Carl Morton – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Carl Morton’s baseball career wrapped up in 1976, closing out an eight-season run that started with rookie stardom and ended with a pretty quiet exit from the game. This Oklahoma native, who went from a struggling outfielder to a National League Rookie of the Year winner, eventually had to face the tough truth—his pitching just wasn’t working by his last year with the Atlanta Braves.

Morton retired after a rough 1976 season, winning only four games. The Braves traded him to the Texas Rangers, along with four other players, for slugger Jeff Burroughs.

He’d once been a 17-game winner for Atlanta, but by then, his skills had faded. He couldn’t even land a spot on the Rangers’ roster.

The Rangers released Morton during spring training in 1977. He made one more attempt to keep his career alive by signing a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Let’s take a look at Morton’s journey, from his promising start with the Montreal Expos in 1969 to his retirement. He moved from college ball to the majors, broke through as a rookie, and enjoyed some solid years with the Braves.

It’s the story of a former Mickey Mantle fan from Tulsa who became one of Montreal’s first big stars, then saw his career slowly wind down during the mid-1970s.

Early Life and Background

Carl Wendle Morton was born on January 18, 1944, in Kansas City, Missouri. His parents, Merle V. and William Clyde Morton, gave him a stable start.

He grew up in West Tulsa, Oklahoma. His dad worked as a schoolteacher, which probably influenced Carl’s approach to learning and discipline.

The family moved to West Tulsa when Carl was still young. That move ended up shaping his baseball career and his strong ties to Oklahoma.

Growing up there, Carl got hooked on baseball early. His childhood hero? Mickey Mantle, easily Oklahoma’s most famous baseball export and a legend with the New York Yankees.

“I saw him play twice,” Morton remembered years later. “Our kid team took a train excursion to Kansas City when the Yankees were playing there.”

Despite idolizing Mantle, Morton never got to meet him before Mantle retired.

High School Years at Webster

Carl Morton attended Daniel Webster High School in Tulsa. That’s where his baseball abilities really took off.

He played alongside future major-leaguer Rich Calmus. Morton mainly played outfield and dreamed of one day joining Mantle in the Yankees’ outfield.

By his senior year, Morton was turning heads. Scouts from several pro teams showed up at his games, hoping to get a look at his talent.

He got some pretty big bonus offers after graduation. Reports say teams offered him between $80,000 and $150,000 to sign, which was a lot for an 18-year-old back in the early ’60s.

College Baseball and the University of Oklahoma

Even with those big offers on the table, Morton made a different choice. At 18, he turned down the money to go to college and play baseball.

He chose the University of Oklahoma and joined the Sooners baseball team. That move let him work on his game and get a degree at the same time.

He played outfield for the Sooners, just like in high school. College gave him time to develop and face better competition.

After his sophomore season, Morton decided it was time to turn pro. In 1964, he signed with the Milwaukee Braves.

The Braves sent him to farm teams in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Yakima, Washington. So began his pro career, but he stuck with the outfield for a few more years before switching to pitching.

Transition to Professional Baseball

Morton’s journey from amateur to pro ball really changed when he switched positions. He turned down those big bonuses to go to college, then signed with the Milwaukee Braves as an outfielder. Eventually, he switched to pitching and landed with the Montreal Expos through the expansion draft.

Signing with the Milwaukee Braves as an Outfielder

By his senior year at Webster, Morton had scouts from all over watching him play outfield. Teams offered him as much as $150,000 to sign.

But Morton went his own way. At 18, he turned down the money and played college ball for the Oklahoma Sooners.

After his sophomore year, he signed with the Milwaukee Braves. They sent him to minor league teams in Florida and Washington for his first season.

He showed some promise in the minors, but there were challenges. In 1966 at Kinston, North Carolina, Morton hit 13 home runs in 317 at-bats. Still, his .227 average made it clear the majors might be a stretch for him as an outfielder.

Conversion to Pitcher in Minor Leagues

Morton’s big turning point came during spring training in 1967. Atlanta GM Paul Richards told the struggling outfielder it was time to try pitching.

Morton realized he couldn’t hit the slider, so he figured, “it was better to throw one than try to hit one.”

The switch paid off right away. Morton posted a 10-9 record with Kinston in 1967 as a pitcher.

He kept it going the next year in Shreveport, Louisiana, finishing 13-5. “The Braves thought I had a better chance to reach the majors as a pitcher,” Morton said later.

The move worked. He adapted quickly to life on the mound.

Selection in the 1968 Expansion Draft

The Braves then made a decision that changed Morton’s future. Even with his minor league pitching success, Atlanta left him unprotected in the expansion draft.

“I think they thought they were set in pitching,” Morton said about the Braves’ choice. Their depth at the position led them to take that risk.

Montreal Expos GM Jim Fanning had worked with Morton in the Braves system and saw his potential. Fanning picked him in the fifth round, 45th overall, in the 1968 expansion draft.

That move gave Morton his shot with the expansion Expos. Montreal needed young talent, and Morton fit the bill for their first season.

Montreal Expos Career

Carl Morton played for the Montreal Expos from 1969 to 1972. He started with a tough debut, got sent to the minors, but then returned and won National League Rookie of the Year in 1970 with an 18-11 record.

After that, his numbers dropped—he went 10-18 and 7-13 before the Expos traded him to Atlanta in 1973.

MLB Debut in 1969

Morton made his big league debut on April 11, 1969. He started the fourth game in Expos history, facing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Game Performance:

• Innings pitched: 9 shutout innings
• Hits allowed: 6 singles
• Strikeouts: 3
• Result: No-decision in 1-0 loss (12 innings)

He kept the Cubs scoreless for nine innings, which is no small feat, especially against hitters like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo.

He got through the first inning with three groundouts and managed to avoid any real trouble.

But things didn’t get easier. Morton went 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his first five starts. The team sent him down to the Vancouver Mounties in May.

At Triple-A Vancouver, Morton went 8-6 in 18 starts, tossing seven complete games and a shutout. He got called back up in September and made three relief appearances to finish his rookie year.

Breakout 1970 Season and NL Rookie of the Year

Morton’s 1970 season was a total turnaround. He was supposed to handle long relief duties, but he earned his first major league victory on April 26 against the Giants.

Season Statistics:

• Record: 18-11
• Complete games: 10
• Shutouts: 4
• Team role: Starting pitcher

Morton said reading Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz before every start helped. “Last year I had negative goals,” he told Montreal writer Ted Blackman. “I doubted that I could succeed in the majors and, naturally, I fulfilled my negative goal.”

He won his first three starts, including a three-hitter against the Dodgers. By July, he looked like he might win 20 games, but August was rough—he went winless in four straight starts.

Morton won NL Rookie of the Year with 11 of 24 votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America. Bernie Carbo of Cincinnati finished second with eight votes.

It was the first major award for an Expos player.

Performance from 1971-1972

After his big rookie year, Morton had two tough seasons. His numbers fell off in 1971 and 1972.

Two-Year Record:

• 1971: 10-18
• 1972: 7-13
• Combined: 17-31

The Expos traded Morton to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Pat Jarvis during spring training in 1973. Those last two years in Montreal showed a pitcher who couldn’t quite get back to his rookie form.

Morton’s struggles frustrated the Expos. Maybe the team lacked a veteran ace to guide him along.

When Morton returned to Montreal as a Brave, he held his old team to three singles over six innings for a win. “I wanted to come back and show these people I’m a big-league pitcher,” Morton said. “I think a lot of people didn’t believe it last year.”

His time in Montreal had its highs and lows. The Rookie of the Year award stood out, but the later seasons made the trade seem inevitable.

Atlanta Braves Tenure

The trade to Atlanta in 1973 really changed things for Morton. He put together three straight winning seasons with the Braves from 1973 to 1975, showing he could be a reliable starter after those tough years in Montreal.

Trade to Atlanta and Immediate Impact

The Expos sent Morton to the Braves for Pat Jarvis during spring training in 1973. That brought him back to his original organization, since the Braves had first signed him before losing him in the expansion draft.

Morton wasted no time making an impression back in Atlanta. Facing his old team, the Expos, he held them to just three singles over six innings and picked up the win.

“I wanted to come back and show these people I’m a big-league pitcher,” he said after beating Montreal. “I think a lot of people didn’t believe it last year.”

The trade worked out for both Morton and the Atlanta Braves. He quickly found his place in the rotation and kicked off three of the best seasons of his career.

Strong Seasons and Career Milestones

Morton put together three straight winning seasons for the Braves from 1973 to 1975. He notched 15 wins in 1973, then 16 in 1974, and finally 17 in 1975, showing off some real consistency on the mound.

He handled a heavy workload too. Morton pitched more than 250 innings in each of those three years, proving he could take on the role of a true workhorse.

Those seasons really marked the high point of Morton’s big league career. During that three-year run with Atlanta, he racked up 48 of his career 87 wins—that’s nearly 55% of all his victories.

Even though the Braves weren’t exactly contenders back then, Morton still put up solid numbers. His ERA stayed competitive, and he offered some much-needed stability to Atlanta’s rotation.

Challenges in 1976 and Declining Performance

In 1976, Morton’s performance with the Braves took a nosedive. He managed just four wins that year, which was a huge drop from his 17 the season before.

He struggled on the mound, pitching fewer innings and losing his effectiveness. The Braves didn’t see a future for him, so they decided to let him go.

Atlanta traded Morton and four other players to the Texas Rangers for outfielder Jeff Burroughs. That move ended Morton’s time with the Braves and pretty much signaled the beginning of the end for his major league career.

That 1976 season felt like a tough ending to what had been a strong run in Atlanta. Morton’s best days were clearly behind him.

Retirement and Later Years

After the 1976 season, Carl Morton’s baseball career basically wrapped up. He only won four games for the Atlanta Braves that year.

He tried to make a comeback in 1977 in the minor leagues. When that didn’t pan out, he shifted gears and started coaching at the University of Tulsa, his alma mater.

Final Major League Games and Minor League Stints

Morton made his last major league appearance on August 21, 1976, facing the St. Louis Cardinals. That tough 4-17 record led to his trade to the Texas Rangers, along with four other players, for Jeff Burroughs.

The Rangers released him during spring training in 1977. Morton bounced from camp to camp that spring, hoping for another shot at playing.

He eventually signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He spent the 1977 season pitching for the Oklahoma City 89ers in the American Association.

After his last minor league game, Morton did something a little unusual at the ballpark. He walked out to the bullpen, dug a hole, and buried his cap. “They tried to bury me,” he said. “This is my way of burying the season.”

Coaching and Attempts at Comebacks

Once his playing days ended, Morton headed back to Oklahoma and started coaching. He joined the University of Tulsa’s baseball staff as an assistant under Gene Shell.

Shell had coached Morton back in high school at Daniel Webster in Tulsa. That reunion must’ve felt pretty full-circle for Morton, returning to the guy who helped shape his early game.

Morton’s move from player to coach gave him a chance to pass on his major league experience. With eight seasons in the majors and a National League Rookie of the Year award in 1970, he had plenty to share with young players.

Life After Baseball

After baseball, Morton settled back in Oklahoma. Over eight major league seasons, he finished with an 87-92 record and a 3.73 ERA.

He threw 13 shutouts and completed 51 games. Morton pulled off some real success, even though he played for teams in Montreal and Atlanta that often struggled.

On April 12, 1983, Morton went for his usual morning jog in Tulsa. He collapsed in his parents’ driveway and died of a heart attack an hour later at Tulsa Osteopathic Hospital. He was only 39.

He left behind his wife Karen, his son Brent David Morton from his first marriage to Sandi, and a stepdaughter, Lori Watts. Morton was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa.

Legacy, Death, and Personal Life

Carl Morton’s life ended far too soon at just 39, when he died of a heart attack while jogging in 1983. His passing meant the loss of the first NL Rookie of the Year winner in Expos history, and it really underscored the impact he’d had on the franchise.

Death from Heart Attack and Legacy

On April 12, 1983, Morton collapsed in his parents’ driveway in Tulsa after a morning jog. He died of a heart attack one hour later at Tulsa Osteopathic Hospital, at age 39.

He left behind his wife Karen, his son Brent David Morton from his first marriage to Sandi, and a stepdaughter, Lori Watts. People in the baseball world mourned a pitcher who had worked through early struggles and found success.

Morton was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa. His parents later joined him there—his father passed away three years later, and his mother in 1994.

After he retired in 1976, Morton went back to Oklahoma and helped coach the University of Tulsa baseball team. He worked alongside Gene Shell, the same coach who’d guided him back in high school.

Recognition and Awards

Morton’s biggest achievement came in 1970, when he won the National League Rookie of the Year award. The Baseball Writers Association of America gave him 11 of 24 votes, beating out Cincinnati Reds outfielder Bernie Carbo.

His rookie season stats stood out:

• 18-11 record with the Montreal Expos
• 10 complete games
• 4 shutouts

He even got two votes for the Cy Young Award that year. Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals took home the honor with 118 votes.

That Rookie of the Year award was a first for the Montreal Expos. Morton became the first Expos player ever to win a major baseball award, securing his place in the team’s history.

Impact as First Deceased Expos Player

Morton stands out in Expos history as their first major award winner and one of the early stars. When he won NL Rookie of the Year in 1970, he gave the young franchise some much-needed legitimacy, even though it was only their second season.

He struggled toward the end of his time with Montreal, but Morton’s influence on the Expos stuck around. That 1970 season really showed people that expansion teams could actually develop quality players and hold their own in the majors.

In 2007, the Tulsa World put Morton at number 52 on their list of greatest baseball players from Oklahoma. His childhood hero, Mickey Mantle, landed at number one, which probably would’ve made Morton smile.

Morton finished his career with an 87-92 record and a 3.73 ERA over eight seasons. For an expansion team pitcher, that’s pretty solid. He threw 13 shutouts and 51 complete games, proving just how durable and effective he could be when he was at his best.