Jim Morris became a national celebrity in 1999 when, at the age of 35, he made an improbable comeback ten years after he had originally retired from professional baseball and made his major league debut for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He had been drafted with the fourth overall selection by the Milwaukee Brewers in the secondary portion of the 1983 MLB Amateur Draft. MLB debut: Jim made his Major League debut in September 1999, he played for the team of Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Jim Morris debuted on September 18, 1999, playing for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field; he played his final game on May 9, 2000, playing for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Tropicana Field. On this day in 1999, former high school science teacher and baseball coach Jim Morris made his debut for the Tampa Bay Rays. Jim Morris Stats, Fantasy & News News. Jim Morris attracted a fair amount of attention when he made his major league baseball debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999, and even more when the story of his life became a movie starring Dennis Quaid ("The Rookie") in 2002. Jim Morris became a national celebrity in 1999 when, at the age of 35, he made an improbable comeback ten years after he had originally retired from professional baseball and made his major league debut for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. ABILENE, Texas — Go play catch with Jim Morris.. He had to retire because of his recurring arm troubles. While giving a pep talk about the importance of dreams and hard work, the team challenged him about giving up his own goals. Debut: 9/18/1999; Follow mlb; Year W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP; MLB Career Stats: 0: 0: 4.80: 21: 0: 0: 15.0: 13: 1.47: Year W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP; MLB Career Stats: 0: 0: 4.80: 21: 0: 0: 15.0: 13: 1.47: News. He gained wide recognition for his inspiring Major League Baseball (MLB) career. Brian Moran Strikes Out His Brother in MLB Debut (Full AB) | September 5, 2019 | 2019 MLB Season - Duration: 3:44. His Huntsville debut, on his first swing on the first pitch he faced, should have been a double. Article Updated on May 7, 2020 By Margaret Kamau. Jim Morris Bio, Age, Family, Wife, Children, MLB, Pitching and Net Worth. Jim Morris was raised by his mother, Olline Morris, and his father, Jim Morris, Sr., who was a recruiter for the US Navy, thus the family moved to different cities quite often. You can find the latest information at tampabay.com/coronavirus. Jim Morris’ journey is a testimony to the power of dreams and their ability to inspire and transform human life.