Matt Morris
Encyclopedia
Matthew Christian Morris (born August 9, 1974) is a former Major League Baseball
right-handed starting pitcher
. He retired on April 30, .
Morris attended Valley Central High School
in New York before starring at Seton Hall University
in New Jersey
, he was drafted 12th overall in the June free agent
draft by the St. Louis Cardinals
. Morris pitched in the minor leagues
in and , reaching the majors in 1997. In his first season, he won 12 games with a 3.19 ERA
. In , he underwent Tommy John surgery
after he was injured in spring training
.
Morris became the ace of the Cardinals' pitching staff in , earning his first All-Star
selection and a 3rd place finish in the NL Cy Young
voting. He won 22 games with 185 strikeout
s and a 3.16 ERA. In , he won 17 games and made his second All-Star appearance.
In , Morris signed a one-year contract after he won 15 games on a Cardinals team that made the World Series
. In 2004, he lost 10 games for the first time in his career and had a 4.72 ERA, also a career high.
Morris underwent surgery during the 2004/ off-season and started the season 8-0 with a 3.16 ERA, and was 10-2 with a 3.10 ERA at the time of the All-Star break. In fact, he was considered by many to be snubbed for the All-Star game. Morris went 4-7 with a 5.55 ERA after the All-Star break. He was the number three starter for the Cardinals
in the playoffs, behind ace Chris Carpenter
, and Mark Mulder
. In the thin free-agent market of the 2005/ off-season, Morris was touted as one of the best available pitchers.
On December 12, 2005, Morris signed a 3-year contract with the San Francisco Giants
worth $27 million. He had an injury-filled year with the Giants in 2006, going 10-15 with a 4.98 ERA.
Prior to the season, Morris changed his uniform number from 35, which he had worn for his entire career, to wear number 22 as a tribute to retired former teammate Mike Matheny
. Rich Aurilia
took the number 35 jersey.
On July 31, 2007, Morris was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
for center field prospect Rajai Davis
and pitcher Stephen MacFarland.
Morris started off the 2008 season with a 0-4 record and a 9.67 ERA in 5 starts. On April 27, 2008, Morris was released by the Pirates. He retired three days later.
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...
right-handed 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....
. He retired on April 30, .
Morris attended Valley Central High School
Valley Central High School
Valley Central High School is located in Montgomery, New York.It educates students in grades 9-12 in the Valley Central School District, which includes much of the town of Montgomery, portions of neighboring Wallkill and Newburgh and the three villages of Maybrook, Montgomery and Walden as well as...
in New York before starring at Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, he was drafted 12th overall in the June 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....
draft by 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...
. Morris pitched in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in and , reaching the majors in 1997. In his first season, he won 12 games with a 3.19 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...
. In , he underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
after he was injured 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...
.
Morris became the ace of the Cardinals' pitching staff in , earning his first All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
selection and a 3rd place finish in the NL Cy Young
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting. He won 22 games with 185 strikeout
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....
s and a 3.16 ERA. In , he won 17 games and made his second All-Star appearance.
In , Morris signed a one-year contract after he won 15 games on a Cardinals team that made the World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
. In 2004, he lost 10 games for the first time in his career and had a 4.72 ERA, also a career high.
Morris underwent surgery during the 2004/ off-season and started the season 8-0 with a 3.16 ERA, and was 10-2 with a 3.10 ERA at the time of the All-Star break. In fact, he was considered by many to be snubbed for the All-Star game. Morris went 4-7 with a 5.55 ERA after the All-Star break. He was the number three starter for the 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...
in the playoffs, behind ace Chris Carpenter
Chris Carpenter
Christopher John Carpenter is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the St. Louis Cardinals since 2003, and is currently signed with the team until the 2011 season, with a club option for 2012.Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into the...
, and Mark Mulder
Mark Mulder
Mark Alan Mulder is a retired left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Oakland Athletics:...
. In the thin free-agent market of the 2005/ off-season, Morris was touted as one of the best available pitchers.
On December 12, 2005, Morris signed a 3-year contract with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
worth $27 million. He had an injury-filled year with the Giants in 2006, going 10-15 with a 4.98 ERA.
Prior to the season, Morris changed his uniform number from 35, which he had worn for his entire career, to wear number 22 as a tribute to retired former teammate Mike Matheny
Mike Matheny
Michael Scott Matheny is the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. He is also a former baseball catcher, playing for four different teams during his thirteen years in the major leagues...
. Rich Aurilia
Rich Aurilia
Richard Santo Aurilia is a former Major League Baseball player, mainly as a shortstop. He bats and throws right-handed.The 24th round pick of the Texas Rangers in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, Aurilia worked in the Rangers minor league system before being traded with first baseman Desi...
took the number 35 jersey.
On July 31, 2007, Morris was 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...
for center field prospect Rajai Davis
Rajai Davis
Rajai Davis [RAH-jay] is an American professional baseball center fielder with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
and pitcher Stephen MacFarland.
Morris started off the 2008 season with a 0-4 record and a 9.67 ERA in 5 starts. On April 27, 2008, Morris was released by the Pirates. He retired three days later.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
External links
- CBS Sports Line -daily updates