Joe Leonard Morgan – Podcast

Podcast

Hardball with Chris Dimino is a podcast almost 20 years in the making. Conversations. Not “interviews”… I promise not interviews. Conversations that I have had with some of the greatest players and others who have been a part of some of the biggest moments in baseball history. Ted Williams. Hank Aaron. Stan Musial. Whitey ford. Duke snider. Vin Scully

Joe Morgan has seen a lot in his lifetime. From the integration on baseball to being a part of broadcast history.
And in between he built a sure shot Hall of Fame career..and more importantly to him..the career of a winner.
We talk about that and more..including how the game has REALLY changed.

Notable Events and Chronology for Joe Morgan Career

Joe Morgan Houston Astros Signed Autographed 3x5 Photo Card W/coa

Joe Morgan is born September 19 1943

Durham Bulls 2B Joe Morgan (L) at Durham Athletic Park, 1963. Not sure who the other guy is.

Houston Colt .45s sign 19-year-old infielder Joe Morgan as a free agent

1965 – Joe Morgan singles home Bob Aspromonte in the 11th inning for a 5-4 triumph over Pittsburgh. It’s the first day game at the Astrodome after the ceiling tiles had been painted to reduce the glare. Pirate outfielder Bill Virdon couldn’t use it as an excuse when Jim Wynn scores on his three-base error. Umpire Vinnie Smith couldn’t use it as an excuse when he overturns his own home-run call on Walt Bond’s drive off the fence.

Joe Morgan Houston Astros Signed Autographed 3x5 Photo Card W/coa

Joe Morgan is the first Houston player with six hits in a game

Autographed Rusty Staub Photo - Houston Astros 8x10 W coa

Rusty Staub plates Joe Morgan for a Astro walk off win – Full Radio Broadcast

 Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Jim Lefebvre is voted National League Rookie of the Year.

 Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Jim Lefebvre is voted National League Rookie of the Year.

Dave Giusti surrenders eight hits but walks away with a 2-0 shutout against the Giants.

1966 – Joe Morgan homers and drives in three to pace the Astros past the Cubs, 10-2. Dave Giusti is the complete-game winner, assisted by three Chicago errors that provide five unearned runs. Sonny Jackson adds three hits and a stolen base.

1966 – “13” is not an unlucky number when the Astros trip the Cubs, 4-3, in 13 innings. Jim Wynn singles home Joe Morgan for Houston’s 13th win of the season. Dick Farrell and Bill Faul, who both wear 13 on their backs, are the starters but it’s Frank Carpinwho gets the victory.

Joe Morgan Houston Astros Signed Autographed 3x5 Photo Card W/coa

A batting-practice line-drive by Lee Maye strikes Joe Morgan, breaking his kneecap and forcing him to miss 40 games

Joe Morgan becomes the first Astro named to start in an All-Star Game

Joe Morgan becomes the first Astro named to start in an All-Star Game

Joe Morgan goes 4-for-4, including a home run and four runs scored, to pace the Astros past St. Louis, 11-6, at the Astrodome. Dooley Womack, the last of six Houston pitchers, gets the victory. Houston wins off the field too, choosing pitcher James Rodney Richard of Ruston, LA with the second overall pick in the draft, behind Jeff Burroughs. Richard has a 21-0 mark in his three years at Ruston High School.

Back for the first time in over a month after an on-field collision with teammate Hector Torres put him in a hospital, Jesus Alou starts a four-run ninth-inning rally that topples the Reds, 7-4. Alou scores the tying run on a double by Sandy Valdespino then Joe Morgan plates Johnny Edwards with a squeeze bunt for the game-winner.

1971 – Joe Morgan raps four hits, steals two bases, scores three times and drives in two to lead the Astros over the Phillies, 8-1, in their first game at Veterans Stadium. Don Wilson strikes the key blow off Jim Bunning, a bunt that found a hole in the artificial turf between third and the pitcher and rolled until two runs were in.

"If they ever want to rate the 10 greatest catches of all time," One of the top 10 catches of all time - Roberto Clemente's fantastic catch of Bob Watson's line drive in Houston's Astrodome 

“If they ever want to rate the 10 greatest catches of all time,” One of the top 10 catches of all time – Roberto Clemente’s fantastic catch of Bob Watson’s line drive in Houston’s Astrodome 

Joe Morgan bashes an 11th-inning homer on his 28th birthday to torpedo the Reds, 5-4.

Joe Morgan bashes an 11th-inning homer on his 28th birthday to torpedo the Reds, 5-4.

Multiple Hall of Famers traded November 29, 1971

1972 – After the infamous eight-player trade that sent Joe Morgan to Cincinnati, Houston wins the first head-to-head matchup with the Reds, 8-4. Tommy Helms, part of the deal, homers off Don Gullett to spark the attack. 

Cesar Cedeno and Billy Williams congratulate Hank Aaron after a homer in the 1972 All-Star Game in Atlanta.

The National League wins the All-Star Game, 4 – 3, at Atlanta behind hometown hero Hank Aaron’s two-run home run and Joe Morgan’s 10th-inning RBI single. It is the 7th time the classic has gone into extra innings.

In Game 5 of the World Series, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds hits a home run on the first pitch of the game off Catfish Hunter as Cincinnati beats the Oakland Athletics, 5 - 4.

In Game 5 of the World Series, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds hits a home run on the first pitch of the game off Catfish Hunter as Cincinnati beats the Oakland Athletics, 5 – 4.

Johnny Bench 1972 NL MVP

Johnny Bench wins his second NL MVP in the last three years

Major League Season Recap 1972

Dodgers win in extra innings 8-7 over the Reds

Dodgers win in extra innings 8-7 over the Reds

After waiting three hours to begin the game due to rain, the Reds beat San Francisco at Riverfront Stadium, 6-3

After waiting three hours to begin the game due to rain, the Reds beat San Francisco at Riverfront Stadium, 6-3

New York Mets defeat the Cincinnati Reds, 9-2, in the third game of the playoffs

New York Mets defeat the Cincinnati Reds, 9-2, in the third game of the playoffs

Pitcher Bob Gibson wins the last of his nine Gold Gloves, and Joe Morgan wins the first of his five at second base.

Pitcher Bob Gibson wins the last of his nine Gold Gloves, and Joe Morgan wins the first of his five at second base.

Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits three batters during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds

Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits three batters during the first inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds

Down 2 - 1 in the 9th inning, Cincinnati rallies to beat the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the World Series, 3 - 2.

Down 2 – 1 in the 9th inning, Cincinnati rallies to beat the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the World Series, 3 – 2.

Boston Red Sox Luis Tiant throws 163 pitches in winning his second game of the World Series against Cincinnati, 5 - 4, to even the Series after four games.

Boston Red Sox Luis Tiant throws 163 pitches in winning his second game of the World Series against Cincinnati, 5 – 4, to even the Series after four games.

Joe Morgan drives in winning run to finish the 1975 World Series

Joe Morgan drives in winning run to finish the 1975 World Series

Joe Morgan wins the National League’s MVP Award

Joe Morgan wins the National League’s MVP Award

Major League Season Recap 1975

Major League Season Recap 1975

Reds’ infielder Joe Morgan becomes the first second baseman in 26 years to drive in 100 runs when his third-inning single off Dick Ruthven plates Pete Rose and Ken Griffey in the team’s 6-4 victory in Atlanta. The last second sacker to reach the plateau was Bobby Doerr, who accomplished the feat in 1950 with the Red Sox.

Game action batting of Cincinnati Reds Dan Driessen, 1978

In Game 1 of the World Series Dan Driessen becomes the first National League player to be used as a designated hitter in the Reds 5-1 win

Joe Morgan outpoints Cincinnati Reds teammate George Foster to win his second straight National League MVP Award. Morgan hit .320 with 27 home runs, 111 RBI, 113 runs, 60 stolen bases, and led the NL in slugging percentage (.576) and OPS (1.020). Foster finished with 29 home runs and led the league in RBI (121).

Joe Morgan outpoints Cincinnati Reds teammate George Foster to win his second straight National League MVP Award. Morgan hit .320 with 27 home runs, 111 RBI, 113 runs, 60 stolen bases, and led the NL in slugging percentage (.576) and OPS (1.020). Foster finished with 29 home runs and led the league in RBI (121).

Major League Season Recap 1976

high-priced free agent Andy Messersmith separates his shoulder in an exhibition game for the New York Yankees

high-priced free agent Andy Messersmith separates his shoulder in an exhibition game for the New York Yankees

On opening day the Astros pull off the first triple play begun with a strikeout

On opening day the Astros pull off the first triple play begun with a strikeout

Joe Morgan Fielding

Joe Morgan error first in 91 games

Joe Morgan first to reach 500 stole bases and 200 homeruns

Joe Morgan first to reach 500 stole bases and 200 homeruns

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn slaps Padres owner Ray Kroc with a $100,000 fine for tampering, following remarks Kroc made about potential free agents Joe Morgan and Graig Nettles.

1Nolan Ryan and Joe Morgan are the top names available in the free agent reentry draft held at the New York Plaza Hotel.

1Nolan Ryan and Joe Morgan are the top names available in the free agent reentry draft held at the New York Plaza Hotel.

The Houston Astros sign free agent second baseman Joe Morgan

The Houston Astros sign free agent second baseman Joe Morgan

Astros get more steals than hits in a 6-4 loss to the Dodgers

1980 NLCS Nolan Ryan scores in game 2

Houston tastes their first post-season win, a 7-4 ten-inning victory in Philadelphia

Danny walling and rafael scores winning run

Denny Walling delivers Rafael Landestoy with a sacrifice fly as Houston wins their first post-season home game, 1-0, over Philadelphia

Joe Morgan signs a free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants

Joe Morgan signs a free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt wins his second consecutive National League MVP Award

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt wins his second consecutive National League MVP Award

Veteran free agent infielders Joe Morgan and Mark Belanger sign one-year contracts with the Giants and Dodgers, respectively.

The Giants eliminate the Dodgers

The Giants eliminate the Dodgers

The San Francisco Giants trade second baseman Joe Morgan and pitcher Al Holland to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitchers Mike Krukow and Mark Davis and Charles Penigar.

The San Francisco Giants trade second baseman Joe Morgan and pitcher Al Holland to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitchers Mike Krukow and Mark Davis and Charles Penigar.

1983 – Behind Marty Bystrom’s 5-hit win the Phils sweep the Expos, 9 – 5. Mike Schmidt, Joe Morgan and Len Matuszek (his first in the majors) hit homers to back Steve Carlton’s 298th career win.

joe morgan philadelphia

Phillies 2B Joe Morgan celebrates his 40th birthday by going 4 for 5 with two home runs in a 7 – 6 win over the Cubs

Forty-year-old Joe Morgan signs a one-year contract with the Oakland A's - his 5th club since 1979.

Forty-year-old Joe Morgan signs a one-year contract with the Oakland A’s – his 5th club since 1979.

Joe Morgan breaks Rogers Hornsby’s record by hitting his 265th home run as a second baseman

Joe Morgan breaks Rogers Hornsby’s record by hitting his 265th home run as a second baseman

Jim Rice caps a 5 for 6 day with a grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Boston a walkoff 13 - 9 win over Oakland.

Jim Rice caps a 5 for 6 day with a grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Boston a walkoff 13 – 9 win over Oakland.

Red Sox veteran Jim Rice is suspended for three games by the club for shoving manager Joe Morgan

Red Sox veteran Jim Rice is suspended for three games by the club for shoving manager Joe Morgan

Joe Morgan and Jim Palmer elected into Hall of Fame

Joe Morgan and Jim Palmer elected into Hall of Fame

Mike Scott

The Astros Silver Anniversary Team (1965-1989) is announced at a Houston banquet

Chicago Cubs Ryne Sandberg’s errorless game streak at second base comes to an end after 123 games and 584 chances

Ryne Sanberg breaks Joe morgan homerun record

Ryne Sanberg breaks Joe morgan homerun record

Brandon Phillips hits his 28th home run of the yeargiving him the record for a Cincinnati Reds second baseman, surpassing Joe Morgan’s 27 in 1976

Jon Miller is the 2010 Ford Frick Award winner

Jon Miller is the 2010 Ford Frick Award winner

ESPN announces Jon Miller and Joe Morgan will no longer do Sunday Night Baseball, ending the pair’s 21-year tenure behind the mike

Bryce Harper scores four times and records an RBI without ever swinging his bat in Washington’s 15-1 rout of the Braves

Joe Morgan Stats & Facts

Joe Morgan Stats & Facts

Joe Morgan Stats & Facts