Morris can't hold back tears at Hall of Fame press conference

There is crying after baseball.

Jack Morris couldn't hide his emotions as he and former Detroit Tigers teammate Alan Trammell addressed the media Monday morning. The two were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York by the Modern Era Committee on Sunday.

While choking back tears, Morris said that sharing the news with his wife and family after getting the call was the most emotional time of his life. After failing to reach the Hall of Fame through the baseball writers' vote, Sunday's decision surprised him.

The Tigers selected both players in the 1976 draft, and they're also tied together by their experience playing under Sparky Anderson. He took over the reins as Tigers manager in 1979, the same season Morris broke out as a starter with a 17-7 record and 3.28 ERA. Though the pitcher and manager had a tumultuous relationship, Morris credited Anderson as the man who made him a ballplayer.

"I wanted to hug him and kick him in the butt every day," Morris said. "I love the man. I will forever. I wish he were here to celebrate with us."

Anderson died in 2010 at the age of 76.

Morris split his 18 seasons between the Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cleveland Indians, winning three World Series championships. Trammell played all 20 of his seasons with the Tigers, and won a World Series with Morris in 1984.