Warren Morris is still the poster child of the most memorable moment in CWS history
BATON ROUGE, La. (BVM) — The College World Series began calling Omaha, Neb. home in 1950. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, there was no CWS this year. But since it’s arrival in the Cornhusker State, there have been many memorable moments.
Moments such as Fresno State’s Cinderella championship run in 2008. Another came in the 1998 championship game between USC and Arizona State. The Trojans and Sun Devils posted what looked like a football score. USC hung on and beat the Sun Devils, 21-14. During the mid-90s, college baseball was known as “Gorilla Ball.” This game brought “Gorilla Ball” to its peak.
Two years prior to the 1998 slugfest, the most iconic College World Series Finals took place. The LSU Tigers were down one run in the bottom of the ninth inning to the Miami Hurricanes. Battling a hand injury most of the season, Warren Morris stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter with one runner on and two outs. On the first pitch of the at-bat, he launched a home run over the right field wall — the only walk-off championship-winning home run in College World Series history.
Morris joined the Louisiana State University baseball program in 1993. He didn’t receive an athletic scholarship, but he did accept an academic scholarship. He made the decision to walk-on and from then on, he had to prove he had what it took to play Division I baseball.
“I was valedictorian my senior year (at Bolton High School), but I wasn’t highly recruited either,” Morris said. “I had offers from smaller schools but decided to go all in and give it a shot.”
Before any practices or workouts, the Tigers held their first team meeting. He did recognize one member of the meeting that resembled his skinny body stature.
“The first meeting, before any practices or workouts, I realized these guys were a lot bigger than me,” Morris said.
He asked the teammate what position he played, but Morris was in for a surprise. The “teammate” he thought he was talking to ended up being the equipment manager. From that point on, Morris realized he had to work his tail off to get to the level his teammates were at.
“I was redshirted my freshman year,” Morris said. “I was the one flipping on the lights in the cage when everyone left.”
Morris went all in on himself and it would pay off in the long run.
He didn’t see the field in 1993 as All-American Todd Walker manned second base at the time. After the 1994 season, Walker was selected in the MLB Draft and Morris was tabbed to start at second base for the Tigers. The 1995 season was Morris’ best as a college athlete. He batted .369, smacked eight home runs and drove in 50 runs. He added 18 stolen bases to his ‘95 campaign. With his remarkable season, Morris had put his name out there for the world to know.
After a breakout season, LSU was expecting bigger and better things from Morris. Unfortunately, Morris suffered an injury that is very common in hitters. Doctors initially had trouble diagnosing him, but as time went on, they found out he broke a small bone in his hand. This injury sidelined him for 42 games, but he returned to the team just in time for the College World Series. The injury was still bothering him a bit, so he was placed at the bottom of the lineup.
“I had X-rays done and nothing was showing up,” Morris said. “After a few games, my wrist started to bother me more. We had another X-ray done again and this time there was a fracture. I had surgery two days later.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what God had planned. I really stopped worrying about it and it felt like a huge release once I stopped worrying about it.”
LSU was placed in the South II Regional where its first opponent was Austin Peay University. The Tigers beat the Governors, 8-5, then quickly moved through the region and defeated No. 2-ranked Georgia Tech, 29-13, in a game that set the record for most combined runs in the NCAA Tournament.
In beating the Hornets, the Tigers advanced to the College World Series for the eighth time in program history. In the second round of the CWS, LSU faced off against SEC rival Florida. The Gators had swept the Tigers in a three-game series earlier that year. LSU had to beat Florida twice to reach the finals, and that’s exactly what the Tigers did.
“I was 50-60% in the regular season,” Morris said. “By the time we reached Omaha, I felt closer to 100%.”
After reaching the CWS Finals, one of the most memorable games in college baseball history would be played. Jumping out to 3-2 lead, LSU seemed to be in control until Miami scored five runs to take a 7-3 advantage. But the Tigers came back to even the game at seven.
In the ninth inning, Alex Cora, Miami’s All-American shortstop and future World Series Champion manager, drove in a run to give the Hurricanes the lead.
“I’ve talked to Alex twice about the game,” Morris said. “One time he came up to me in spring training when we were both in the majors. He told me it was ‘one of the greatest games I was a part of.’”
Brad Wilson, who was 0 for 4 in the game, led off for the Tigers in the bottom of the final frame. He doubled down the third base line and the rally was on. Wilson was moved up to third after a groundout to the first baseman. LSU catcher Tim Lanier came to the plate with one out. He battled, but ultimately struck out and LSU was down to its last out. As Lanier walked to the dugout, he told Morris to “pick me up.”
“When he said those three words to me, a switch just flipped,” Morris said. “If I was going to strike out, I was going to strike out swinging. … The wind was blowing in all day; I had not thought of hitting a home run.”
Morris stepped to the plate and on the first pitch of the at-bat he lined a shot to right field for a walk-off home run to secure LSU’s third national championship. From the beginning of the season, the Tigers were pegged as a team of destiny. Winning this national championship only confirmed that.
“I was pretty good at blocking things out, so I really couldn’t hear anything,” Morris said. “I do remember our first base coach, Daniel Thompson, jumping up and down. When I rounded first and saw Alex Cora and Pat Burrell lying face down, it really registered that we’d won the national championship.”
At the ESPY Awards that year, the hit was awarded the “Showstopper of the Year.” It’s still one of the most iconic moments in College World Series history.
“The fan who caught the ball was able to get on the field and he actually gave the ball back to me,” Morris said. “That was pretty cool for that fan to do something like that.”
After that iconic moment, Morris went on to pursue a career in Major League Baseball. He was drafted in the fifth round by the Texas Rangers in 1996. He was then traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1998. It would be in 1999 that Morris made his MLB debut. He went quickly from non-roster invitee to the starting second baseman that season. As a rookie, he batted .288, hit 15 home runs and drove in 73 runs. He placed third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. It would be his best statistical year as a professional.
The Pirates released him before the start of the 2002 season. He would make his way through the minor leagues and during the 2003 season he became the Detroit Tigers’ second baseman after the team released Damion Easley. After five seasons in the bigs, he would remain in the minor leagues — retiring from baseball in 2006.
Morris now works as the assistant vice president for Red River Bank in his hometown of Alexandria, La.
He gave all sports fans a classic moment to talk about 24 years ago. And when the College World Series is played, Morris’ home run is still one of the highlights that comes across the screen.
“I used to collect baseball cards as a kid and now I’m on one,” Morris said. “Do not let anyone tell you cannot do anything. The place you are from should not hold you back. If you are coachable, work hard, and do the right things, anyone can succeed.”
