gold star for USAHOF

4. Joe Morgan

4. Joe Morgan
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: November 19, 1930 in Walpole, MA USA
  • Weight: 170 lbs.
  • Height: 5'10"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: April 14, 1959
  • Final Game: October 03, 1964
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
37430724200 0.193
 
Joe Morgan was already a good baseball commodity when he was a Houston Astro, but when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds he blossomed as one of the best infielders in the game. 

After what would be a lopsided trade, Cincinnati truly became “The Big Red Machine”.  Morgan was an All-Star in all eight of his seasons in Cincinnati and would win the National League MVP Award twice and finish in the top ten in voting three other times.  Morgan would also lead the NL in On Base Percentage four times, strung together five straight 50 Stolen Base seasons, and most incredibly had four seasons in five years where he led the league in WAR for Position Players.  Incidentally, that other year in that five-year span saw Morgan finish second in that stat!

Through no coincidence, the Reds would win the World Series in both of Morgan’s MVP years. 

Considering the length of time he spent there and the longevity of the Reds organization, this high ranking is a testament to just how incredible Joe Morgan was in the 1970s.  The Baseball Hall of Fame called his name in 1990, and the Reds retired his number 8, eight years later.  He was also inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1987.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Second Base
  • Acquired: Traded from the Houston Astros with Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Cesar Geromino and Denis Menke for Tommy Helms, Lee May and Jimmy Stewart 11/29/71.
  • Departed: Signed as a Free Agent by the Houston Astros 1/31/80.
  • Games Played: 1154
  • Notable Statistics: 816 Runs Scored
    1,155 Hits
    220 Doubles
    27 Triples
    152 Home Runs
    612 Runs Batted In
    406 Stolen Bases
    .288/.415/.470 Slash Line
    57.9 bWAR

    37 Playoff Games
    21 Runs Scored
    25 Hits
    8 Doubles
    1 Triple
    3 Home Runs
    11 Runs Batted In
    14 Stolen Bases
    .187/.325/.328 Slash Line
  • Major Accolades and Awards: World Series Champion (1975 & 1976)
    MVP (1975 & 1976)
    All-Star (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 & 1979)
    Gold Glove (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 & 1977)
    Highest WAR for Position Players (1972, 1973, 1975 & 1976)
    Highest On Base Percentage (1972, 1974, 1975 & 1976)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (1976)
    Highest OPS (1975 & 1976)
    Most Runs Scored (1972)
    Most Walks (1972 & 1975)
    Highest OPS+ (1975 & 1976)
    Most Sacrifice Flies (1976)
    Highest Stolen Base Percentage (1975)
    Highest Power-Speed # (1976 & 1977)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1973, 1975 & 1976)
    Highest Championship Win Probability Added (1976)
    Most Putouts by a Second Basemen (1972, 1973 & 1977)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Second Baseman (1973)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Second Baseman (1975 & 1977)

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