, or NSSA, is an organization of sports media members in the United States. It constitutes the American chapter of the International Sports Press Association ....
's Sportswriter of the Year award an astounding fourteen times (twelve of those consecutively). In 1990, he won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
The Pulitzer Prize for Commentary has been awarded since 1970. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.-List of winners and their official citations:...
for his 1989 columns, and the Baseball Hall of Fame awarded him the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in 1987
1987 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Minnesota Twins over St. Louis Cardinals ; Frank Viola, MVP**American League Championship Series: Gary Gaetti, MVP**National League Championship Series: Jeff Leonard, MVP...
. Cited as an influence by countless sports journalists, Murray was a fixture at the Los Angeles Times for over 30 years. After he won the Pulitzer in 1990, Murray modestly said he thought the prize winner should have had "to bring down a government or expose major graft or give advice to prime ministers. Correctly quoting Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
manager Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda
Thomas Charles Lasorda is a former Major League baseball player and manager. marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully...
shouldn't merit a Pulitzer Prize."
Prior to his tenure with the Los Angeles Times, Murray was a writer and columnist for Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
from 1953-1961 and Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine from 1948-1955. He was also a reporter for the Los Angeles Examiner from 1944-1948, the New Haven (CT) Register and The Hartford Times
The Hartford Times
The Hartford Times was a daily afternoon newspaper serving the Hartford, Connecticut community from 1826 to 1976. Several accomplished individuals contributed to the newspaper, including Brit Hume, as a reporter; the television writer Robert Palm; the American painter, James Britton, employed as a...
. He graduated from Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
in Hartford CT in 1943.
Murray was noted for his great, albeit occasionally caustic, sense of humor and ability to turn a phrase, including the following: he wrote of the Indianapolis 500
Indianapolis 500
The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, also known as the Indianapolis 500, the 500 Miles at Indianapolis, the Indy 500 or The 500, is an American automobile race, held annually, typically on the last weekend in May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana...
automobile race, "Gentlemen, start your coffins"; that baseball player Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
"has a strike zone the size of Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's heart"; and that UCLA
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
basketball coach John Wooden
John Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
was "so square he was divisible by four".
Although eventually afflicted with blindness, Murray continued covering and writing about sports as long as he was able.
Murray created The Jim Murray Memorial Foundation whose primary purpose is to raise money for journalism scholarships. Currently 28 universities participate annually in a national essay competition in which five $5,000.00 scholarships are annually awarded.
In 1982, Murray was honored by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Sports Editors, who awarded him the Red Smith Award
Red Smith Award
The Red Smith Award is awarded by the Associated Press Sports Editors for outstanding contributions to sports journalism. It has been awarded annually at the APSE convention since 1981...
, which is America’s most prestigious sports writing honor.