Bristol native Francis “Hop” Murphy pitched for two city championship St. Joseph’s teams, once recording 80 strikeouts in 40 innings of work. He entered Bristol High in the late 1920’s where his abilities were acknowledged by the Bristol Press when he was mentioned as one the best to play baseball at the school despite only attending two years. He played on the school’s 1929 state championship team, was on the City champion Ingraham team in 1931 before leading the City League in scoring in 1933.

In baseball after high school, he played for the West Ends, Celtics, St. Stan’s, Eagles Club, and Forestville. He had a tryout with the Hartford Senators of the Eastern League in 1931, but the club folded because of the depression. “I lost my chance to play professional ball” he wrote. He pitched to age 40 and then took up duckpin bowling, and was considered one of the city’s best.

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