Joe Morgan

Joe Leonard Morgan was an American professional baseball second baseman. He played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the National League Most Valuable Player in each of those years. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.

About Joe Morgan in brief

Summary Joe MorganJoe Leonard Morgan was an American professional baseball second baseman. He played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the National League Most Valuable Player in each of those years. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990. After retiring as an active player, Morgan became a baseball broadcaster for the Reds, Giants, ABC, and ESPN, as well as a stint in the mid-to-late ’90s on NBC’s post-season telecasts, teamed with Bob Costas and Bob Uecker. Morgan was nicknamed ‘Little Joe’ for his diminutive 5-foot-7-inch stature. He hit 268 home runs to go with his 449 doubles and 96 triples, 96 doubles, and 96 outfield assists. He also won the Gold Glove Award in three consecutive years from 1973 to 1977. His lifetime average was only.271 during his peak years with 271 home runs and 327 bases on balls during that time. He is considered one of the greatest second basemen of all-time. Morgan is the oldest of six children and was born in Bonham, Texas, he lived there until he was five years old.

Morgan played college baseball at Oakland City College before being signed by the Houston Colt. 45s as an amateur free agent in 1962, receiving a USD 3,000 signing bonus and a USD 500 per month salary. As a youth, he played American Legion baseball on a team sponsored by Post 471 in Oakland. He was a standout baseball player at Castlemont High School, but did not receive any offers from major league teams due to his size. Morgan joined leadoff hitter Pete Rose as prolific catalysts at the top of the Reds’ lineup. Morgan added home run power, not always displayed with the Astros in the cavernous Astrodome, outstanding speed and excellent defense. As part of the Big Red Machine, Morgan made eight consecutive All-Star Game appearances to go along with his 1966 and 1970 appearances with Houston. Morgan, along with teammates Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Tony Pérez, and Dave Concepción, led the Reds to consecutive championships in the World Series. He drove in Ken Griffey for the winning run in Game 7 of the 1975 World series.