Pete Lister

Morris Elmer Lister

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut September 14, 1907
• Final Game October 6, 1907
• Born July 21, 1881 in Savanna, IL USA
• Died March 7, 1947 in St. Petersburg, FL USA

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Biographical Information

Pete Lister was born on the same day as Hall of Famer Johnny Evers; Evers died the day after Lister. No major leaguers have shared the same birth date and death date, and none are known to be as close to that as Lister and Evers.

His real name was Morris Elmer Lister, but he was called Pete. Born in Savanna, IL (on the Mississippi River), he played in 1902 for the Iowa-based Le Mars Blackbirds and then in 1903-1905 for the Rock Island Islanders. A teammate in 1904 and 1905 was Walter Carlisle. In 1906 he left the Midwest to play for the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League, and followed that up with a year in the Southern Association.

Pete came to the majors at the end of the 1907 season, appearing in 22 games for the Cleveland Naps, managed by Nap Lajoie. Pete played solely first base, a position for whom the regular from 1905 to 1911 was George Stovall. However, in 1907 Pete hit better than George did.

From 1908to 1916 Pete was back in the minors, playing in several leagues, with repeat stints in the Southern Association and in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. His most notable season with the bat was in 1909 with the Williamsport Millionaires, for whom he hit .350 with 19 triples. He was the best hitter on a team composed primarily of former and future major leaguers.