BATON ROUGE — LSU College World Series hero Warren Morris enjoyed a superb career that included several seasons in major league baseball and an Olympic bronze medal, but the events of June 8, 1996, in Omaha, Neb., stand alone in his memory.
Nearly 10 years ago, Morris, an Alexandria, La., native launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Tigers to a 9-8 victory over Miami (Fla.) in the ’96 CWS championship game at Rosenblatt Stadium.
Remarkably, Morris’ homer was his only dinger in ’96, as he started only 22 games that season after undergoing surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his hand.
The blast remains the only time in the 59-year history of the College World Series that the national championship was decided with a walk-off home run.
“There have been other big events in my athletic career,” Morris said this week, “but nothing can top that moment. I’m proud to be known for that home run, but it was more about the team that season; it wasn’t at all about individuals
“I feel special to have been a part of that team championship; we were all very proud to wear the Purple and Gold.”
The former LSU second baseman returns to Alex Box Stadium Saturday for “Warren Morris Day,” an event in which he will meet fans and sign autographs from 12:30-1:30 p.m. before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at 2 p.m. when the Tigers face Arkansas.
“I’m very excited about getting to come back to Alex Box,” Morris said. “I’m truly honored that LSU is having a day in my name. I have always been a huge LSU fan, and I still am.”
Immediately after LSU won the 1996 national title, Morris joined the United States Olympic team, and the squad — directed by LSU coach Skip Bertman — claimed a bronze medal at the Atlanta Games. Morris then began his professional baseball career, which spanned 440 games over five seasons (1999-2003) with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers.
A 1995 first-team Academic all-American, Morris earned a zoology degree from LSU in 1997. He now works as an investment consultant with Red River Investment Group in Alexandria. Morris and his wife, Julie, are the parents of 20-month-old twin girls, Hettie and Amelia.
Much has happened in the life of Warren Morris since that unforgettable afternoon in Omaha, but the memory of his legendary swing remains vivid.
“It’s shocking that it’s already been 10 years since that day,” he said. “Time has flown by, and it seems like it just happened yesterday. I’m just proud to be a part of a moment that so many people remember fondly.”
Career Honors for Warren Morris at LSU
1994
Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll
Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American
1995
GTE-CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-American
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Second-Team All-American
Second-Team All-Southeastern Conference
SEC Western Division All-Tournament Team
Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll
First-Team All-Louisiana
1996
United States Olympic Bronze Medalist
ESPN “Showstopper of the Year” (CWS home run vs. Miami)
LSU Homecoming King
Jim Corbett Award (Outstanding Amateur Athlete in Louisiana)
National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Honorable Mention All-American
NCAA South II Regional All-Tournament Team
Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll
1997
Earned zoology degree from LSU