Jack Morris (2018)


Date of Birth: 5/16/1955
Birthplace: St. Paul, Minnesota
College: Brigham Young University

Jack Morris played baseball at Brigham Young University before being drafted by the Detroit Tigers in June, 1976. He spent the 1976 season in the minors.

Detroit Tigers

Morris pitched for the Tigers from 1977 through 1990. He spent most of the 1977 season in the minors, pitching in just 7 games with the Tigers that season. He had a 3.72 ERA in 46.0 innings.

In 1978, his first full season in the majors, Morris had a 4.33 ERA in 28 games. He pitched 106.0 innings and he had 3 wins and 5 losses. He had control issues, walking 49 batters while striking out just 48. The following season was a much better one. He finished the 1979 season with 17 wins and 7 losses, 113 strikeouts to 59 walks, and a 3.27 ERA in 198.0 innings in 27 games.

Morris pitched 250.0 innings in 36 games in 1980. He had 16 wins and 15 losses and a 4.18 ERA. He struck out 112 batters and walked 87. He led all AL pitchers in putouts with 31.

Morris had a strong season in 1981, finishing with a career low ERA of 3.05. He led the AL in wins and he was rewarded with the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award. Although he pitched well, he walked more batters than any other pitcher in the American League. He finished the season with 14 wins and 7 losses and 97 strikeouts to 78 walks in 198.0 innings in 25 games.

In 1982, Morris pitched in a career high 37 games. He finished the season with 17 wins and 16 losses, 135 strikeouts to 96 walks, and a 4.06 ERA in 266.1 innings.

Morris had one of his best seasons in 1983. He led AL pitchers in strikeouts. He had career highs in games played (37), innings pitched (293.2), and strikeouts (232 to 83 walks). He had 20 wins and 13 losses and a 3.34 ERA.

Morris pitched a no-hitter on April 7, 1984. He had a strong season that year, pitching well in both regular and postseason play. He finished the regular season with 19 wins and 11 losses, 148 strikeouts to 87 walks, and a 3.60 ERA in 240.1 innings in 35 games. He won his first Babe Ruth award for his postseason performance. In 3 games, he pitched 25.0 innings and he gave up 18 hits and 5 runs. He struck out 17 batters and walked 4. He had 3 wins and no losses and a 1.80 ERA.

Morris had another good season in 1985, finishing with 16 wins and 11 losses, 191 strikeouts to 110 walks, and a 3.33 ERA in 257.0 innings in 35 games. The following season he led the AL in shutouts with 6. He finished the 1986 season with a career high 21 wins to 8 losses, 223 strikeouts to 82 walks, and a 3.27 ERA in 267.0 innings in 35 games.

Morris played well for the Tigers in 1987, finishing with 18 wins and 11 losses, 208 strikeouts to 93 walks, and a 3.38 ERA in 266.0 innings in 35 games. He started to struggle in 1988, ending the season with a 3.94 ERA. He pitched in only 24 games in 1989 and he finished that season with an ERA of 4.86 and 6 wins to 14 losses.

In 1990, Morris led the AL in complete games pitched with 11. He finished the season with 15 wins and 18 losses, 162 strikeouts to 97 walks, and a 4.51 ERA in 249.2 innings in 36 games.

Minnesota Twins

Morris became a free agent on December 7, 1990. He signed with the Minnesota Twins on February 5, 1991.

Morris played with the Twins for just one season, but it was a strong one for him and the team. He had 18 wins and 12 losses, 163 strikeouts to 92 walks, and a .343 ERA in 246.2 innings in 35 games in 1991. His postseason was even better with 4 wins and no losses and a 2.25 ERA in 36.0 innings in 5 games. He gave up 35 hits and 9 runs. He won the World Series MVP award and his second Babe Ruth award.

Toronto Blue Jays

Morris became a free agent again on November 11, 1991, and a month later, on December 18th, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.

In 1992, Morris led the AL in wins with 21 (to 6 losses). He finished the season with 132 strikeouts to 80 walks and a 4.04 ERA in 240.2 inninngs in 34 games.

Morris struggled in 1993, finishing the season with a career high ERA of 6.19. In 27 games, he pitched 152.2 innings and he had 7 wins and 12 losses. The Blue Jays released him on November 5, 1993.

Final Years as a Player

Morris signed with the Cleveland Indians on February 10, 1994. After pitching with them in 23 games, he was released on August 9, 1994. He finished the season with 10 wins and 6 losses, 100 strikeouts to 67 walks, and a 5.60 ERA in 141.1 innings in 23 games.

Morris signed with the Cincinnati Reds on December 22, 1994, but he never played with them. He didn't play professional baseball in 1995.

In 1996, Morris ended his major league career with an independent league team. He had a 72.1 ERA in 10 games with them.

Awards and MLB Records

  • Sporting News Pitcher of the Year
  • World Series MVP
  • Babe Ruth award (2 times)
  • Led AL in wins (2 times)

Career Statistics

Pitching statistics for Morris in 18 seasons (1977-1994) in the major leagues include:

  • 11 seasons with 30 or more games played, with a high of 37 in 1982 and 1983
  • 11 seasons with 200 or more innings pitched, with a high of 293.2 in 1983
  • 3 seasons with 20 or more wins, with a high of 21 in 1986 and 1992
  • 3 seasons with 200 or more strikeouts, with a high of 232 in 1983

Career pitching statistics for Morris include:

  • 549 games played
  • 3,824.2 innings pitched
  • 254-186 win-loss record
  • 2,478 strikeouts to 1,390 walks
  • 3.90 ERA

Postseason statistics for Morris include:

  • 4 postseasons
  • 13 games played
  • 91.0 innings pitched
  • 7-4 win-loss record
  • 64 strikeouts to 32 walks
  • 3.86 ERA

Post Playing Career

In 2013, Morris was hired by the Blue Jays to be a radio color analyst for the team. The following year, he worked as a pre- and post-game analyst for Fox Sports North and the Twins radio broadcasts. In 2015, he moved to Fox Sports Detroit and worked as a part-time analyst for Tigers' games. He stayed in that position for two years.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jack Morris
ESPN - Jack Morris
Baseball Reference - Jack Morris

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