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222. Century Loses Red Sox Pitcher "Big Ed" Morris 1932

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Updated: Mar 29, 2022


Walter Edward "Big Ed" Morris was born December 7, 1899 in Foshee, Escambia County, Alabama located several miles northeast of Flomaton. He was the son of Ella Mildred Morris (1879-1940) who supported Ed and his sister Stella as a housekeeper. His talent as a baseball player became apparent early on in his life. He attended college to play ball for several months, but the school decided that education was not for him. He was finally given a chance with a short career with the Chicago Cubs in 1922. After only twelve innings, it was back to the minor leagues.


In the meantime, he married Miss Beryl Tompkins (1905-1985) on December 1, 1923 in Brewton, Alabama and soon became the father to two young sons. But in 1928, the down and out Boston Red Sox signed him up for an outstanding 19-15 record and a shot at the MVP award. The following season, he was on his way to another great season when his excessive drinking turned on him. He got into a fight in the hotel elevator and injured his pitching arm. The next season was mediocre, but by 1931 he had posted a whopping 42 victories in his last three seasons. With the Yankees sniffing around for a possible trade, Big Ed now had the world by the tail. The 6'2", 185 pound country boy's future was now set.


With the promise of bigger money ahead, he and Beryl built a home on the corner of US 31 and Titi Street in Flomaton. He even took the time to become a private in the Alabama US Marine Reserves. But as he prepared to leave for the team's Spring training camp at Savannah, Georgia, six of his buddies decided to throw him a going away party on March 1, 1932. They chose to catch some fish and fry them up down on the banks of the Little Escambia Creek. Add to the menu some boiled peanuts and several bottles of moonshine and they had all the ingredients for a great party. Joe White, a service station owner along with Ed Nolan and three other men took care of everything. However, with the alcohol flowing freely things got out of hand. As they sat around the campfire, Ed walked over and urinated in the boiling peanuts. Nolan tried to intervene and pushed Ed away from the fire. But White stepped in between them and broke up the altercation. However, Morris' temper was seething and it was directed towards White. Finally, he jumped over the fire and knocked White to the ground. Crawling on top of him, he began beating him with his fists. In self defense, White pulled a knife and stabbed Big Ed twice in the chest. Ed fell back clutching his wound, then rose and waded across the creek and drove himself to Century hospital.


The wound was survivable until infection set in, killing him two days later on March 3, 1932. Walter Edward Morris was buried in Hall's Creek Cemetery in Escambia County, Alabama. White received three years in prison, but was released on appeal and the case was finally dismissed years later. His mother would finally join him in death eight years later in 1940. His wife Beryl would remarry to J. E. Rose and would pass away in 1985 and was buried in the Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile County, Alabama.


"Big Ed" Morris, Boston Red Sox, 1928-1932




Walter Edward Morris (1899-1932)


Right Handed Pitcher for the Sox



Newspaper article on the Ed Morris stabbing


Buried next to his mother in Hall's Creek Cemetery, Escambia County, Alabama


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