Chuck Murphy, president of the High Class A Florida State League for the last 24 years, passed away yesterday. He was 83.
The news was announced by his daughter, Laura LeCras.
From the Daytona Beach News-Journal:
“He knew a lot of people,” LeCras said. “If you were his friend, he was a friend for a life. I’ve had so many texts and calls from people that have known him for a long time, and all have stated what a great man he was.”
Murphy, who lived in South Daytona since the mid-1980s, was general manager of the FSL’s Daytona Beach Islanders from 1984 until the franchise was sold and moved in 1986. Murphy became parks manager for the city of Daytona Beach, but returned to baseball in 1990 as FSL president and maintained the league office at City Island.
Before entering baseball in 1975, Murphy spent 21 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Under Murphy, the Florida State League matured from a spring-training afterthought to a robust circuit setting attendance records in recent years. He was also central to the creation of the Florida State League Hall of Fame.