On September 5th, 1976, Reds’ Hall of Fame 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.

Growing up I loathed the Cincinnati Reds and the Big Red Machine. I was an Oakland A’s fan. The teams could not have been any more different.

The Reds were everything I was rebelling against: crewcuts, Richard Nixon, and 1950s music. The A’s were long-hair, tie dye, and rock-n-roll.

I would never have been able to articulate it then, but instinctively I knew there was a clear philosophical line between fans of “The Swinging A’s” and fans of “The Big Red Machine.” And I was always going to be on the opposite side of that line

Since Joe Morgan was a Cincinnati Red, he was not a player I rooted for. I traded away his baseball cards or just threw them away. Same as I did for Johnny Bench cards and Pete Rose cards.

As a Cincinnati Red, I loathed Joe Morgan. But as an ESPN baseball color commentator teamed with the great John Miller I loved him. He was candid and critical and clearly knew as much about baseball as anyone I had ever heard.

Joe Morgan was born and raised in Oakland. He started his career with Houston where he played from 1963-1971 (9 seasons). He played for the Reds from 1972-1979 (8 seasons). He finished his last 5 seasons with Houston (in 1980), San Francisco (in 1981-1982), Philadelphia (in 1983) and ended his 22-year career back home with the Oakland Athletics in 1984.

Joe Morgan had an incredible eye. He led the National League in Walks and On-Base Percentage four different seasons. For a smaller player, he had a lot of power, kind of like Jose Altuve. He hit 20 or more home runs in four different seasons.

Joe Morgan died in 2020. By modern Sabermetrics measurements he is one of the best second-basemen to ever have played the game. I just wish he would not have played for The Big Red Machine when he did. I would have had a chance to appreciate him more as a player.