Personal Stats

• Full Name: Matthew Christian Morris
• Nickname: Matty Mo
• Team: St. Louis Cardinals
• Position: Pitcher
• Height: 6'5"
• Weight: 210
• Throws: Right
• Bats: Right
• Born: 8-9-74
• Birthplace: Middletown, NY
• Residence: Jupiter, FL
• Siblings: 2 older sisters
• Hobbies: Golf

  Career Bio

• High school: Played soccer and basketball. Didn't start pitching until his senior year of high school.
• Came close to grabbing a spot on the Cardinals roster in 1996
• Drafted by the Brewers before attending Seton Hall University
• Threw 20 consecutive scoreless innings for Team USA in 1994
• Early key to his pitching was his low 90s fastball and power curve
• Was named first-team All America at Seton Hall
• Selected in the 1st round of the 1995 June free agent draft. He was 12th overall.
• Led the Texas League (tied for minor league lead) with four shutouts
• Texas League managers named him the circuit's top pitching prospect and owner of the best fastball
• Led Cardinals minor leagues with 175 innings pitched in 1996
• July 96, while in the minors, he threw a four hit shutout of Wichita. He threw a total of 77 pitches-- 58 were fastballs, 18 were curveballs, and one was a change-up. He didn't allow any walks.
• Major league debut: April 4, 1997 against the Houston Astros, allowing just one run on seven hits and working into the sixth inning.
• First major league win: May 1, 1997 against the Florida Marlins. Morris retired the first 17 batters and allowed just four hits in 7.1 innings. The Cardinals won 3-2.
• Led NL rookie starters with 12 wins, a 3.19 ERA, three complete games, 149 strikeouts, 217 innings pitched, and a .258 opponents batting average.
• The Cardinals went 89 games without a pitcher's complete game until Morris turned one in on September 22, 1997.
• September 22 is a good date....on September 22, 1998, the following year, he posted his first career shutout against the Astros, allowing just five hits in a 4-0 Cardinal win.
• On May 29, 1997, Morris allowed one run in eight innings and provided the Cardinals with an RBI double in a 4-2 win over the Dodgers.
• Tied for the most Cardinals wins in 1997 (12) with Todd Stottlemyre
• Led the Cardinals in games started, complete games, and innings pitched
• Finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting to the Phillies' Scott Rolen in 1997
• Named The Sporting News NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1997
• Posted his first win of the 1998 season on July 20, allowing three hits in 6.1 innings and his first complete game of the 1998 season on August 4 against the Brewers
• In his seventeen games started in 1998, he posted the team best ERA of 2.53 and tied for shutouts (1) with Donovan Osborne.
• In 1999, during spring training, Morris threw just 25 pitches against Kansas City before beginning to feel pain in his elbow. A torn right elbow ligament ended his chances for playing in the regular season.
• Underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in April of 1997 to replace a torn ligament in his elbow
• Bought a house in Jupiter, Fla during the offseason before the 2000 season so he could be near the Cardinals spring training complex and work on his rehabilitation
• His 2000 return to pitching came on May 30 during a relief appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He pitched 3 scoreless innings and was awarded the first save of his major league career.

  All of the following information was obtained from the 2001 Cardinals Media Guide. Many of it is repeating information from the above.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1995 -- Made an impressive professional debut, allowing just two hits in five innings, while striking out six in a 1-0 win over Pittsfield on 7/12...was promoted to St. Petersburg after his second win at New Jersey...faced the minimum 21 batters and struck out eight in a seven-inning, one-hit shutout over Sarasota in Game 1 of a doubleheader on 8/21...named Florida State League Pitcher of the Week for 8/21-27 after throwing six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a 3-1 win over Tampa...pitched for Cards' Winter Instructional League club, posting a 1.17 ERA with four walks and 20 strikeouts in 23 innings.

1996 -- The workhorse of the organization, Morris led all Cardinals minor leaguers with 175 innings pitched, mostly at Class AA Arkansas with one start for Class AAA Louisville...his four shutouts for Arkansas led the Texas League and helped earn him a spot on the league's All-Star Team...tied for second in the league with four complete games and 12 wins, tied for third with 27 starts, ranked fourth with 167 innings, fifth with 120 strikeouts and 10th with a 3.38 ERA...in the Cardinals organization, he tied for fourth in wins and tied for fifth with 129 strikeouts...his four complete games were all four-hit shutouts...in his first start of the season, tossed three-hit ball over six innings with seven strikeouts, earning an 11-2 victory 4/6 at Shreveport...struck out a season-high eight batters in an 8-2 triumph 4/26 vs. Tulsa...issued 10 walks in 64.2 innings (1.39 BB/9IP) over 10 starts, 6/5-7/26..won three consecutive starts, two by shutout, 6/29-7/11...promoted to Louisville in the season's final week...in his only Class AAA start, struck out nine over eight innings in 3-0 loss 9/1 vs. Indianopolis.

1997 -- Turned in one of the top rookie seasons by a Cards pitcher, earning selection as The Sporting News' N.L. Rookie Pitcher of the Year and tying for second in N.L. Rookie of the Year voting conducted by the BBWAA...led all major league rookies in ERA (3.19) and strikeouts (149), and paced N.L. rookie hurlers with 12 wins, which tied Todd Stottlemyre for the team lead...yielded only 12 home runs in 217 innings, posting the fourth-best homers-to-innings ratio amond N.L. pitchers...had his best stuff at Busch, going 9-5 with a 2.73 ERA in 21 starts...was 4-1 in June and had a 2.18 ERA in July...in interleague starts vs. the Indians, Twins and White Sox was a combined 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA (22.2 innings/three earned runs)...pitched his first complete game in the majors 5/23 at SF but lost 2-0 to Shawn Estes...pitched his second complete game of the season 9/22 at PIT but lost 3-1...retired the first 17 batters 5/1 vs. FLA en route to his first major league win, a 3-2 Cards victory...made his big-league debut 4/4 at HOU, allowing one run on seven hits in five-plus innings, but did not earn a decision in the Cards' 3-2 extra-innings loss...in his 8/5 "homecoming" to New York state, worked 8.1 innings vs. the Mets in the rain, but did not earn a decision in the Cards' 5-4, 10-inning loss. Left the game with a 4-3 lead, but NY rallied for single runs in the ninth and 10th...with the temperature hitting 104 degrees, pitched 7.2 innings (five hits, one run) to post a 3-1 win (No. 8) vs. FLA on 7/26...earned his third victory over the Marlins on 8/22 at FLA, his ninth win of the year...in his 33 starts, the Cards were 18-15 while averaging 4.6 runs per game...at the plate, batted .205 (15-for-73) with six RBIs. Had a pinch-hitting appearance in Cards' extra-innings loss at SD on 6/10.

1998 -- Made just one start before the All-Star break due to a strained right shoulder that confined him to the disabled list...returned on 7/10 to make 16 starts in the second half, concluding his sophomore season with a club-low 2.53 ERA...led the staff with a 1.94 ERA at Busch (in 10 starts) and a 2.07 ERA in night games (11 starts)...yielded two earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 17 starts...had a stretch of 18 consecutive scoreless innings over his last three starts...the Cardinals were 11-6 when he took the mound...made his only start of the first half on 4/11 at SF, and allowed two runs in five innings but did not earn a decision...in his first start off the disabled list, 7/10 vs. HOU, pitched six shutout innings, struck out six and allowed only three hits...threw 70 pitched, including 59 for strikes, but did not earn a decision in a the 6-3 win...gained his first victory 7/20 at SD, allowing just one run (a Greg Vaughn homer) and three hits in 6.1 innings...pitched a complete game 8/4 at MIL while lowering his career ERA below 3.00...scattered four hits in a 2-1 win...established a career high with 10 strikeouts vs. CIN on 9/6 but did not earn a decision in a two-run, seven inning outing...pitched seven scoreless innings on 9/16 vs. PIT in a 4-0 win...collected his first career shutout and fifth career complete game on 9/22 vs. HOU, allowing just five hits while matching a career high with 10 strikeouts.

1999 -- Missed the entire campaign after injuring his right elbow in spring training...was placed on the disabled list on 3/26 and Dr. Frank Jobe performed "Tommy John" surgery in Los Angeles on 4/13...the procedure replaced a torn ligament in Morris' pitching elbow with a tendon from his right hand.

2000 SEASON

• Returned to majors after missing the entire 1999 season following elbow injury in the spring of 1999 that required "Tommy John" surgery.
• Made five injury rehab starts during May following a stint with the Cardinals Extended Spring Training team. He was 1-2, 7.98 at Memphis in 14.2 IP and was 0-0, 6.43 for Arkansas in 7.0 IP.
• Was recalled from injury rehab assignment & activated from DL on 5/28.
• Finished second on the team among relievers with his 53.0 innings pitched and 4 saves.
• Closed out 9/23 win at CHI with 1.2 IP & was credited with his 4th save.
• Fanned four of five batters faced to finish out 9/7 win vs. MON with 2.0 scoreless innings. The four strikeouts matched his season high (6/4 vs. CLE).
• Won 8/12 at MIL for 1st time since 9/22/98.
• Struck out three batters on 9/17 vs. CHI and was credited with Sv #3.
• Went 3.1 innings at HOU on 7/23-his longest outing of the season.
• Was saddled with his 2nd loss on 7/7 vs. SF, allowing 2 runs in his 2.0 IP.
• Worked 1.1 scoreless innings 7/5 vs. CIN, earning his 3rd hold.
• Allowed just 3 HR's. Each time he allowed a home run during 2000, Matt also suffered a blown save.
• Was credited with Sv #2 on 6/14 at SD when he worked 1.2 scoreless innings.
• Blanked the Tigers over the final 2.0 innings on 6/11 in a 7-3 win at DET.
• Allowed 8th inning run in 3.0 IP on 6/3 vs. CLE & suffered loss.
• Worked 3.0 scoreless inn. 5/30 at ARI for his professional save. It marked his 1st ML relief outing and 1st game appearance since 9/27/98.

2000 POSTSEASON -- Worked a scoreless innings of relief in both Game 2 and Game 3 of the Division Series vs. ATL...made two relief appearances during NLCS versus NY Mets, including 2.2 innings of work in Game 2.

MISC: Attended Seton Hall University, where he played baseball and was named first team All-American...played for Team USA in 1994...named top prospect among college pitchers by Baseball America...graduated in 1992 from Valley Central H.S., where he played soccer, baseball, and basketball...enjoys golf in his spare time...taped a PSA last year for the St. Louis Police Department for National Night Out Against Crime & is active with Cardinals Care in doing hospital visits...was signed by Cardinals' scout Joe Rigoli...resides in Jupiter, Fla.

All of the following information was obtained from stlcardinals.com.

2001 SEASON

• Returned to the Cardinals rotation and posted the 45th 20-win season in club history. His All-Star campaign included a 22-8 record and 3.16 ERA in 34 starts.
• He became the first Cardinal to win 22 games since Bob Gibson won 23 in 1970. Matt also became the first Major League pitcher since Wilbur Wood in 1971 to win 20 games after not starting a game the prior season.
• Was named National League Comeback Player of the Year by Baseball Weekly, The Sporting News and the Players' Choice Award.
• Finished third in ballotting for the N.L. Cy Young Award and tied for 14th in voting for Most Valuable Player.
• His career record as a starter stands at 41-22 with a 3.04 ERA (185 ER/547.0 IP) in 84 starts.
• Went 15-2 with a 1.62 ERA (22 ER/122.0 IP) in 18 home games, including a 6-0 record and 1.80 ERA (9 ER/45.0 IP) in his last seven starts at Busch. Owns a 28-13, 2.40 career mark at Busch Stadium (62 games/49 starts).
• His 15 home wins established a Busch Stadium single-season record, breaking John Tudor's 1985 mark of 14.
• Went just 7-6 with a 5.15 ERA (54 ER/94.1 IP) in 16 road starts.
• The Cards won 24 of his 34 starts, including 23 of his last 31. St. Louis scored 194 runs in his starts, but just 18 in his eight losses. He worked 7+ innings in 20 of his 34 starts.
• Matt allowed just six home runs in his last 22+ games (142.0 IP) - two to Jim Thome on 7/6, one to Robert Machado on 7/29, one to V. Guerrero on 8/9 and one to Jose Hernandez on 9/19.
• Suffered an 11-2 loss at COL on 4/5, when he allowed 10 runs (six earned) on 11 hits in his 3.0-plus innings. The start was his first in the majors since 9/27/98.
• Compiled a string of 21.0 innings pitched without allowing an earned run from 4/21 to 5/2.
• Fanned 11 batters and allowed only two runs (one earned) but went without a decision at FLA on 5/2. Had his stretch of 36.0 IP without allowing a homer snapped in the ninth inning, when Cliff Floyd led off the frame with a shot to right to tie the game at 2-2. The Cards won 4-2 in 11 innings.
• Tossed his second career shutout and sixth career compelete game with a 7-0 win over PIT on 5/7. Allowed just four hits and walked one while fanning six.
• Posted his fifth-straight win with a 12-2 victory at PIT on 5/17. Fanned seven in the win, as the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep at PNC Park.
• Held a no-hitter for 6.2 IP on 6/7 at CHI, but settled for a no-decision in the Cards' 4-3, 10-inning loss. All three of the runs Matt allowed came with two outs.
• Became the N.L.'s second 10-game winner (after Curt Schilling) with a 7-3 win over SF on 6/24. Allowed two runs on seven hits in 6.0 IP, with four walks and four Ks.
• His 7/6 start at CLE was the shortest non-injury (and non-rain) start of his career, as he went just 2.1 innings and allowed eight runs on seven hits. His season ERA jumped from 2.65 (third in the NL) to 3.23.
• Matched his career high with his 12th win on 7/19 at HOU, when he allowed just a first-inning run and only five hits on the day in 8.0 innings pitched. Walked two in the first inning and retired the last 10 batters he faced and 14 of the last 15.
• Made his first career All-Star appearance at Seattle (7/10) and pitched a scoreless seventh inning, allowing one hit to NY's Jorge Posada.
• Allowed just two unearned runs in 8.0 innings of work, but the Cards were held to a season-low two hits in a 2-1 loss to HOU on 7/24...Went 6-0 with a 3.76 ERA (17 ER/ 40.2 IP) in August.
• Earned N.L. PLayer of the Week honors for 8/13-19...
• Celebrated his 27th birthday with a 9-6 win at MON on 8/9. In 6.2 innings of work he allowed five runs on 10 hits, including a two-run homer to V. Guerrero in the 7th.
• Posted his second CG of the season with a 7-1 win over CIN on 8/14. Took a two-hit shutout into the 8th, but allowed two hits, a walk and hit batter in that frame. Equaled a career mark by allowing four hits and threw a season-high 123 pitches.
• Tossed 7.0 shutout innings en route to his 19th win at SD on 9/4. Allowed only six hits and no walks while fanning five. Also collected his fifth RBI of the season with a bases-loaded walk in the second inning.
• Became the N.L.'s second 20-game winner with an 8-2 win over MIL on 9/19. Struck out a career-high 13 batters in 7.0 IP and won his eighth straight decision, the longest winning streak by a Cardinal since Garrett Stephenson did so at the beginning of the 2000 season. Jose Hernandez's fourth-inning HR snapped a 38.2-inning homerless streak for Morris.
• Had his eight-game winning streak snapped in a 9-3 loss on 9/24 at HOU. Matched his season high for runs allowed (eight) and failed to go five inn. for the 4th time.
• Blanked the Pirates for 8.0 innings in a 2-0 win on 9/29 as he became the single-season record holder for wins at Busch Stadium with 15. It was his sixth-straight winning decision at home.
• Won his 22nd game of the year, 10-3 at MIL on 10/4, pitching six shutout innings while striking out 10.

2001 POSTSEASON: Pitched brilliantly in the Division Series vs. Arizona, but the Cardinals lost both of his outings - 1-0 in Game 1 and 2-1 in Game 5...he went 0-1 with a 1.20 ERA, matching up against Curt Schilling in both games...Matt allowed just two runs in 15.0 innings of work, fanning 12 and walking five while allowing 13 hits.

2002 SEASON

• Matt compiled another All-Star season with a 17-9 record and a 3.42 ERA in a team-leading 32 starts.
• His career record as a starter stands at 58-31 with a 3.15 ERA (265 ER/757.1 IP). The Cardinals are 41-20 (.672 win pct.) in his 61 starts over the past two seasons.
• The Cards scored 155 runs (4.8/game) in his 32 starts, with 106 runs in his 17 wins (6.2/game), 19 runs in his nine losses (2.1/game) and 30 in his six no-decisions.
• Went 5-6 with a 4.96 ERA (45 ER/81.2 IP) in day games and 12-3 with a 2.45 ERA (35 ER/128.2 IP) in night games.
• His 2.45 night ERA ranked third in the N.L. and his 2.91 road ERA (30 ER/92.2 IP) was eighth in the league. Nine of his 17 wins came on the road.
• Lost consecutive games just twice. Matt has never lost three straight games as a starter.
• Finished the season strong by winning seven of his last 10 decisions. St. Louis won nine of his 13 starts after the break.
• Has notched wins in 22 of his last 34 home starts and owns a 36-18, 2.76 (143 ER/ 467.0 IP) career mark at Busch Stadium (80 games/67 starts). He has allowed just 22 home runs in his career at Busch Stadium (1 per 22 IP).
• Made his first career Opening Day start on 4/1 and posted an 8-2 win over COL.
• Threw a career-high 125 pitches in an 8-4 victory at HOU on 4/6, going 6.0 innings and allowing two unearned runs.
• Defeated Curt Schilling and the Diamondbacks on 4/17 in a rematch of 2001's thrilling NLDS matchups in Games 1 & 5. Matt allowed his first HRs of the season in the win, but issued no walks over his 7.0 IP.
• Fanned 10 batters in a losing effort at NY on 4/23.
• Lost his second straight decision with a 5-2 loss at MON 4/28, when he allowed a career-high three HRs. He collected two base hits in the loss.
• Did not earn a decision in a 2-1, 11-inning loss vs. ATL on 5/3. Matt threw 8.0 shutout innings and allowed only three hits, but the Braves' Damian Moss had a no-hitter through 7.0 IP.
• Snapped a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 win at CHI on 5/8, when he went 8.0 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Sammy Sosa clubbed a two-run homer in the first inning, but Matt allowed no hits after the second frame.
• Posted his third career shutout and eighth CG with a four-hitter against the Cubs on 5/13, when he also notched his 500th career strikeout (Bobby Hill) and his 50th career win. Retired 15 of the last 16 batters and 21 of the last 23.
• Had his 17.1-inning scoreless streak and nine-game Busch Stadium winning streak snapped 5/18 vs. CIN.
• Posted an 11-3 win at KC on 6/8, when he went 8.0 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Matt retired the last 18 batters he faced.
• Pitched 8.0 innings of shutout ball in his start vs. KC on 6/14.
• Allowed just two hits in the 3-0 Cards win, walking three and fanning seven. Matt helped his own cause with an RBI-single in the fourth.
• Notched his 10th win in a 6-2 victory over ANA on 6/19. Matt went 7.0 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits. He recorded just two strikeouts - his lowest total in 21 games (since 9/9/01).
• Was named to his second consecutive N.L. All-Star squad, but did not pitch at Milwaukee.
• Snapped a two-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over SF on 7/18 at STL, winning for the first time since 6/19.
• Matt went 8.0 IP and fanned eight. It was his first win vs. an N.L. opponent since 5/28 victory at HOU.
• Pitched 8.0 shutout innings at SF on 7/23 as the Cards won 4-0. Matt allowed six hits and three walks with eight Ks.
• Entered his 7/28 start vs. CHI with a 14-inning scoreless streak in addition to a 16-inning shutout streak against the Cubs. He made his quickest exit of the season, allowing six runs in just 4.0 IP. The Cardinals rallied to win the game, 10-9, with a six-run ninth inning that was capped by Edgar Renteria's walk-off homer. Corey Patterson's three-run HR snapped Matt's 44.1 IP homerless streak.
• Defeated the Expos 5-3 on 8/8 as the Cards snapped their seven-game losing streak. Matt had a pair of hits in the win.
• Won his second straight decision with a 9-5 win 8/13 at PIT, holding the Bucs to just one run on six hits in 8.0 IP.
• Posted a 5-1 win at PHI on 8/18. Matt tossed 7.0 shutout innings before Bobby Abreu homered in the eighth.
• Allowed a season-high 11 hits in 6.0 IP during his 8/23 start vs. PHI. The Cards lost the game, 5-4, in 14 innings. Matt left the game with a strained left hamstring that put him on the disabled list until 9/10.
• Made three starts after coming off the 15-day disabled list.
• Lasted just 3.2 IP and suffered an 8-0 loss at HOU on 9/15. Matt allowed five runs on nine hits and threw 90 pitches.
• Suffered his second straight defeat to the Astros on 9/21, with a 6-3 setback. Matt went 6.0 innings and allowed six runs (four earned) on nine hits. He allowed a two-out, two-run HR to Lance Berkman in the fifth and then two unearned runs in the sixth. At the plate Matt had a double, a walk and run scored.
• Ended the regular season on a high note, with Win #17 on 9/26 vs. MIL. Matt allowed one run in the first inning and then tossed six scoreless frames to end the night with a seven-inning, 94-pitch effort.

2002 POSTSEASON: Appeared in three of the Cardinals' postseason games and went 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA...won Game 1 of the Division Series vs. Arizona, 12-2...Matt allowed one earned run on seven hits in 7.0 IP in a match-up against Randy Johnson...lasted only 4.1 innings in a 9-6 loss to San Francisco in Game 1 of the LCS...Matt's seven earned runs allowed (on 10 hits) tied an LCS record...he allowed six consecutive hits (also an LCS record) in the second inning...was a tough-luck loser in Game 5, 2-1, as the Giants plated a run in the eighth and another in the ninth for the series win.

Personal: Graduated in 1992 from Valley Central H.S., where he played soccer, baseball and basketball...enjoys golf in his spare time...attended Seton Hall University, where he played baseball and was named first team All-American...played for Team USA in 1994...named top prospect among college pitchers by Baseball America...taped a PSA in 2000 for St. Louis Police Department for National Night Out Against Crime and is active with Cardinals Care in doing hospital visits...was signed by Cardinals' scout Joe Rigoli...was honored by the St. Louis chapter of BBWAA as their 2001 Comeback Award winner and he also shared Player of the Year honors with teammate Albert Pujols...due to become a free agent after the 2002 season, Matt signed a three-year contract extension on 1/4/02, working the entire deal without an agent...he and his wife Heather were married on 12/7/02 and they reside in Jupiter, Fla.