Card #29 in the Chicle set is Jim MacMurdo. It is the fifth of 12 short prints in the 1935 National Chicle set.
James Edward "Big Jim" MacMurdo was born in 1909 in Ellwood City, PA. He was a member of the acclaimed 1925 Ellwood City High School football team that went unscored upon during the regular season. Led by Jim's older brother, Tom "Big Train" MacMurdo, who was a 229lb Sr. Fullback, Ellwood City steamrolled its regular season opponents 313-0. Jim was a Sophomore on the team and the starting center. Their brother Bob was also a starting member of the line. Ellwood City played Freeport, IL in the National Championship game. Freeport had not lost in five years and defeated Ellwood 13-7. Tragically, Tom MacMurdo suffered a severe head injury during the season and was never the same player thereafter. He had scholarship offers to the U of Minnesota and U of Pittsburgh but it is unclear whether he went to college or played football beyond High School.
Jim MacMurdo went to the University of Pittsburgh where he was an All-American Tackle in 1931. He played guard and tackle in the NFL for the Boston Braves/Redskins from 1932 - 1933 and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1934 - 1937. He was a member of the inaugural 1932 Boston Braves team that later became the Washington Redskins. Jim was second team All-Pro in 1936.
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jeff