By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
It was 30 years ago Monday, at 3:29 p.m., that Warren Morris went from being a very good baseball player to a legendary one.
The Alexandria native and Bolton High alumnus lined a game-winning, bottom-of-the-ninth two-run home run for LSU to defeat Miami 9-8 for the College World Series championship.
It was his final swing of the bat as a Tiger. A few weeks later, Morris helped Team USA, coached by his LSU coach Skip Bertman, to a bronze medal in the Atlanta Olympic Games, then began a pro baseball career.
It was a meteoric rise for a former walk-on, who soaked in the knowledge of Bertman and his coaching staff and blossomed as a sophomore second baseman at LSU, earning All-America honors.
Bertman’s profound impact is reflected in a book written by former Alexandria Town Talk sportswriter Glenn Guilbeau. He collaborated with Bertman on “Everything Matters in Baseball: The Skip Bertman Story.”
Morris wrote the forward for the book. Saturday, from 12-2 p.m., he will join Guilbeau for a book signing event at Spirits in Alexandria (1200 Texas Ave.).
Books will go for $30. Copies pre-signed by Bertman are $60. Morris and Guilbeau will add their inscriptions and greet patrons during the casual event, open to the public.
Morris is heading into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in a little over two weeks, culminating the June 25-27 induction celebration in Natchitoches. A Friday, June 26 BOM Bowling Bash is set for Four Seasons Bowling Center in Alexandria. For information on all seven events during the festivities, visit LaSportsHall.com or call 318-238-4255.