OTD July 8
Playing primarily for the Astros and Cincinnati Reds, Morgan would go on to amass 2,517 hits in his MLB career, hitting .271 with 268 HR, 689 stolen bases, with a .819 OPS.
OTD (On This Day) in 1965, Houston Astros rookie Joe Morgan goes 6-for-6, that includes 2 home runs, against the Milwaukee Braves. The future Hall of Famer Morgan began his pro career in 1963 with the Modesto Colts of the Class-A California League and Durham Bulls of the Class-A Carolina League. In his first at-bat with Durham, Morgan hit a game winning pinch-hit 2-run home run . After hitting .332 with 13 HR and 74 runs scored in 95 games with the Bulls, Morgan earned a call up to the Astros in September of 1963, playing in 8 games for Houston.
Morgan credited Durham Bulls manager Billy Goodman with helping him get through the struggles of playing in the minors in the south, where segregation and racism was still prominent in some areas.
Playing primarily for the Astros and Cincinnati Reds, Morgan would go on to amass 2,517 hits in his MLB career, hitting .271 with 268 HR, 689 stolen bases, with a .819 OPS. He won a World Series ring 2x with the the “Big Red Machine” Reds, winning in 1975 and 1976. Among his many career achievements and awards, Joe was a 10x All-Star, 5x Gold Glove winner, and 2x League MVP . In 1990, Morgan was voted into the National Baseball HoF, receiving 82% of the votes.