Warren Morris
Encyclopedia
Warren Morris is a former college
and Major League Baseball
player. He is most remembered for his 9th inning walk-off home run
that won the 1996 College World Series
for the Louisiana State University
(LSU) Tigers.
team in , just out of high school
in Alexandria, Louisiana
. He did not receive an athletic scholarship
to play baseball, but made the team while on academic scholarship as a second baseman
. He did not play at second base in his first season at LSU, because the Tigers already had All-American Todd Walker
at the position. Morris did see action at other positions. Walker went pro after the season, and Morris would become the team's starting second baseman from to . His best season at LSU came in 1995. He would hit
.369 with 8 home run
s, 50 RBI
, and 18 stolen base
s.
LSU was expecting big things from Morris in 1996, but a broken wrist kept him out of the lineup for much of the season. He did rejoin the team in time for the 1996 postseason, which would include the College World Series
. However, the wrist injury still lingered. He could not hit for power, and was placed at the bottom of the lineup.
8–7 in the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Morris came up to the plate with one runner on base, and hit Miami relief pitcher
Robbie Morrison's first pitch just inches over the right field fence. The walk-off home run won the game for the Tigers 9–8. It was his only home run of the season, and is the only walk-off championship-winning home run in College World Series history. In addition, it is the only 2-out, ninth inning, walk-off home run in a championship of any collegiate or professional level. The home run also won Morris the 1997 Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award
.
by the Texas Rangers
as a second baseman. He started out in the Rangers' farm system, but was later traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
along with relief pitcher
Todd Van Poppel
for starting pitcher
Esteban Loaiza
. He made his major league debut in , going from non-roster invitee in spring training
to starting second baseman early in the season. Morris had a promising rookie season with the Pirates, hitting .288 with 15 home runs and 73 RBI. He also made the 1999 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster
at second base. It would be his best season as a pro, however, and the Pirates would release him before the season. Morris was the starting second baseman for the Detroit Tigers
, following the release of Damion Easley
. For the rest of his career, he was a journeyman infielder
, splitting time between the major and minor leagues. He announced his retirement from baseball in .
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
and 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...
player. He is most remembered for his 9th inning walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
that won the 1996 College World Series
1996 College World Series
The 1996 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from May 31 to June 8. The fiftieth tournament's champion was Louisiana State University, coached by Skip Bertman...
for the Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
(LSU) Tigers.
College career
Morris joined the LSU baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team in , just out of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
. He did not receive an athletic scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to play baseball, but made the team while on academic scholarship as a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. He did not play at second base in his first season at LSU, because the Tigers already had All-American Todd Walker
Todd Walker
Todd Arthur Walker is a former Major League Baseball infielder.-College:Walker attended LSU where he led the Tigers to the 1993 national championship. He also earned the 1993 College World Series Most Outstanding Player award. In 2006, Walker was elected to the LSU Hall of Fame...
at the position. Morris did see action at other positions. Walker went pro after the season, and Morris would become the team's starting second baseman from to . His best season at LSU came in 1995. He would hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.369 with 8 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 50 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...
, and 18 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s.
LSU was expecting big things from Morris in 1996, but a broken wrist kept him out of the lineup for much of the season. He did rejoin the team in time for the 1996 postseason, which would include the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
. However, the wrist injury still lingered. He could not hit for power, and was placed at the bottom of the lineup.
College World Series hero
LSU reached the championship game of the College World Series in 1996, and was trailing MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
8–7 in the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Morris came up to the plate with one runner on base, and hit Miami 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...
Robbie Morrison's first pitch just inches over the right field fence. The walk-off home run won the game for the Tigers 9–8. It was his only home run of the season, and is the only walk-off championship-winning home run in College World Series history. In addition, it is the only 2-out, ninth inning, walk-off home run in a championship of any collegiate or professional level. The home run also won Morris the 1997 Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award
Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award
The Showstopper of the Year ESPY Award was presented annually from 1993 to 1999.-List of winners:-See also:*Best Moment ESPY Award*Best Play ESPY Award*GMC Professional Grade Play ESPY Award*Under Armour Undeniable Performance ESPY Award-References:*...
.
Major League Baseball career
Morris was drafted in the fifth round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
as a second baseman. He started out in the Rangers' farm system, but was later traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
along with 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...
Todd Van Poppel
Todd Van Poppel
Todd Matthew Van Poppel is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Oakland Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Texas Rangers , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , and Cincinnati Reds...
for 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....
Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Antonio Loaiza Veyna [lo-EYE-sa] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
. He made his major league debut in , going from non-roster invitee in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
to starting second baseman early in the season. Morris had a promising rookie season with the Pirates, hitting .288 with 15 home runs and 73 RBI. He also made the 1999 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster
Topps All-Star Rookie Rosters
This is a year-by-year list of the Topps All-Star Rookie teams. Note that players selected for a particular team appear in the following year's set release...
at second base. It would be his best season as a pro, however, and the Pirates would release him before the season. Morris was the starting second baseman for the 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...
, following the release of Damion Easley
Damion Easley
Jacinto Damion Easley is a former Major League Baseball player who is currently Executive Director of Warrior Baseball Academy. He is also an assistant coach for the Peoria Padres.-Biography:...
. For the rest of his career, he was a journeyman infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
, splitting time between the major and minor leagues. He announced his retirement from baseball in .