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Portrait of Jack Murphy

Jack Murphy

1923 – 1980

American sportswriter

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About Jack Murphy

Lived 1923 – 1980 (aged 57). Jack Murphy was an American journalist, sports journalist and sportswriter.

John Patrick Murphy He was the older brother of Bob Murphy, a New York Mets broadcaster. He moved from Fort Worth, Texas, in 1951 to become a sportswriter for the San Diego Union newspaper. On December 21, 1960, Jack Murphy wrote a column for the San Diego Union proposing that the Los Angeles Chargers of the American Football League (AFL) should become a San Diego franchise. For a year in Union articles, he was a key figure who implored San Diegans to move the Chargers. He helped secure the San Diego Padres as a National League MLB expansion team in 1969.

Jack Murphy Stadium

After the Chargers began to outgrow Balboa Stadium in San Diego, Murphy helped lobby for a San Diego stadium in articles for the San Diego Union. A 50,000-seat stadium was proposed and approved by San Diego voters in 1965. after Murphy died in 1980. It was known as well by "The Murph".

Personal life Murphy owned a black Labrador Retriever named Abe and he wrote about him in articles. A statue of Murphy with Abe is in front of Qualcomm Stadium. He was a third cousin of billionaire investor Warren Buffett. Murphy died on September 24, 1980, of lung cancer.

Awards On May 3, 1988, Murphy was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.

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Important facts

People in Jack Murphy's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jack Murphy's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jack Murphy?

American sportswriter

When was Jack Murphy born?

Jack Murphy was born on 5 February 1923 in Denver.

When did Jack Murphy die?

Jack Murphy died on 24 September 1980 in Los Angeles.

What was Jack Murphy's occupation?

Jack Murphy was a journalist, sports journalist and sportswriter.

What nationality was Jack Murphy?

Jack Murphy was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jack Murphy

· Wikidata: Q6114244

· DBpedia: Jack Murphy (sportswriter)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jack Murphy. https://biography.guide/jack-murphy-journalist/

MLA: "Jack Murphy." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jack-murphy-journalist/.

Chicago: "Jack Murphy." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jack-murphy-journalist/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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