Warren Morris
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Warren Morris (born January 11, 1974) 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 Tigers.
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[edit] College career
Morris joined the Louisiana State University (LSU) baseball team out of high school in Alexandria, Louisiana in 1993. 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 1994 season, and Morris would become the team's starting second baseman from 1995 to 1996. His best season at LSU came in 1995. He would hit .369 with 8 home runs, 50 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.
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 College World Series. However, the wrist injury still lingered. He could not hit for power, and was placed at the bottom of the lineup.
[edit] College World Series Hero
LSU reached the championship game of the CWS that year, and was trailing Miami 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 an ESPY award for "Showstopper of the year."
| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's Baseball | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Atlanta 1996 | Team Competition | |
[edit] Major League Baseball Career
Morris was drafted in the fifth round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft 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 1998, 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 RBIs. 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 2002 season. 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 2006. He currently works at Red River Bank, in Louisiana.
