Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum exists to tell — and preserve — the stories of these Mississippi’s greatest athletes and coaches, who are some of the world’s greatest athletes and coaches. Question: What other state can boast the leading scorer and receiver in NFL history (Jerry Rice), the leading passer in NFL history (Brett Favre), the second leading rusher (Walter Payton) and the patriarch of the first family of football (Archie Manning)?

James H. “Babe” McCarthy

Born: October 1, 1923

Died: March 18, 1975

Hometown: Baldwyn, MS

Year of Induction: 1974

College Career

Mississippi State (1941-1943)

Scholastic/College Basketball Coaching Career

Baldwyn High School (’47-’50)

- State Champions (’48)

U.S. Air Force (’51-’53)

Tupelo Junior High School (’53-’54)

Mississippi State (’55-’64)

- 4 SEC Championships

- SEC Coach of the Year 4 times

George Washington University (’66-’67)

Pro Basketball Coaching Career

American Basketball Association

• New Orleans Buccaneers (’67-’70)

• Memphis Pros (’70-’72)

• Dallas Chaparrals (’72)

• Kentucky Colonels (’73-’74)

• ABA Coach of the Year twice

Did You Know?

During the Korean War, Babe McCarthy–a World War II transport pilot–coached a Memphis Air Force basketball team to third place in the worldwide Air Force tournament.