A star basketball player from DePaul University in the early 60s who was drafted by the NBA Baltimore Bullets. He was a top local softball player with the Whips in the 60s. Jim distinguished himself as one of the finest umpires on the south side during the decades of the 1970s and 1980s. He was always noted for his hustle and great judgment in big games. Murphy was generally the umpire of choice for any big money games at Kelly Park and the Windy City Stadium during the 1970s. Murphy accumulated the greatest number of points during a poll taken of nominated umpires (some 30 in all) in collecting information for the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee – Umpires, et al. He has 3 children – Cheryl, Paul, and Michael and 4 grandchildren – Brianna, McKenna, Maxwell, and Brooklyn.
