| Tom Morgan | |
|---|---|
 Morgan in 1962. | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1930-05-20)May 20, 1930 El Monte, California, U.S. | |
| Died: January 13, 1987(1987-01-13) (aged 56) Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 20, 1951, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 8, 1963, for the Los Angeles Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 67–47 |
| Earned run average | 3.61 |
| Strikeouts | 364 |
| Saves | 64 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Tom Stephen Morgan (May 20, 1930 – January 13, 1987) was aMajor League Baseballpitcher. A native ofEl Monte, California, the 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 195 lb (88 kg) right-hander was signed by theNew York Yankees as an amateur free agent before the 1949 season. He played for the Yankees (1951–52; 1954–56),Kansas City Athletics (1957),Detroit Tigers (1958–60),Washington Senators (1960) andLos Angeles Angels (1961–63).
A farmer in his nativeCalifornia, his nickname was "Plowboy."
Morgan was both as astarting pitcher and as arelief pitcher during his career. In his first five seasons he had a combined 38-22 record with 26 saves for the Yankees and appeared in threeWorld Series (1952, 1955, and 1956). He started 46 games for New York and relieved in 110 others.
On June 30, 1954, Morgan tied a Major League Baseball record for mosthit batsmen in an inning (3) vs. theBoston Red Sox.[1]
From 1957 to 1960 he pitched mostly in relief for the A's, Tigers, and Senators, with a record of 16-21 and 18 saves in 167 games. He was then acquired by the expansion Los Angeles Angels from theMinnesota Twins on January 31, 1961.
In 1961 and 1962 Morgan teamed withArt Fowler to give the Angels a pair of closers. Morgan's combined record for those two seasons was 13-4 with 19 saves and a 2.57earned run average in 107 relief appearances. He pitched poorly during the first half of the 1963 season and was eventually released.
Career totals include a 67-47 record in 443games pitched, 61games started, 18complete games, 7shutouts, 204games finished, 64 saves, and an ERA of 3.61. He hit .186 with 5home runs in 247at bats. He made twoerrors in his last five seasons (202 games).
After his player career was over, Morgan worked as apitching coach for theCalifornia Angels from 1972–74 and 1981–83, theSan Diego Padres in 1975, and the Yankees in 1979.Nolan Ryan cited him as the first one to teach him about pitching mechanics when he arrived with the Angels in 1972, and Ryan would go on to a Hall of Fame career[2]
He also worked as a minor league instructor for the Angels and ascout for the Yankees andAtlanta Braves. In 1980, whenTommy John was struggling, Morgan gave him advice regarding his throwing motion after seeing the pitcher on TV. John said the mechanical correction helped him out of a slump.[3] Morgan continued to help John when the pitcher joined the Angels in 1982, and he aided John again in 1984 even after being dismissed from the Angels.[4] However, Morgan did not get along well with the younger pitchers on the staff, who considered the coach too abrasive.[5]
Tom Morgan died on Thursday, January 15, 1987, at age 56 due to complications from a stroke he had suffered one week earlier.[6]
| Preceded by | California Angelspitching coach 1972–1974 1981–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | San Diego Padrespitching coach 1975 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | New York Yankeespitching coach 1979 | Succeeded by |