Bubba Morton---1967
It is hard to imagine that being called
“Bubba” is an improvement to one’s
name; but when your real name is
Wycliffe, Bubba doesn’t sound all
that bad.
Bubba Morton played seven years in
the majors as an above average
fielder with a bat that lacked power.
He was the first black player signed
by the Detroit Tigers, though not the
first to play for Detroit as it took him
nine years in the minors before he
reached Motown. Once there, the
slugging Rocky Colavito and future
Hall of Famer Al Kaline stood in his
way at the corner outfield positions.
His best seasons came at the close
of his career in the late 1960s.
During the three year period of 1967-
69, Morton appeared in roughly 80
games per season for the California
Angels. He served as a right-handed
pinch-hitter, who would spell left-
handed swingers Jimmie Hall, Roger
Repoz and Bill Voss in right field for
the Bill Rigney lead Halos. With a
strong arm, Morton was a presence
in the deep grass as he committed
just one error over the three-year
period. Morton batted .313 in ’67, .
270 in ’69 and .244 in ’69, before
calling it quits at age 37.
The back of his card notes that he
was an avid reader of historical
fiction and a radio operator in the
Coast Guard. He would later become
the first black coach at the University
of Washington, guiding the Huskies
baseball program for four seasons
beginning in 1972.
What strikes us as the funny thing
about this card though, is that he
looks like both a Bubba and a
Wycliffe... which isn’t easy to do.
(7/25/08)
“Bubba” is an improvement to one’s
name; but when your real name is
Wycliffe, Bubba doesn’t sound all
that bad.
Bubba Morton played seven years in
the majors as an above average
fielder with a bat that lacked power.
He was the first black player signed
by the Detroit Tigers, though not the
first to play for Detroit as it took him
nine years in the minors before he
reached Motown. Once there, the
slugging Rocky Colavito and future
Hall of Famer Al Kaline stood in his
way at the corner outfield positions.
His best seasons came at the close
of his career in the late 1960s.
During the three year period of 1967-
69, Morton appeared in roughly 80
games per season for the California
Angels. He served as a right-handed
pinch-hitter, who would spell left-
handed swingers Jimmie Hall, Roger
Repoz and Bill Voss in right field for
the Bill Rigney lead Halos. With a
strong arm, Morton was a presence
in the deep grass as he committed
just one error over the three-year
period. Morton batted .313 in ’67, .
270 in ’69 and .244 in ’69, before
calling it quits at age 37.
The back of his card notes that he
was an avid reader of historical
fiction and a radio operator in the
Coast Guard. He would later become
the first black coach at the University
of Washington, guiding the Huskies
baseball program for four seasons
beginning in 1972.
What strikes us as the funny thing
about this card though, is that he
looks like both a Bubba and a
Wycliffe... which isn’t easy to do.
(7/25/08)
