Tom Morgan, Baseball’s ‘Plowboy,’ Dies at Age 56 After Suffering Stroke

Tom Morgan, 56, former major league pitcher and a longtime resident of Palos Verdes, died Tuesday at San Pedro Peninsula Hospital. He had suffered a stroke last Thursday.

Known as the Plowboy because of a shuffling and bent gait that made it appear as if he was pulling a plow, Morgan compiled a 65-47 record during 12 seasons with the New York Yankees, Kansas City A’s, Detroit Tigers and Angels, with whom he spent all of the 1961 and 1962 seasons and part of ‘63, the first three seasons in the club’s history.

Most recently a minor league pitching coach for the Atlanta Braves, Morgan had previously served as a pitching coach with the Angels and San Diego Padres and was frequently credited by Nolan Ryan and Randy Jones for his significant contributions to their success.

Morgan is survived by his wife, Wanda, two children, Holly and Tom, two grandchildren, a sister, Beverly Wilson, and two brothers, Jack and Dick Morgan. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at Green Hills Mortuary, 27501 South Western, Rancho Palos Verdes.