The 2005 World Series

JACK MORRIS

Jack Morris won far more games (233) than any other pitcher in baseball over a 14-year span (1979-1992), only twice spent time on the disabled list, and amassed an amazing string of more than 500 straight starts without missing a turn in the rotation. His 1991 World Series Game Seven pitching performance for the Twins is one of the greatest in post-season annals. Critics have attacked Morris' legacy due to his high ERA's, claiming he won due to great run support. Those same critics ignore the fact that Morris pitched several years in a tremendous hitters' ballpark (Tiger Stadium). Morris was the winningest pitcher of the 1980s.

Played For
Detroit Tigers (1977-1990), Minnesota Twins (1991), Toronto Blue Jays (1992-1993), Cleveland Indians (1994)

Post-Season
1984 ALCS, 1984 World Series, 1987 ALCS, 1991 ALCS, 1991 World Series, 1992 ALCS, 1992 World Series

Morris's record in the post-season: 6-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 13 starts; 3-0 in the World Series with 40 K's in 51 2/3 innings.

World Champion?
Yes, four times: 1984 Tigers, 1991 Twins, 1992-1993 Blue Jays.

Ultimate Games (1-0)
1991 World Series Game Seven; Morris's performance was arguably the most clutch in baseball post-season history.

Honors
All-Star (5): 1981, 1984-1985, 1987, 1991; 1991 World Series Most Valuable Player

Stats
Career stats from baseball-reference.com

Similar Players
Bob Gibson, Burleigh Grimes

Players Linked
Mark Fidrych, Lance Parrish

Position
Starting pitcher; Morris started 490 consecutive games without missing a turn in the rotation.

Major League Debut: July 26, 1977

Feats
On April 7, 1984, Morris threw a no-hitter at Comiskey Park against the White Sox, tying Bob Feller for the earliest no-hitter in history. Morris loaded the bases twice in the game, but got out of the jams with strikeouts. He whiffed Ron Kittle for the final out. Lance Parrish was his catcher.

Uniform #'s
#47 (1977-1994)

Best Season, 1986
Morris had a lot of similar seasons. In 1986 he paced the loop in shutouts and struck out 223 batters. He had several other seasons that were comparable.

FACTOID
Morris had 25 games in his career in which he struck out at least 10 batters, with a high of 12 (three times).

Bird Feed
Morris got his first big league start in 1977 when he was called on to replace injured Tiger phenom Mark Fidrych, who had dazzled baseball with 19 wins and zany antics on the mound in 1976. Detroit fans booed Morris when he was announced to replace "The Bird" for the start.

MLB Leaders, 1979-1992
Wins
Jack Morris... 233
Bob Welch... 192
Dave Stieb... 174
Nolan Ryan... 168

Complete Games
Jack Morris... 169
FernandoValenzuela... 107
Charlie Hough... 106
Dave Stieb... 103

ERA
(2,200 IP min.)
Nolan Ryan... 3.21
Bob Welch... 3.32
Fernando Valenzuela... 3.34
Dave Stieb... 3.39
Dennis Martinez... 3.61
Jack Morris... (8th) 3.71

Cantankerous Jack
Morris alienated media and teammates during his successful career. He twice went on media-strikes in which he refused to talk to sportswriters. In 1994, while with the Indians, Morris insisted on going back to his ranch between starts rather than travel with the team. During the 1984 season, as the Tigers roared to the World Series title, Morris bickered with the media, stormed out of the locker room, and irritated his teammates and manager Sparky Anderson with his childish antics.

FACTOID
Morris made a MLB-record 13 straight opening day starts, from 1980 through 1992.

Replaced
Mark Fidrych

Replaced By
Orel Hershiser took over as the Indians' veteran righty in 1995, after Morris had retired.

Best Strength as a Player
Competitiveness

Largest Weakness as a Player
Surrendering the longball.