Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt wins his second consecutive National League MVP Award, joining Ernie Banks and Joe Morgan as the only NL players to take the award back-to-back. In the strike-shortened season, Schmidt hit .316 and led the league in home runs (31), RBI (91), runs (78), walks (73), on-base percentage (.435) and slugging percentage (.644).
Joe Morgan signs a free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants
1980 – Denny Walling delivers Rafael Landestoy with a sacrifice fly as Houston wins their first post-season home game, 1-0, over Philadelphia . The Astros lead the best-of-five N.L.C.S., 2-1. Joe Morgan slams a Tug McGraw fastball high off the right field fence in the 11th inning for a triple and comes out for Landestoy. Joe Niekro blanks the Phils for ten innings before Dave Smith enters to get the win.
1980 – Houston tastes their first post-season win. It’s a 7-4 ten-inning victory in Philadelphia to even the N.L.C.S. at 1-1. Frank LaCorte pitches out of a jam to send the game into extras at 3-3. Jose Cruz and Cesar Cedeno drive in runs in the tenth before Dave Bergman lashes a two-run triple to put the game out of reach
1980 – Astros get more steals than hits in a 6-4 loss to the Dodgers. Joe Morgan has three of the seven swipes while Houston manages just six hits. Utilityman Derrel Thomas is the Dodger catcher, explaining the larceny in Astro hearts.
1980 – The Houston Astros sign free agent second baseman Joe Morgan. Houston was the first major league team the two-time National League MVP played with before he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds and became a force in the Big Red Machine.
1979 – Nolan Ryan and Joe Morgan are the top names available in the free agent reentry draft held at the New York Plaza Hotel.
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.
Joe Morgan of the Cincinnati Reds hits his 200th career home run
On April 23, 1978, Joe Morgan of the Cincinnati Reds makes an error at second base, bringing his major league record of 91 consecutive errorless games to an end. Morgan had begun the streak on July 6, 1977.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!