Joe Morgan

Hall of Fame second baseman and key member of the Big Red Machine.

Joe Leonard Morgan (September 19, 1943 – October 11, 2020) was an American professional baseball second baseman who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Colt .45s / 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. Considered one of the greatest second basemen of all time, Morgan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990 in his first year of eligibility.

Quick Facts

Position: Second baseman
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Born: 19 September 1943
Birthplace: Bonham, Texas, U.S.
Died: 11 October 2020
Place of death: Danville, California, U.S.
Debut league: MLB

Lore & Background

Morgan was African American and the oldest of six children. Born in Bonham, Texas, he lived there until he was five years old. His family then moved to Oakland, California. Morgan was nicknamed 'Little Joe' for his diminutive 5 ft stature.

As a youth, he played American Legion baseball on a team sponsored by Post 471 in Oakland. Morgan was a standout baseball player at Castlemont High School, but did not receive any offers from major league teams due to his size. He played college baseball at Oakland City College before being signed by the Houston Colt .45s as an amateur free agent in 1962, receiving a $3,000 signing bonus and a $500 per month salary. Early in his career, Morgan struggled with his swing because he kept his back elbow down too low.

Teammate Nellie Fox suggested to Morgan that while at the plate he should flap his back arm like a chicken to keep his elbow up. Morgan followed the advice, and his flapping arm became his signature.

Reader's Guide

Morgan made his major league baseball debut on September 21, 1963. He played his first nine major league seasons for the Houston Astros, compiling 72 home runs and 219 stolen bases. He was named an All-Star twice during this period, in 1966 and 1970. On June 25, 1966, Morgan was struck on the kneecap by a line drive during batting practice, breaking his kneecap and forcing him out of the lineup for 40 games. The Astros traded Morgan to the Cincinnati Reds on November 29, 1971. As part of the Big Red Machine, Morgan made eight consecutive All-Star Game appearances (1972–79) and won the National League MVP in 1975 and 1976. He returned to Houston in 1980 as a free agent, then played for the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics. Morgan was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990 with more than 81% of the vote.

Did You Know?

He was the first second baseman in National League history to win the MVP back to back.
Morgan won the 1982 Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership with the Giants.
He hit a home run in Game 1 of the 1983 World Series, becoming the second oldest player to hit a World Series home run at age 40.