Jerry Morales
Encyclopedia
Julio Ruben "Jerry" Morales Torres (born February 18, 1949 in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
) is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
who played from -.
as an amateur free agent
at the age of 17 in 1966. He went to the San Diego Padres
in as a choice in that year's expansion draft, and spent several seasons going up and down in the Padres' farm system, finally becoming a semiregular in and , leading Tribune reporter Richard Dozer to ask, "Who's Jerry Morales?" in the lead to his November 13, 1973, Tribune article on the Cubs' trade of Glenn Beckert
(and minor league infielder Bob Fenwick) to San Diego for a 24-year-old center fielder
, Morales, who ended up playing seven seasons for the Cubs. During his two stints for the Cubs, 1973- & -1983, Morales was a consistent and quiet outfielder (he played all three outfield positions) with above average speed and a good glove. He was known for his unusual "basket catch" style. Unless he was running when he caught a ball, he always made a two-handed basket catch, directly in front of his body, below the belt.
At the time of the Beckert deal, Cubs General Manager John Holland believed acquiring Morales was "in line with our movement for youth and speed" (Dozer, 11/13/73). In the same offseason, the Cubs also moved Ferguson Jenkins
, and, at the time of this trade, speculation was that by acquiring Morales, Billy Williams would either be moved to first or traded. By trading Jenkins and Beckert, the Cubs payroll decreased (Fergie's and Beckert's salaries totaled over $200,000).
While Morales led the Cubs with 91 RBI
during the season, his most promising season was for the 1977 Cubs. Along with Rick Reuschel
, Bruce Sutter
, and Manny Trillo
, Morales represented the Cubs in the 1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
at Yankee Stadium
, in which Morales was plunked in the knee by Yankee pitcher
Sparky Lyle
. The hit by pitch
, one of 28 in All-Star Game history, a subsequent back injury, and a broken finger from making a catch in center field all shortened the 1977 season for Morales. His injuries contributed to the Cubs decline that season (they had a five game lead over the eventual champs, the Phillies, after 83 games), and Morales never seemed to be the same player.
In the offseason between the 1977 and season, Cubs General Manager, Bob Kennedy, traded Morales to the St. Louis Cardinals
for catcher
Dave Rader
. The trade - Morales, Steve Swisher
, player to be named for Rader and Hector "Heity" Cruz - was intended to upgrade the Cubs' catching position. "Rader is a very good hitter and a fine receiver," said Kennedy, "He is considerably better than what we had" (Dozer, 12/9/77). The 1977 Cubs had George Mitterwald
and Swisher behind the plate, and the Morales trade brought the Cubs Rader to team up with newly acquired defensive catcher Larry Cox. At the time, Morales was considered a surplus outfielder who could be traded to help upgrade the position.
Morales returned to the Cubs as a free agent before the 1981 season. The signing was considered a small one, as Morales signed a minor league contract to play for Triple-A Iowa
and made his final appearance for the Cubs in 1983.
. After a twelve-year break from MLB, he became the Montreal Expos
first base and outfield coach from -. In , he was a coach in Puerto Rico and with the Gulf Coast Mets. From -, he was the first base coach for the Washington Nationals
. In February , he was named a coach for the St. Lucie Mets
.
Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Yabucoa is a small town in the south eastern tip of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas and about one hour from San Juan. Yabucoa is spread over 9 wards and Yabucoa Pueblo...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
who played from -.
Career
Morales was originally signed by the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
at the age of 17 in 1966. He went to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in as a choice in that year's expansion draft, and spent several seasons going up and down in the Padres' farm system, finally becoming a semiregular in and , leading Tribune reporter Richard Dozer to ask, "Who's Jerry Morales?" in the lead to his November 13, 1973, Tribune article on the Cubs' trade of Glenn Beckert
Glenn Beckert
Glenn Alfred Beckert is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League as a second baseman for the Chicago Cubs for nine seasons from to before ending his career with the San Diego Padres in .-Baseball career:Beckert was drafted from Allegheny College as an amateur...
(and minor league infielder Bob Fenwick) to San Diego for a 24-year-old center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, Morales, who ended up playing seven seasons for the Cubs. During his two stints for the Cubs, 1973- & -1983, Morales was a consistent and quiet outfielder (he played all three outfield positions) with above average speed and a good glove. He was known for his unusual "basket catch" style. Unless he was running when he caught a ball, he always made a two-handed basket catch, directly in front of his body, below the belt.
At the time of the Beckert deal, Cubs General Manager John Holland believed acquiring Morales was "in line with our movement for youth and speed" (Dozer, 11/13/73). In the same offseason, the Cubs also moved Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a Canadian former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was a three-time All-Star and the 1971 NL Cy Young Award winner. In 1991, Jenkins was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 19-year career, he pitched for four different teams,...
, and, at the time of this trade, speculation was that by acquiring Morales, Billy Williams would either be moved to first or traded. By trading Jenkins and Beckert, the Cubs payroll decreased (Fergie's and Beckert's salaries totaled over $200,000).
While Morales led the Cubs with 91 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
during the season, his most promising season was for the 1977 Cubs. Along with Rick Reuschel
Rick Reuschel
Rickey Eugene Reuschel is a former professional baseball pitcher from the early 1970s into the early 1990s. His nickname was "Big Daddy" because of his portly physique...
, Bruce Sutter
Bruce Sutter
Howard Bruce Sutter is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the splitter....
, and Manny Trillo
Manny Trillo
Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo , also nicknamed "Indio", is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from to...
, Morales represented the Cubs in the 1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 48th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 19, 1977, at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, New York the...
at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
, in which Morales was plunked in the knee by Yankee pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Sparky Lyle
Sparky Lyle
Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle is an American former left-handed relief pitcher who spent sixteen seasons in Major League Baseball . He was a closer from 1969 to 1977, first for the Boston Red Sox and then the New York Yankees. A three-time All-Star, he won the American League Cy Young Award in 1977...
. The hit by pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
, one of 28 in All-Star Game history, a subsequent back injury, and a broken finger from making a catch in center field all shortened the 1977 season for Morales. His injuries contributed to the Cubs decline that season (they had a five game lead over the eventual champs, the Phillies, after 83 games), and Morales never seemed to be the same player.
In the offseason between the 1977 and season, Cubs General Manager, Bob Kennedy, traded Morales to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Dave Rader
Dave Rader (baseball)
David Martin Rader is a former professional baseball player. From through , he was a catcher in Major League Baseball, playing for the San Francisco Giants , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox...
. The trade - Morales, Steve Swisher
Steve Swisher
Steven Eugene Swisher is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Diego Padres from 1974 to 1982. Swisher was elected to the 1976 National League All-Star team with the Cubs but did not play in the game...
, player to be named for Rader and Hector "Heity" Cruz - was intended to upgrade the Cubs' catching position. "Rader is a very good hitter and a fine receiver," said Kennedy, "He is considerably better than what we had" (Dozer, 12/9/77). The 1977 Cubs had George Mitterwald
George Mitterwald
George Eugene Mitterwald is a former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins, primarily as a catcher. His major league career lasted from 1966-77. His nickname was 'The Baron'.Following his retirement, he entered the minor league...
and Swisher behind the plate, and the Morales trade brought the Cubs Rader to team up with newly acquired defensive catcher Larry Cox. At the time, Morales was considered a surplus outfielder who could be traded to help upgrade the position.
Morales returned to the Cubs as a free agent before the 1981 season. The signing was considered a small one, as Morales signed a minor league contract to play for Triple-A Iowa
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
and made his final appearance for the Cubs in 1983.
Post-playing career
After the 1983 season, Morales immediately began his coaching career by becoming the Cubs roving minor league hitting and outfield instructor; he served in this position through . From -, he was a scout for the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. After a twelve-year break from MLB, he became the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
first base and outfield coach from -. In , he was a coach in Puerto Rico and with the Gulf Coast Mets. From -, he was the first base coach for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. In February , he was named a coach for the St. Lucie Mets
St. Lucie Mets
The St. Lucie Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club.The team plays at Digital Domain Park...
.