Carolyn Morris
Encyclopedia
Carolyn E. Morris was a female pitcher
who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
. Listed at 5' 7", 157 lb., Morris batted and threw right handed. She was knicknamed India by her teammates and close friends.
A hard-throwing, underhand pitcher
, Carolyn Morris had a brief but relevant career in the AAGPBL. She hurled a perfect game
, three no-hitter
s, twelve innings of no-hit ball in a final championship series, and averaged 26 wins in each of her three seasons in the circuit. In addition, she was a member of a champion team and earned an All-Star berth.
In its twelve years of history the AAGPBL evolved through many stages. These differences varied from the first season, progressively extending the length of the base paths and pitching distance and decreasing the size of the ball until the final year of play. From 1943 through 1946, the circuit used a fastpitch underhand motion, shifted to sidearm in 1947, and never really became baseball until overhand pitching began in 1948, decreasing gradually the size of the ball from 12 inches in circumference in the inaugural season to 9 1/4 inches (regulation baseball size) in the final season in 1954.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona
, Morris was a smiling attractive brunette who pursued a modeling
career before turning all of her attention to baseball. She started pitching fastball
in grammar school, and stayed in school competition right up to and through high school. After that, she hurled in the Phoenix area in male teams. In addition, Morris was an accomplished musician and devoted to classical music. She entered the AAGPBL after graduating from school in 1944 and was allocated to the Rockford Peaches
.
In 1944 Morris joined a Rockford team managed by Nap Kloza. The Peaches finished fourth in the first half of the year (28-32), but improved to third the second half (26-31) after collect the fourth overall record (53-65) out of six teams. Morris gave a great contribution to the team, hurling two no-hitters and finishing with a 23-18 record for a .561 winning percentage
in 44 pitching appearances. She struggled with her control, walking
133 batters while striking out
112. for a 0.84 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Proving her rookie season was not a fluke, Morris excelled in 1945. Overall, she had a solid season, going 28-12 (.700) and improved her K/BB to a solid 2.16 (119-to-55). In addition, during the midseason she pitched a perfect game against the Fort Wayne Daisies
. The Rockford team, now with Bill Allington
at the helm, clinched the first place with a 67-43 record. In the first round of the playoffs, the Peaches dispossed of the Grand Rapids Chicks
, three to two games, with Morris winning 1–0 and 2–0 shutouts decisions against stellar Connie Wisniewski
and the Chicks. Then, in the final series Rockford beat the Daisies in five games, with Morris winning three of the four victories for her team.
But Morris was even better in her final season. In 1946, she posted a 29-13 record (.690 W%) with a 1.42 earned run average
in 49 games, striking out 240 batters while walking only 98 (2.45 K/BB). Her numbers included a third no-hitter and career-highs in wins, strikeouts and ERA. Rockford finished in fourth place (60-52), advanced to the playoffs, and defeated the Grand Rapids Chicks
in the first round, three to two games. In the final series against the Racine Belles
, Morris pitched a no-hitter for nine innings in Game 6 and was not removed until the bottom of the twelfth inning. Belles pitcher Joanne Winter
allowed thirteen hits, but Racine could not put them together to produce a run. The scoreless game went into the bottom of fourteen, until Sophie Kurys
of the Belles got a hit off reliever
Mildred Deegan, stole second base
, and, in the midst of stealing third, saw her teammmate Betty Trezza
hit the ball to right field. Kurys slid home to score the winning run and the Belles won the championship title. At the end of the season, Morris was selected for the All-Star Team.
Following her baseball career, Morris worked as a real estate broker and, relatedly, a notary public. She also became part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York
, opened in , which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual player. She died in Mesa, Arizona
at the age of 70.
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...
who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
. Listed at 5' 7", 157 lb., Morris batted and threw right handed. She was knicknamed India by her teammates and close friends.
A hard-throwing, underhand pitcher
Fastpitch softball
Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation is the international governing body of softball...
, Carolyn Morris had a brief but relevant career in the AAGPBL. She hurled a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
, three no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s, twelve innings of no-hit ball in a final championship series, and averaged 26 wins in each of her three seasons in the circuit. In addition, she was a member of a champion team and earned an All-Star berth.
In its twelve years of history the AAGPBL evolved through many stages. These differences varied from the first season, progressively extending the length of the base paths and pitching distance and decreasing the size of the ball until the final year of play. From 1943 through 1946, the circuit used a fastpitch underhand motion, shifted to sidearm in 1947, and never really became baseball until overhand pitching began in 1948, decreasing gradually the size of the ball from 12 inches in circumference in the inaugural season to 9 1/4 inches (regulation baseball size) in the final season in 1954.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Morris was a smiling attractive brunette who pursued a modeling
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
career before turning all of her attention to baseball. She started pitching fastball
Fastpitch softball
Fast-pitch softball is a form of softball played commonly by women and men, though coed fast-pitch leagues also exist. The International Softball Federation is the international governing body of softball...
in grammar school, and stayed in school competition right up to and through high school. After that, she hurled in the Phoenix area in male teams. In addition, Morris was an accomplished musician and devoted to classical music. She entered the AAGPBL after graduating from school in 1944 and was allocated to the Rockford Peaches
Rockford Peaches
The Rockford Peaches were a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing out of Rockford, Illinois for the entire existence of the league from 1943 to 1954....
.
In 1944 Morris joined a Rockford team managed by Nap Kloza. The Peaches finished fourth in the first half of the year (28-32), but improved to third the second half (26-31) after collect the fourth overall record (53-65) out of six teams. Morris gave a great contribution to the team, hurling two no-hitters and finishing with a 23-18 record for a .561 winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
in 44 pitching appearances. She struggled with her control, walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
133 batters while striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
112. for a 0.84 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Proving her rookie season was not a fluke, Morris excelled in 1945. Overall, she had a solid season, going 28-12 (.700) and improved her K/BB to a solid 2.16 (119-to-55). In addition, during the midseason she pitched a perfect game against the Fort Wayne Daisies
Fort Wayne Daisies
The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
. The Rockford team, now with Bill Allington
Bill Allington
William Baird Allington was an American Minor league baseball player and manager. Listed at 5' 9" , 160 lb., Allington batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St. Clair County, Michigan....
at the helm, clinched the first place with a 67-43 record. In the first round of the playoffs, the Peaches dispossed of the Grand Rapids Chicks
Grand Rapids Chicks
The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, winning championships in 1947 and 1953....
, three to two games, with Morris winning 1–0 and 2–0 shutouts decisions against stellar Connie Wisniewski
Connie Wisniewski
Constance Wisniewski was a starting pitcher and outfielder who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
and the Chicks. Then, in the final series Rockford beat the Daisies in five games, with Morris winning three of the four victories for her team.
But Morris was even better in her final season. In 1946, she posted a 29-13 record (.690 W%) with a 1.42 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 49 games, striking out 240 batters while walking only 98 (2.45 K/BB). Her numbers included a third no-hitter and career-highs in wins, strikeouts and ERA. Rockford finished in fourth place (60-52), advanced to the playoffs, and defeated the Grand Rapids Chicks
Grand Rapids Chicks
The Grand Rapids Chicks were a women's professional baseball team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1945 to 1954, winning championships in 1947 and 1953....
in the first round, three to two games. In the final series against the Racine Belles
Racine Belles
The Racine Belles were one of the original teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing from through out of Racine, Wisconsin. The team played its home games at Horlick Field.-History:...
, Morris pitched a no-hitter for nine innings in Game 6 and was not removed until the bottom of the twelfth inning. Belles pitcher Joanne Winter
Joanne Winter
Joanne Emily Winter [Jo] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 8", 138 lb., she batted and threw right-handed.-Overview profile:...
allowed thirteen hits, but Racine could not put them together to produce a run. The scoreless game went into the bottom of fourteen, until Sophie Kurys
Sophie Kurys
Sophie Kurys is a former second basewoman who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 5", 115 lb., Kurys batted and threw right-handed.-Career:...
of the Belles got a hit off reliever
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...
Mildred Deegan, stole second 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...
, and, in the midst of stealing third, saw her teammmate Betty Trezza
Betty Trezza
Betty Trezza [″Moe″] was an American professional baseball player. An infield and outfield utility, she played from through for four different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League....
hit the ball to right field. Kurys slid home to score the winning run and the Belles won the championship title. At the end of the season, Morris was selected for the All-Star Team.
Following her baseball career, Morris worked as a real estate broker and, relatedly, a notary public. She also became part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
, opened in , which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual player. She died in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
at the age of 70.
Pitching statistics
| GP 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... | W | L | W-L% Winning percentage In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win... | ERA 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... | IP Innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two... | RA Run average In baseball statistics, run average refers to measures of the rate at which runs are allowed or scored. For pitchers, the run average is the number of runs—earned or unearned—allowed per nine innings... | ER 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... | BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... | SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... | K/BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 134 | 80 | 43 | .650 | 1.59 | 1005 | 266 | 178 | BB | SO | 1.65 |
AAGPBL perfect games
| Pitcher(s) | Season | Team | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annabelle Lee Annabelle Lee Annabelle Lee Harmon was a female pitcher who played from through with four different teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 2", 120 lb, Lee was a switch-hitter and threw left-handed... |
Minneapolis Millerettes Minneapolis Millerettes The Minneapolis Millerettes were an expansion All-American Girls Professional Baseball League team that played for one season in 1944. They played their home games in Nicollet Park, home of the men's minor league team the Minneapolis Millers... |
Kenosha Comets Kenosha Comets Based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team played their home games at Kenosha's Lake Front Stadium, but later moved to Simmons Field.The Kenosha Comets were one... |
|
| Carolyn Morris | Rockford Peaches Rockford Peaches The Rockford Peaches were a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing out of Rockford, Illinois for the entire existence of the league from 1943 to 1954.... |
Fort Wayne Daisies Fort Wayne Daisies The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League... |
|
| Doris Sams Doris Sams Doris Jane Sams [Sammye] is a former female outfielder and pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 9", 145 lbs., she batted and threw right handed.... |
Muskegon Lassies Muskegon Lassies The Muskegon Lassies were one of the expansion teams of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in , representing Muskegon, Michigan. The team played their home games at Marsh Field.... |
Fort Wayne Daisies Fort Wayne Daisies The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team that played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League... |
|
| Jean Faut Jean Faut Jean Anna Faut [Winsch/Eastman] is a former female starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 137 lb., she batted and threw right handed.... |
South Bend Blue Sox South Bend Blue Sox The South Bend Blue Sox were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League... |
Rockford Peaches Rockford Peaches The Rockford Peaches were a team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playing out of Rockford, Illinois for the entire existence of the league from 1943 to 1954.... |
|
| Jean Faut Jean Faut Jean Anna Faut [Winsch/Eastman] is a former female starting pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 4", 137 lb., she batted and threw right handed.... |
South Bend Blue Sox South Bend Blue Sox The South Bend Blue Sox were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League... |
Kalamazoo Lassies Kalamazoo Lassies The Kalamazoo Lassies were a team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team represented Kalamazoo, Michigan. Home games were initially played at Lindstrom Field, but later games were played at the Catholic Athletic Association Field, now the... |