Cincinnati Reds: Joe Morgan’s 3 greatest postseason moments

Reds great Joe Morgan was at his best during the month of October.

For a player who was a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a 10-time All-Star with a couple of MVPs on his resumé, playoff success did not come easy for Cincinnati Reds legend Joe Morgan. As a matter of fact, Morgan struggled in the postseason for the majority of his career.

Playing in 50 postseason games for the Reds, Astros and Phillies during his career, Morgan slashed only .182/.323/.348. That’s not the Little Joe that Reds Country remembers. Believe it or not, he played in two NLCS series with the Reds where he failed to get a hit in 18 combined at-bats. However, in true Joe Morgan fashion, he managed a .333 on-base percentage in those series.

Nevertheless, even if Morgan wasn’t hitting to his normal standards, he still found ways to alter the game. In 37 playoff games for the Cincinnati Reds, Morgan swiped 14 bases in 16 attempts and drew 27 bases on balls. As a result, he provided plenty of opportunities for Johnny Bench, Tony Perez and George Foster to drive in runs.

When you play on one of the greatest teams ever assembled, even a player as sensational as Joe Morgan can be overlooked at times. Just ask the New York Yankees. During the 1976 Fall Classic sweep of the Bronx Bombers, Morgan put on a clinic, but the series MVP trophy went to Bench who was equally spectacular.

Despite the occasional struggles in October, Morgan delivered huge playoff highlights and it can be argued maybe the biggest hit in Cincinnati Reds history. Here are three instances in which Joe Morgan’s greatness extended into the postseason.