Detroit Tigers Morris 2018 Veterans Commitee Hall of Fame selection

Jack Morris, the Hall of Famer

Jan 25, 2018

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 17: Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Morris throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game Five of the American League Championship Series between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park on October 17, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 27: A baseball sits on the field before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 27, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images) /

The 1980’s was Jack Morris’ decade. Jack was armed with a fastball, a slider, forkball and, ultimately, a split-fingered fastball.

Morris would soon develop into the intense competitor that Tigers fans relished. Between 1980 and 1982, he would go on the win 47 games and pitch 714.1 innings. Morris’ first 20 games winning season would come in 1983.

That year, he would pitch 293.2 innings with an ERA of 3.34. Before MLB and the ability to watch every game, every day, fans relied on radio and weekend televised games. If you were fortunate, as a fan, your team played in the “Game of the Week”.

It was during this weekly game on April 7, 1984, that Jack Morris pitched the only no-hit game of his career. Tiger fans knew then there was something special about Jack Morris.During the 80’s, he would pitch an average of 244.2 innings with a 3.70 ERA per season. Jack would have the most wins, innings pitched, complete games and started more games than any other pitcher during this decade.

Following the 1987 season, he would sign a 2-year $4-million salary giving him the highest paid annual salary of any pitcher at that time. Morris was the dominant pitcher of the decade and would have every opening day starts (14 overall).