John Morris (morrijo07)

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John Daniel Morris

Bats Left, Throws Left
Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
School Seton Hall University
Debut August 5, 1986
Final Game August 5, 1992
Born February 23, 1961 in North Bellmore, NY USA

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[edit] Biographical Information

1983 MVP Southern League Jacksonville Suns

2003, 2005-2006 Coach Reading Phillies
2007 Scout Cincinnati Reds

Published a book called Bullet Bob Comes to Louisville in 1999. Several of the short stories from the book have been in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

[edit] Personal Reflections

John pitched (and batted fourth) in High School. My team faced him twice in 1978. The first time, he no hit us. I had never seen a pitcher like this, and I never did, even as a 4-year starter in college. First, his fastball literally rose. Second, his slider literally had the bottom fall out of it. In High School sliders or curve balls moved gradually; but John's had the bottom drop out. I was a lefty hitter and when his slider came in belt high, I swung and missed as it dipped to about my knees.

In our second game against, that same year, he was no hitting us into the mid-innings (5th or 6th?) when I came up to the plate, and grounded a clean single past the second baseman. We were getting clobbered, but I was so happy. I had actually gotten a hit off him.

As reward for my efforts, the next time at bat against him, he promptly plunked me in the upper back with one of his fastballs.

For some reason it didn't hurt as bad as I would have thought. Perhaps it was because I was still flying high for breaking his no hitter and having gotten on base again. However, I didn't have much time to savor my having gotten on base a second time against him, when, leading off first, he promptly picked me off. (And I was our team's fastest player; it was only one of two times in my entire high school and collegiate career that I was picked off first.)

And, then, if you look at his Major League career he never even made it as a pitcher!

How amazing are those guys!

I don't know what happened John. I see he was the 10th pick in the amateur draft. And even though he was a good hitter, I have to believe he was steered wrong by making him a hitter rather than a pitcher. I played with and against several pitchers scouted by major league scouts, including guys that made it to some level professionally -- but no one came close to John. I find it so hard to believe he didn't have a stellar career. I wish I knew what happened.