Say what you want about emmy winning commentator Joe Morgan.
The man was a genius on the baseball diamond:
In the New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, Bill James named Morgan the best second baseman in baseball history, ahead of #2 Eddie Collins and #3 Rogers Hornsby. He also named Morgan as the "greatest percentages player in baseball history," due to his strong fielding percentage, stolen base percentage, walk-to-strikeout ratio, and walks per plate appearance.
In 1999, Morgan ranked Number 60 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.
Career highlights and awards
10-Time N.L. All-Star
1972 ML All-Star Game MVP
1975 and 1976 ML-Major League Player of the Year
1975 and 1976 National League MVP
1975 and 1976 World Series titles
Cincinnati Reds #8 retired
Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
Elected 1990
Vote 81.8% (first ballot).
The Houston Astros traded Morgan to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1972 offseason. The Astros got power-hitting Lee May in return, the deal is now considered one of the most one-sided trades in baseball history.
To this day it is considered an epoch-making deal for Cincinnati and one of the worst trades in Astros' history. Included in the deal to the Reds were César Gerónimo (who became their regular center fielder) and Jack Billingham, who soon joined the Reds pitching rotation as a leading starter.
The deal facilitated a shift in Reds team philosophy towards speed over power, with Morgan and outfielder Pete Rose now two key figures batting back-to-back. Morgan added unusual home run power (at that time) for a second baseman to outstanding speed on the basepaths and excellent defense.
After joining The Big Red Machine, Morgan's career reached a new level. This includes eight consecutive All-Star Game appearances (1972-1979) 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 the winning run in Game 7 of the 1975 World Series, now ranked as one of the greatest World Series of all time.
Morgan was also the National League MVP in 1975 and 1976.
Morgan was an extremely capable batter -- especially in clutch situations. While his lifetime average was only .271, he hit between .288 and .327 during his peak years with the Reds. Additionally, he drew many walks, resulting in an excellent .392 on base percentage.
He also hit 268 home runs to go with 449 doubles and 96 triples, excellent power for a middle infielder of his era, and was considered by some the finest base stealer of his generation (689 steals at greater than 80% success rate).
Joe Mogan circa 1976.
Besides his prowess at the plate and on the bases, Morgan was an exceptional infielder, and captured the Gold Glove Award from 1972 to 1976.
Wherever Morgan played his teams immediately improved, that was no accident. What a great player, I say so what if he missed the David Wright leaving early call last night, when you are considered by many to be the best second baseman to ever play the game you should get cut a little slack.
wil.