New hall of famer says Canada played ‘a big part’
Morris won two World Series rings with Jays
LAKE BUENA VISTA , FLA. • Jack Morris continually broke up during a press conference at the MLB winter meetings when talking about his entrance into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
It was quite a difference from the emotions he used to display on the mound. Morris was all business, a man possessed, taking no prisoners when facing opposition hitters.
But when asked on Monday about his time pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays, the native of St. Paul, Minn., was all smiles, insisting that though his time with the club was brief and his performance somewhat inconsistent, he has nothing but fond memories of playing north of the border.
“Toronto was big in my heart,” Morris said. “I loved playing against the Blue Jays in my early years with Detroit and Minnesota, and Canada was a big part (of my life). I’m an avid fisherman and northwest Ontario was my favourite place on the planet, so going to Canada was a no-brainer for me.
“I’m a northern kid. I enjoy the cold, crisp air. It invigorates me. I never liked hot, humid days.”
Morris, who was elected into the Hall of Fame by the modern era committee along with his former Tigers teammate Alan Trammell, played for the Jays during their World Series years in 1992 and 1993. While he won 21 games in his first year in Toronto, he struggled in his second season and was unable to pitch in the playoffs because of injury.
Despite that, Morris said he wouldn’t have changed his two years in Toronto.
“I can’t say enough about how much I was appreciated in Toronto. I worked for the Jays on the radio. It was a wonderful experience,” he said. “I wish I could have convinced my wife to stay and move up there, because I’d still be there. I loved it.”
Morris’s partner on the Sportsnet radio broadcasts was Jerry Howarth, who said Morris left to be closer to his second wife Jennifer and their eight- year- old son Miles.
“That year in 2013 when he was my on- air partner, I remember so vividly Miles coming to visit his dad on a few occasions from St. Paul and sitting on his dad’s lap before games in the radio booth, just lovingly taking it all in but especially showing such great love for his dad,” Howarth said.
“At the end of the season I said to Jack, who had become such a close friend, ‘Jack, as your friend, let me suggest you do one of two things now.
“‘One, join me here on the radio for the next 10 years as my partner, but you and Jennifer and Miles move here to Toronto. You know what the weather is like here and St. Paul has a very similar winter climate. Or, second, go back to St. Paul and find some part- time work with the Minnesota Twins to stay in baseball.
“‘I want you to do this for Miles. You don’t want him to go from eight to 18 without his dad for all those months when you are away broadcasting baseball games…’
“He called me that off season from St. Paul and said, ‘Jerry, thank you very much for what you suggested.’”
Morris said some of his best friends in baseball were guys he played with in Toronto, including Tom Henke, Duane Ward, Jimmy Key, Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter.
“Even Pat Borders, who I called Buffy because he was always flexing in front of the mirror,” Morris said with a laugh.