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It took a long time, but today is the day for Jack Morris. The St. Paul native and 18-year MLB veteran will be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame this afternoon, and will, as customary, give a speech to the crowd at Cooperstown.
I don’t know about you, but I’m a little worried about this. Not because there is anything wrong with Jack Morris getting in the Hall of Fame — he’s ecstatic, and that (along with Game 7) justifies it enough for me — but I’m worried about the actual speech. Jack Morris is supposed to get up and talk about baseball and his career and the Hall of Fame in front of thousands of people, but Jack Morris also has the emotional stability of an overripe avocado when he talks about baseball and his career and the Hall of Fame.
All I’m trying to say is, the dude cries a lot.
And there’s nothing wrong with crying! Heck, I cry at dog food commercials all the time (do they have to show the dang puppy grow into old dog who the owner has to gently help do normal things!?!?) Morris is actually pretty adorable because he wears his heart on his sleeve. It’s obvious how much baseball and getting into the Hall of Fame means to him, and darn it, even I get a little teary eyed.
Anyway, Jack is absolutely going to lose his crap at some point during his speech today, if he’s not just sobbing through the whole thing like a smaller, paler version of Frank Thomas. Part of me feels like he might hold it together for maybe 30-ish seconds, but even then, he’ll come to one topic or one person and just absolutely fall apart — which, again, is perfectly fine! Cry all you want, Jack! You’re a Hall of Famer!
A lot of Twins sites today are probably going to tell you all over again about how Jack Morris pitched 10 shutout innings in Game 7 of the World Series yadda yadda yadda — but we hear about that like every day. So here at Twinkie Town, I thought we’d do something different, and related to my entire intro above. We’re going to play a game called, “Does Jack Morris Cry?”
Here’s the gist: I have seven videos of Jack Morris below. Before each video, I give a little context to what the video is about. Your job is to read the explanation of the video, and then try to guess if Jack Morris cries or does not cry during the video. Then you can watch the video to see if you were right.
You win the game if you correctly guess when Jack Morris cries or does not cry, or if you start crying yourself at any point during the game.
Let’s go!
1. A carefully edited compilation video of Jack Morris when he finds out he was elected to the Hall of Fame, his press conference, seeing Trammell, etc.
2. Jack Morris talking about when he called his wife to tell her he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
3. Jack Morris getting a private tour of the Hall of Fame after his election.
(Harmon would be proud of that signature, Jack.)
4. Jack Morris talking about how he looked at the people in the crowd near the end of Game 7 and thought about the Vikings and got “a shot of adrenaline I’ve never had”.
5. Jim Kaat and Kurt Ritter giving Jack Morris the 1991 World Series MVP trophy immediately following Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.
6. Jack Morris talking about Harmon Killebrew at the press conference following Harmon’s passing in 2011.
7. Alan Trammell gushing about Jack Morris during a live, joint interview on MLB Network.
Ha! I bet you thought Jack Morris ALWAYS cried, didn’t you? Fool. He doesn’t... always cry.
In case you’re wondering, here is the answer key:
- Maybe?
- Yes.
- Definitely wiping tears, so yes.
- No, but the idea of Jack Morris pushing himself through Game 7 because he doesn’t want to be like the Vikings is absolutely hysterical.
- No (looked like he kinda wanted to).
- Yes. I have never seen him cry harder.
- Those glasses kinda cover it, but I think this one goes down as a yes.
Congratulations, Jack Morris. I am so endlessly proud of you. The state of Minnesota is so endlessly proud of you. We love you so much.
Welcome to the Hall of Fame.