Christopher Morris

MORRIS, CHRISTOPHER C., one of the most brilliant American cricketers in history, died at his home in Villanova, Pennsylvania on June 17, at the age of 88. He was one of the last of the talented group of Philadelphia cricketers who played first-class cricket. As a group they were long lived to an extraordinary extent, and F. C. Sharpless and H. A. Furness still happily survive. "Christy" Morris's enthusiasm for cricket was deep and long lived: his playing days extended from the nineties to at least 1933 as a regular player, and he turned out for the Haverford Alumni as late as 1951. He was a beautiful bat, up to the best English first-class county form. He first appeared for the United States against Canada in 1900 and also played in the games of 1902, 1905, 1906 and 1912.

He toured England with the Gentlemen of Philadelphia in 1903 and 1908. In 1903 he scored 164 v. Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, the highest score made by an American in first-class cricket. In later life he took to bowling, and took many wickets with his slow flighted deliveries. He was one of the first American players to experiment with the googly. In 1904 he toured with Haverford College in England and scored 147 against Winchester. Christy's club was Merton C.C. for whom he performed many great batting and bowling feats during his long career.

His enthusiasm and devotion to the game never flagged. He was one of the older generation who helped in the modest revival of American cricket after World War II. In October 1966 the American members of the Forty Club held a dinner in Philadelphia to honour him and other members of the old Philadelphia eleven, and cricket enthusiasts from all parts of the United States travelled to Philadelphia to honour him. The new Cricket Library and collection now housed in a special wing of the Library at Haverford College was named in his honour, and is a collection of cricket memorabilia of special and enduring interest. Christy's photograph appeared in Cricket for May 12, 1904, one of the few American cricketers to be thus honoured--J.I.M.