Bubba Morton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bubba Morton |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: December 13, 1931 Washington, D.C. |
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| Died: January 14, 2006 (aged 74) Seattle, Washington |
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| debut | |||
| April 19, 1961, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 1969, for the California Angels | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .267 | ||
| Home runs | 14 | ||
| Runs batted in | 128 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Wycliffe Nathaniel "Bubba" Morton (December 13, 1931 – January 14, 2006) was an American baseball player. He played as a right fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bubba played for the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Braves, and California Angels. He batted and threw with his right hand. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 175 pounds.
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Who Was Bubba Morton?
Bubba Morton was a talented baseball player. He was known for his strong arm in the outfield. He also became a successful pinch-hitter. A pinch-hitter is a player who bats in place of another player. After his playing career, he became a college baseball coach.
Early Life and College
Bubba Morton was born in Washington, D.C.. He finished high school in 1950. After high school, he joined the United States Coast Guard. Later, he went to Howard University from 1954 to 1957. At college, he played both baseball and football. He earned two varsity letters in each sport. A varsity letter means he was a top player on the team.
Breaking Barriers in Baseball
In 1955, Bubba Morton made history. He was the third black player signed by the Detroit Tigers. This was an important step in baseball. He was also one of the first black players for the Terre Haute Tigers in 1956. And he was one of the first for the Durham Bulls.
In 1957, playing for the Durham Bulls, he had a great season. He hit for a .310 average. He also hit 18 home runs and had 82 runs batted in (RBI). His strong play helped the Bulls win their first Carolina League championship.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Bubba Morton started his MLB career with the Detroit Tigers. He played as a reserve outfielder. This means he didn't play every game. In 1963, the Milwaukee Braves bought his contract. While with the Braves, he was roommates with the famous baseball legend Hank Aaron.
After two years in the minor leagues, the California Angels acquired him. This happened at the end of the 1965 season.
Success with the Angels
Bubba Morton played a lot for the Angels from 1966 to 1969. He was especially good as a pinch-hitter. His best year was 1967. He hit for a .313 average in 80 games. He was also very good in the outfield. He made only one error in 251 chances. This shows he was a very reliable fielder.
Career Highlights and Beyond
In his seven-season MLB career, Bubba Morton had a .267 batting average. He hit 14 home runs and had 128 RBI. His fielding percentage was .989. This is a very good number for an outfielder.
In 1966, he was part of the Seattle Angels team. They won the Pacific Coast League championship. After playing for the California Angels until 1969, he went to Japan. He played one season there for the Toei Flyers in 1970.
Life After Playing Baseball
In 1972, Bubba Morton became a baseball coach. He was hired as the head coach for the University of Washington baseball team. He coached there from 1972 to 1976. He was the first black head coach in any sport at the University of Washington.
After leaving baseball, Bubba Morton worked for Boeing. He also retired as a Coast Guard reservist.
Bubba Morton passed away in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 74.
