Jack Morris

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Lore & Background

Morris arrived in Minnesota for the 1991 season, posting an 18-win regular year with a 3.43 ERA before leading his team through the postseason. His journey to the championship included winning both starts against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS and facing the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. In the deciding Game Seven, Morris delivered a performance for the ages, throwing ten innings of shutout baseball against the Braves' lineup. The game ended 1–0 on a tenth-inning single by Gene Larkin that scored Dan Gladden. This victory made Morris the World Series MVP and solidified his reputation as a clutch performer. He became one of just ten players in MLB history to win back-to-back World Series championships on different teams, having previously won with the Detroit Tigers in 1984.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere inside the Metrodome was electric during the tenth inning of Game Seven of the 1991 World Series. The Minnesota Twins trailed no one, but the tension was palpable as Morris took the mound for his third start of the series. At 36 years old, he faced a Braves lineup that had threatened to score throughout the game. Morris held them off, pitching deep into extra innings with grit and determination. He retired the side in the tenth, sealing a 1–0 victory. The final out was recorded as Gene Larkin crossed home plate after his single. This moment defined Morris's time in Minnesota, earning him the World Series MVP award and joining Sandy Koufax as the only players to win the Babe Ruth Award twice.

Reader's Guide

Morris signed a one-year contract with the Twins following the 1990 season, aiming to return to his hometown. He immediately became a leader, winning both of his ALCS starts against Toronto before guiding Minnesota into the World Series. His tenure was marked by durability; he started three times in the series, going 2–0 with a 1.17 ERA. The highlight came in Game Seven, where he pitched ten complete innings without allowing an earned run. This performance set a record for most wins by a Twin in a single postseason (four in 1991). After winning the title, Morris signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays but remained in Minnesota's memory as the man who delivered their second championship in four years. He eventually retired after a brief comeback attempt with the Reds in 1995.

Did You Know?

• Morris is one of ten players in MLB history to win back-to-back World Series championships on different teams.
• He holds the record for most wins by a Twin in a single postseason, with four wins in 1991.
• Morris joined Sandy Koufax as the only players to win the Babe Ruth Award twice (1984 and 1991).
• In Game 7 of the 1991 World Series, he pitched ten innings of shutout baseball, allowing no earned runs.
• He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018 via the Modern Era Committee.