1. Biography
Cy Morgan's early life in Ohio laid the foundation for his professional baseball career, which saw him debut in Major League Baseball and play for several prominent teams in the early 20th century.
1.1. Early Life and Entry into Baseball
Harry Richard Morgan was born on November 10, 1878, in Pomeroy, Ohio, a town located in Meigs County. Information regarding his specific childhood and the exact circumstances of his entry into professional baseball are not detailed in historical records, but he would go on to establish a significant career in Major League Baseball.
1.2. Major League Debut and Teams
Morgan made his Major League Baseball debut in 1903. Throughout his career, he played for four different teams. He began his professional journey with the St. Louis Browns, playing for them from 1903 to 1905 and again in 1907. In the middle of the 1907 season, he moved to the Boston Red Sox, where he remained until 1909. Later in 1909, he joined the Philadelphia Athletics, spending four seasons with the team until 1912. His final season in Major League Baseball was in 1913 with the Cincinnati Reds.
2. Major League Career
Cy Morgan's Major League career spanned a decade, during which he was a key contributor to two World Series champion teams and achieved several notable statistical distinctions.
2.1. World Series Championships
Morgan played an instrumental role in the Philadelphia Athletics winning back-to-back World Series championships in 1910 and 1911. During the 1911 season, the 1912 Reach Guide specifically credited Morgan with helping to shoulder the pitching burden for the Athletics. This was particularly crucial early in the season when the team's star pitchers, Jack Coombs and Chief Bender, were performing below their usual effectiveness. His contributions during these championship years solidified his place as a valuable member of one of baseball's early dynasties.
2.2. Notable Achievements and Records
Cy Morgan compiled several significant statistical achievements during his Major League career:
- In 1909, he led the American League in hits allowed per 9 innings pitched, with a rate of 6.26. This also stands as a Philadelphia Athletics single-season record.
- He is the Athletics' career leader in hits allowed per 9 innings pitched, with a rate of 6.86.
- Morgan ranks 42nd on the Major League Baseball career ERA list, with a career ERA of 2.51.
- He ranks 25th on the MLB career hits allowed per 9 innings pitched list, with a rate of 7.35.
2.3. Career Statistics
Throughout his 10-season Major League career, Cy Morgan pitched a total of 1445.1 innings. His overall record stands at 78 wins and 78 losses.
| Year | Team | Games | Games Started | Complete Games | Shutouts | Wins | Losses | Saves | Winning Percentage | Batters Faced | Innings Pitched | Hits Allowed | Home Runs Allowed | Walks Allowed | Hit Batsmen | Wild Pitches | Strikeouts | Balks | Runs Allowed | Earned Runs Allowed | ERA | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1903 | St. Louis Browns | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 57 | 13.0 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 4.15 | 1.38 |
| 1904 | St. Louis Browns | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 207 | 51.0 | 51 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 1 | 23 | 21 | 3.71 | 1.20 |
| 1905 | St. Louis Browns | 13 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 346 | 77.1 | 82 | 1 | 37 | 9 | 5 | 44 | 9 | 59 | 31 | 3.61 | 1.54 |
| 1907 | St. Louis Browns | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .286 | 250 | 55.0 | 77 | 3 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 4 | 43 | 37 | 6.05 | 1.71 |
| 1907 | Boston Red Sox | 16 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | 435 | 114.1 | 77 | 1 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 2 | 35 | 25 | 1.97 | 0.97 |
| 1907 Total | 26 | 19 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 0 | .421 | 685 | 169.1 | 154 | 4 | 51 | 5 | 5 | 64 | 6 | 78 | 62 | 3.30 | 1.21 | |
| 1908 | Boston Red Sox | 30 | 26 | 17 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 1 | .519 | 834 | 205.0 | 166 | 7 | 90 | 10 | 10 | 99 | 7 | 78 | 56 | 2.46 | 1.25 |
| 1909 | Boston Red Sox | 12 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | .250 | 254 | 64.2 | 52 | 0 | 31 | 6 | 6 | 30 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 2.37 | 1.28 |
| 1909 | Philadelphia Athletics | 28 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 16 | 11 | 0 | .593 | 882 | 228.2 | 152 | 3 | 71 | 16 | 16 | 81 | 6 | 56 | 42 | 1.65 | 0.98 |
| 1909 Total | 40 | 36 | 26 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 1 | .514 | 1136 | 293.1 | 204 | 3 | 102 | 22 | 22 | 111 | 11 | 75 | 59 | 1.81 | 1.04 | |
| 1910 | Philadelphia Athletics | 36 | 34 | 23 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 0 | .600 | 1125 | 290.2 | 214 | 0 | 117 | 18 | 18 | 134 | 14 | 92 | 50 | 1.55 | 1.14 |
| 1911 | Philadelphia Athletics | 38 | 30 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 1 | .682 | 1028 | 249.2 | 217 | 0 | 113 | 21 | 21 | 136 | 6 | 109 | 75 | 2.70 | 1.32 |
| 1912 | Philadelphia Athletics | 16 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | .273 | 388 | 93.2 | 75 | 0 | 51 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 3 | 56 | 39 | 3.75 | 1.35 |
| 1913 | Cincinnati Reds | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 12 | 2.1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 15.43 | 2.57 |
| MLB Career (10 seasons) | 210 | 172 | 107 | 15 | 78 | 78 | 3 | .500 | 5818 | 1445.1 | 1180 | 18 | 578 | 95 | 59 | 667 | 5 | 586 | 403 | 2.51 | 1.22 | |
3. Post-playing Life and Death
Following his retirement from professional baseball, Cy Morgan maintained some connection to the public sphere, but his later life was largely private, culminating in his death in 1962.
3.1. Post-playing Activities
Even during his playing career, Cy Morgan had a brief foray into the world of entertainment. In 1911, while still with the Philadelphia Athletics, he was featured in the Thanhouser Company film The Baseball Bug. He appeared in the film alongside fellow Athletics stars Chief Bender, Jack Coombs, and Rube Oldring.
3.2. Death
Cy Morgan passed away on June 28, 1962, in Wheeling, West Virginia, at the age of 83. The reported cause of his death was coronary artery disease. While this is the commonly cited cause, historical discussions have occasionally presented conflicting or ambiguous accounts regarding the exact circumstances of his passing.
4. Legacy and Assessment
Cy Morgan's career, though not widely celebrated today, left a significant mark on baseball history, particularly through his contributions to the Philadelphia Athletics' success.
4.1. Overall Career Assessment
Cy Morgan's baseball career is best remembered for his integral role in the Philadelphia Athletics' back-to-back World Series championships in 1910 and 1911. His ability to carry a significant pitching load, even when other star pitchers faced challenges, demonstrated his reliability and importance to the team. His career statistics, including a respectable 2.51 Earned Run Average and his leadership in certain pitching categories like hits allowed per nine innings, underscore his effectiveness as a pitcher during the Dead-ball era. Despite his relatively balanced win-loss record, his contributions to championship teams and his consistent performance highlight him as a solid and dependable player of his time.
4.2. Controversies and Historical Notes
A minor point of historical ambiguity regarding Cy Morgan's life concerns the reported cause of his death. While official records widely cite coronary artery disease as the cause, some historical discussions have, at times, suggested alternative, unconfirmed circumstances. However, the prevailing and documented cause remains heart disease.