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BYU baseball legend Jack Morris elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

By Nathan Cunningham

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 16: Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Morris throws out the ceremonial first pitch against the New York Yankees during game three of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 16, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 16: Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Morris throws out the ceremonial first pitch against the New York Yankees during game three of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 16, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Former BYU baseball pitcher Jack Morris is heading to Cooperstown. MLB’s Modern Era Committee elected to former Cougar and fifth-round draft pick.

Jack Morris wasn’t the best hurler in BYU baseball history. In fact, he was far from it, posting a 10-9 record and an ERA just under 5.00 during two seasons.

But he had the raw talent and tools to be a Major League pitcher. And now he’s a Hall of Famer.

Morris was never selected by the writers to make the Hall of Fame. By and large, the reason for that was because old school analytics don’t really apply anymore. Wins and complete games don’t seem to hold as much merit as they used to. Many writers also pointed to his 3.90 career ERA.

But Morris had 254 career wins and 175 complete games. Numbers that certainly pass the eye test. He also threw 3,824 innings. He led the league in wins twice, won 20+ games three times and was a five-time All-Star. Perhaps Morris is best known for his 10-inning, shutout performance in game seven of the 1991 World Series, giving the Minnesota Twins the win over the Atlanta Braves.

Even though his election to the Hall of Fame is a controversial one among some in the baseball circle, it’s impossible to argue that Morris didn’t have an exceptional career in Major League Baseball. And to have a BYU baseball alumni get some love and national attention is extra cool.

Morris was the keynote speaker of BYU baseball’s inaugural First Pitch Dinner in January 2016. At that event, Morris told BYU’s campus newspaper, The Daily Universe, the following:

“I learned the values of what BYU is about,” Morris told the DU. “And to this day, I want you to know how proud I am to say I went to school here.”

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