Tom Morgan (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Tom Stephen Morgan was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. A native of El Monte, California
, the 6'2", 195 lb. right-hander was signed by the New York Yankees
as an amateur free agent before the 1949 season. He played for the Yankees (1951-52, 1954-56), Kansas City Athletics (1957), Detroit Tigers
(1958-1960), Washington Senators
(1960), and Los Angeles Angels (1961-1963).
Morgan was both as a starting pitcher
and as a relief pitcher
during his career. In his first five seasons he had a combined 38-22 record with 26 saves for the Yankees and appeared in three World Series
(1952, 1955, and 1956). He started 46 games for New York and relieved in 110 others.
From 1957 to 1960 he pitched mostly in relief for the A's, Tigers, and Senators, with a record of 16-21 and 18 saves in 167 games. He was then acquired by the expansion Los Angeles Angels from the Minnesota Twins
(née Washington Senators) on January 31, 1961.
In 1961 and 1962 Morgan teamed with Art Fowler
to give the Angels a pair of closers. Morgan's combined record for those two seasons was 13-4 with 19 saves and a 2.57 earned run average
in 107 relief appearances. He pitched poorly during the first half of the 1963 season and was eventually released.
Career totals include a 67-47 record in 443 games pitched
, 61 games started
, 18 complete games, 7 shutouts, 204 games finished
, 64 saves, and an ERA of 3.61. He hit .186 with 5 home runs in 247 at bats. He made two errors
in his last five seasons (202 games).
Morgan was the pitching coach
for the California Angels
from 1972–1974 and 1981–1983, the San Diego Padres
in 1975, and the Yankees in 1979.
Morgan tied a major league record for most hit batsmen in an inning (3) in the third inning vs. the Boston Red Sox
. (Fenway Park
— June 30, 1954)
His nickname was "Plowboy."
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...
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...
. A native of El Monte, California
El Monte, California
El Monte is a residential, industrial, and commercial city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte," and historically is known as "The End of the Santa Fe Trail." As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 113,475,...
, the 6'2", 195 lb. right-hander was signed by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
as an amateur free agent before the 1949 season. He played for the Yankees (1951-52, 1954-56), Kansas City Athletics (1957), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1958-1960), Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1960), and Los Angeles Angels (1961-1963).
Morgan was both as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
and as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
during his career. In his first five seasons he had a combined 38-22 record with 26 saves for the Yankees and appeared in three World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
(1952, 1955, and 1956). He started 46 games for New York and relieved in 110 others.
From 1957 to 1960 he pitched mostly in relief for the A's, Tigers, and Senators, with a record of 16-21 and 18 saves in 167 games. He was then acquired by the expansion Los Angeles Angels from the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(née Washington Senators) on January 31, 1961.
In 1961 and 1962 Morgan teamed with Art Fowler
Art Fowler
John Arthur Fowler was an American pitcher and pitching coach in Major League Baseball. The 5'11", 180 lb. right-hander was signed by the New York Giants as an amateur free agent before the 1944 season...
to give the Angels a pair of closers. Morgan's combined record for those two seasons was 13-4 with 19 saves and a 2.57 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 107 relief appearances. He pitched poorly during the first half of the 1963 season and was eventually released.
Career totals include a 67-47 record in 443 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
, 61 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 18 complete games, 7 shutouts, 204 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, 64 saves, and an ERA of 3.61. He hit .186 with 5 home runs in 247 at bats. He made two errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in his last five seasons (202 games).
Morgan was the pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
from 1972–1974 and 1981–1983, 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 1975, and the Yankees in 1979.
Morgan tied a major league record for most hit batsmen in an inning (3) in the third inning vs. the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. (Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
— June 30, 1954)
His nickname was "Plowboy."