Former major league pitcher John Morris died last week at the age of 84, according to an obituary published in the Cape Gazette in Morris’ hometown of Lewes, Delaware.
Morris, an eight-season Major League Baseball veteran, is perhaps best known as a member of the Seattle Pilots in their lone season in 1969. Morris signed with the Phillies in 1960 during his 18-year-old season, but spent the first few years of his career in the minor leagues before making his major league debut in 1966 with Philadelphia. In a brief cameo in the majors, he pitched only 13 2/3 innings before returning to Triple-A for the 1967 season, where he dominated with a 1.54 ERA in 33 relief appearances.
He was traded to the Orioles before the 1968 season and briefly returned to the majors with Baltimore in 1968, but was sent back to Triple-A for most of the 1969 season, although he did go to Seattle and pitched 12 2/3 innings for the Pilots. When the Pilots moved to Milwaukee the next year, Morris remained with the club and became a regular in the Brewers’ bullpen during the 1970 and ’71 seasons. In 1970, Morris appeared in 20 games as a swingman, including 9 starts, and had an ERA of 3.93.
The peak of Morris’ career came on May 13 and May 19, 1970, when he played the full game in two consecutive starts. Morris allowed four runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out 11 batters in two complete games, both of which ended in Brewers wins. Morris made his first start against the Oakland Athletics on May 19, striking out All-Star and future Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter on the mound in Milwaukee’s 6–3 win. Morris’ outstanding performance as a swingman during the 1971 season earned him a full-time opportunity in the Milwaukee bullpen, where he appeared in 43 games and posted a 3.72 ERA in 67 2/3 innings.
After the 1971 season, Morris was traded to the Giants and was once again demoted to work for the team’s Triple-A affiliate. He pitched for parts of three seasons with San Francisco and ended his career on a high note with a 3.05 ERA in 17 appearances for the 1974 Giants in his age-32 season. Morris appeared in a total of 132 games over eight major league seasons with the Phillies, Orioles, Pilots, Brewers and Giants. He pitched to a 3.95 ERA, struck out 137 batters, and finished his career with an 11-7 record, collecting two saves in the process.
We at MLB Trade Rumors extend our condolences to Morris’ family, friends and loved ones.
