Peter R. Morris (January 1, 1854 – December 9, 1884) was a 19th-century Welsh baseball player. He played in a single game for the Union Association's Washington Nationals on May 14, 1884. Until 2007, little was known about Morris before a writer of the same name discovered biographical information about him.
Morris played in one major league game in his career. This came on May 14, 1884, as the shortstop for the Washington Nationals of the Union Association. In the game, he recorded no hits in three at-bats and had three assists and an error in the field.[1]
Early knowledgeedit
All that was originally known about Morris came from an initial listing in The Baseball Encyclopedia, first published in 1969,[2] for a player known as "P. Morris".[3] This player was said to have been born in Rockford, Illinois.[4] This entry, with the Rockford birthplace and the lack of a first name, persisted in the Total Baseball books of later vintage.[5]
Discoveryedit
In 2007, a writer for the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), coincidentally also named Peter Morris, discovered newly researched information on the ballplayer. The writer Morris found that the ballplayer Morris was also named Peter, learned his middle initial, and that he was born in Rhuddlan in Wales on January 1, 1854.[6] This made Morris the first major leaguer from Wales, predating Ted Lewis by 12 years.[7]
The ballplayer was listed as having been a reserve player for the independent Milwaukee Maple Leafs baseball club in 1883 and 1884. In learning about the ballplayer, the writer Morris found a mention of the Maple Leafs playing a series hosted by a team from Chicago on May 13. The ballplayer Morris started every game of that series save for one. The only game he did not start was on May 14, the date the previously known "P. Morris" appeared in a game for the Nationals, an away game against the Chicago Browns, another Union Association team. As the Nationals were known to have a link to the Milwaukee club,[a] it was surmised by the writer Morris and SABR editor Bill Carle that the player who appeared for Washington on the 14th was indeed the ballplayer Peter Morris. In the same discovery, the writer found that the ballplayer died nearly seven months later, on December 9, in a railway coupling accident, and was buried in Ixonia, Wisconsin.[6]
Later researchedit
In his 2013 book, Cracking Baseball's Cold Cases, the writer Morris included further information on his search for the ballplayer. He found that the ballplayer had likely played for the Aetna Club of Detroit in the 1870s, and later played briefly for the Stillwater, Minnesota club of the Northwestern League three months after his time representing Washington before rejoining the Maple Leafs. The research on the ballplayer Morris led to the writer also obtaining a copy of the ballplayer's birth certificate from Wales.[3]
Notesedit
^Nearly a week after Morris appeared on the team, teammate John Deasley was signed to play shortstop for the Nationals.[6]Pat Dealy, a catcher, was also purchased by Washington during the season but did not appear in any games with the club.[3]
^Berring, Robert C. (Fall 2010). "The Macmillan Baseball Encyclopedia, the West System, and Sweat Equity / Society for American Baseball Research". Baseball Research. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
January 01, 1970
peter, morris, baseball, peter, morris, january, 1854, december, 1884, 19th, century, welsh, baseball, player, played, single, game, union, association, washington, nationals, 1884, until, 2007, little, known, about, morris, before, writer, same, name, discove. Peter R Morris January 1 1854 December 9 1884 was a 19th century Welsh baseball player He played in a single game for the Union Association s Washington Nationals on May 14 1884 Until 2007 little was known about Morris before a writer of the same name discovered biographical information about him Peter MorrisShortstopBorn 1854 01 01 January 1 1854Rhuddlan WalesDied December 9 1884 1884 12 09 aged 30 Columbus Wisconsin USBatted UnknownThrew UnknownMLB debutMay 14 1884 for the Washington NationalsLast MLB appearanceMay 14 1884 for the Washington NationalsMLB statisticsBatting average 000At bats3Hits0TeamsWashington Nationals UA 1884 Contents 1 Career 2 Early knowledge 3 Discovery 4 Later research 5 Notes 6 References 7 SourcesCareer editMorris played in one major league game in his career This came on May 14 1884 as the shortstop for the Washington Nationals of the Union Association In the game he recorded no hits in three at bats and had three assists and an error in the field 1 Early knowledge editAll that was originally known about Morris came from an initial listing in The Baseball Encyclopedia first published in 1969 2 for a player known as P Morris 3 This player was said to have been born in Rockford Illinois 4 This entry with the Rockford birthplace and the lack of a first name persisted in the Total Baseball books of later vintage 5 Discovery editIn 2007 a writer for the Society for American Baseball Research SABR coincidentally also named Peter Morris discovered newly researched information on the ballplayer The writer Morris found that the ballplayer Morris was also named Peter learned his middle initial and that he was born in Rhuddlan in Wales on January 1 1854 6 This made Morris the first major leaguer from Wales predating Ted Lewis by 12 years 7 The ballplayer was listed as having been a reserve player for the independent Milwaukee Maple Leafs baseball club in 1883 and 1884 In learning about the ballplayer the writer Morris found a mention of the Maple Leafs playing a series hosted by a team from Chicago on May 13 The ballplayer Morris started every game of that series save for one The only game he did not start was on May 14 the date the previously known P Morris appeared in a game for the Nationals an away game against the Chicago Browns another Union Association team As the Nationals were known to have a link to the Milwaukee club a it was surmised by the writer Morris and SABR editor Bill Carle that the player who appeared for Washington on the 14th was indeed the ballplayer Peter Morris In the same discovery the writer found that the ballplayer died nearly seven months later on December 9 in a railway coupling accident and was buried in Ixonia Wisconsin 6 Later research editIn his 2013 book Cracking Baseball s Cold Cases the writer Morris included further information on his search for the ballplayer He found that the ballplayer had likely played for the Aetna Club of Detroit in the 1870s and later played briefly for the Stillwater Minnesota club of the Northwestern League three months after his time representing Washington before rejoining the Maple Leafs The research on the ballplayer Morris led to the writer also obtaining a copy of the ballplayer s birth certificate from Wales 3 Notes edit Nearly a week after Morris appeared on the team teammate John Deasley was signed to play shortstop for the Nationals 6 Pat Dealy a catcher was also purchased by Washington during the season but did not appear in any games with the club 3 References edit Pete Morris Stats Baseball Reference com Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved December 11 2018 Berring Robert C Fall 2010 The Macmillan Baseball Encyclopedia the West System and Sweat Equity Society for American Baseball Research Baseball Research Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved December 11 2018 a b c Morris Peter March 13 2013 Cracking Baseball s Cold Cases Jefferson North Carolina McFarland amp Company pp 131 137 ISBN 9781476603315 Prebenna David 1993 The Baseball Encyclopedia 9th ed New York City Macmillan Publishers p 1265 ISBN 9780025790414 The entry had been unchanged around the release of the ninth edition Thorn John 2001 Total Baseball 7th ed Raleigh North Carolina Total Sports Publishing p 1032 ISBN 9781930844018 For example the 2001 guide continues with the original listing a b c Carle Bill 2007 Biographical Research Committee May June 2007 Report Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved December 11 2018 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Chetwynd Josh January 10 2014 Baseball in Europe A Country by Country History Jefferson North Carolina McFarland amp Company p 288 ISBN 9780786451753 Sources editCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Peter Morris baseball amp oldid 1202411130, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
