Ed Morris (1920s pitcher)

Walter Edward Morris ["Big Ed"] (December 7, 1899 - March 3, 1932) was a starting pitcher in Major League who played between the by|1922 and by|1931 seasons. Listed at 6' 2", 185 lb., he batted and threw right-handed.

A native of Foshee, Alabama, Morris was a promising young pitcher Fact|date=May 2008 before developing arm problems. He entered the majors in August 1922 with the Chicago Cubs, appearing for them in 12.0 innings of relief and did not have a decision. While pitching in the minor leagues for Montgomery, he threw a no-hitter against Hershey, and finally returned to the major leagues in 1928, this time with the Boston Red Sox. In 1928 Morris posted a 19-15 record with a 3.53 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 257⅔ innings for the last place Red Sox, being considered in the American League MVP vote. In 1929 he went 14-14 with a 4.45 ERA, before injuring his arm during a scuffle in a St. Louis hotel elevator. After that, he had sub-par seasons in 1930 (4-9) and 1931 (5-7).

In a five-year career, Morris posted a 42-45 record with 256 strikeouts and a 4.19 ERA in 140 appearances, including 78 starts, 43 complete games, two shutouts, six saves, and 674.0 innings of work.

Prior to the 1932 spring training, some friends of Morris threw a going away party for him in Century, Florida, as he prepared for a comeback in the next season. Unfortunately, the party got out of hand, and Morris got into an altercation with a gas station attendant who was at the tavern where the party was held. In the mid of the discussion, the man pulled a knife and stabbed Morris into his chest. Morris was taken to a local hospital in a critical condition, but later died there. He was 32 years old.

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Ed_Morris_1899 Baseball Library]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/morried02.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmorre102.htm Retrosheet]
* [http://www.geocities.com/knights1928/pastpl/morrised.html Knights 1928]
* [http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Morris.Ed.Obit.html The Deadball Era]