September 18

TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

September 19, 1943 Hall of Fame 2B Joe Morgan Is Born in Bonham, Texas, and raised in Oakland, California, Morgan was nicknamed "Little Joe" for his diminutive 5'7" stature. He was a standout at Castlemont High School before being signed by the Houston Colt .45s as an amateur free agent in 1962.

One of the greatest second basemen in MLB history, Bill James considers him one of the smartest.

He was a solid player for the Colt’s but he came into his own after being traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He was a key member of the "Big Red Machine" Cincinnati Reds teams of the 1970s that won 2 World Series titles (1975-76).

Morgan won 2 NL MVP Awards (1975-76), was a 10X All-Star, and won 5 Gold Glove Awards. His uniform #8 is retired by the Reds. In his 22-year career (1963-1984), Morgan had 2517 hits, 268 HR, 689 SB (11th all-time), 1133 RBI, 1650 runs, 1865 BB (5th all-time), .271 BA, .392 OBP, .427 Slg., & .819 OPS.

Joe was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990 (81.8% on the 1st ballot)

 He also knew how to celebrate:

September 19 , 1971 -- Joe Morgan bashes an 11th-inning homer on his 28th birthday to torpedo the Reds, 5-4. It's his last long ball before the Reds acquire him in a trade. Cesar Cedeno goes 4-for-4. Despite the win, Houston is eliminated from the division race.

 September 19, 1983 -- Joe Morgan part of the  Philadelphia Phillies so called “Wheeze Kids,”  celebrates his 40th birthday by going 4 for 5 with two home runs in a 7 - 6 win over the Cubs. He will go 4 for 5 again tomorrow in an 8 - 5 win over the Cubs. He's the second player to celebrate his 40th birthday with a dinger: Bob Thurman was the first, in 1957.

Listen to the game of the day Game 7 1975 World Series a crowning moment for Joe!

Historic Days!

September 19, 1931, Lefty Grove of the Philadelphia A’s wins his 30th game of the season. The future Hall of Famer shuts down the Chicago White Sox, 2-1. Grove will finish the season with a league-leading 31 victories.

he becomes the first player since Jim Bagdy to win 30 who accomplished the feat in 1920 for the World Champion Cleveland Indians. Only two more pitchers this century will win as many games, with Dizzy Dean winning 30 for the Cardinals in 1934 and Denny McLain earning 31 victories thirty-four years later for the Tigers.

September 19, 1955 -- Ernie Banks, in a 6-5 Cubs' extra-inning loss to the Cardinals, hits his fifth grand slam of the season to establish a new major league mark, previously shared with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, among the others who also connected four times with bases full. The Chicago infielder hits his historic four-run homer off 19 year-old flamethrower Lindy McDaniel, making his first major league first start after receiving a $50,000 bonus.

September 19, 1956 -- For the third time in his career, Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe hits two home runs in one game, in a 17 - 2 laugher.

It is Newk's 25th win and 8th straight over St. Louis and puts the Dodgers a half game in front of the Braves. Musial and Dark homer for the Cards only scores. Don Demeter hits his first ML homer‚ Sandy Amoros adds an inside-the-park round tripper‚ and 18-year-old Brooklyn native Bob Aspromonte strikes out in his only appearance in the 1905s. But it will him to be the last active Brooklyn Dodger when he finishes his career in 1971.

September 19, 1973, Dave Johnson of the Atlanta Braves sets a single-season record for most home runs by a second baseman. Playing in a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Johnson hits his 43rd of the year, (42nd as a second baseman) tying the record held by Rogers Hornsby…RIP

September 19, 1978 -- During a 12 - 11 win over the Cubs, the Pirates' 38-year-old, lead-footed Willie Stargell attempts to steal second base. The Cubs SS waits with the ball as Stargell slides 10 feet short of the base, signaling "time-out." The Pirates lead 11 - 2 in the 7th, but the Cubs rally and tie it in the 9th. Dave Parker homers in the 11th off Bruce Sutter to give the Bucs their 7th straight win and 30th in their last 38 since August 12th. Besides his two homers, Parker adds two run-scoring singles. Listen to the game!

September 19, 2001 -- Going wire-to-wire in first place, the Mariners become the first team to clinch a playoff berth this season by downing the Angels, 5 - 0, for their 106th win of the year.

Quote of the day:

"He did it all, and he did it all the time." - Johnny Bench about Joe Morgan, referring to Joe's reputation for coming through when it mattered

TRIVIA

He managed a New York team to a World Series Championship.

He was teammates with both Hank Aaron & Sadaharu Oh.

He played in four World Series, winning two.

He was four times an All-Star at second base:  Thrice in the American League and once in the National.

He won the American League Gold Glove for his play at second base three year running.

He managed five major league teams over seventeen years, all five to winning records, twice being honored as the Manager of the Year.

Answer in tomorrow’s newsletter

 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

ROGER CLEMENS 

He had 20 Ks 29-Apr-1986 & 18-Sep-1996.  In college pitched the University of Texas to a national NCAA D1 title in 1983.

-  #1 Clemens has CYA X 7 (1986*, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998*, 2001 & 2004).  Besides these, Clemens finished in the top 3 thrice in additional CYA voting.  Randy Johnson won 5 X.

-  #2  Unassisted putout 23-Apr-1991, 6^th inning in Fenway.

*Unanimous vote

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