The 1975 World Series is arguably the greatest ever.

The Red Sox, featuring Yaz, Fisk, Evans, Lynn (ROY/MVP), Tiant, Petrocelli, and more swept the 3X defending champion A's in the ALCS.

The Big Red Machine was formed in 1972, when Morgan joined Rose, Bench, Perez, Concepcion, and Geronimo. By 1975, Foster and Griffey Sr had also grown into stars. After several near misses, they won a franchise-best 108 games and swept their way into the WS.

5 games in the WS were decided by one run. In the top of the 9th in G7, Morgan scored Griffey Sr to win a long-overdue title.

Morgan is the greatest 2B of the modern era. In 1975, he led baseball with 132 BB, .466 OBP, .974 OPS, 166 OPS+, and 11.0 bWAR. He went 67/77 stealing bases. He won MVP and GG.

He was OK with the bat in the WS, but came through when it mattered most.

RIP, Joe Morgan.

5 comments

  1. He was so clutch and one of the best all around ball players I will ever see. Will McEnaney closes out the game in the 9th and that popup to center, Geronimo jumping for joy after catching it, is still such a vivid memory for me. Still easily in the top 5 greatest World Series ever

  2. Morgan has the top 4 WAR seasons in Reds history for position players. His 11.0 mentioned above for 1975 was his best.

  3. Joe Morgan should be everybody’s favorite player.  5’8″ with power, discipline, speed and a glove?  What more could you ask for?

    That being said, 1991 was the best WS of all time.

    Also, I believe the term Big Red Machine was used prior to Morgan, with the Lee May – Reds. 

    Still a great post. Thanks for reminding us!

  4. I was in Little League during the BRM championship years.

    I, like many of my contemporaries, would do that Joe Morgan chicken-wing flap with my back arm while waiting for a pitch. I don’t think any of us got any results from it, but we damn sure did it.

  5. I got to watch that team play a game in riverfront! Our little town in Kentucky had a program that for $5 a kid could get a ticket, a hot dog and a ride to Cincinnati through our parks and rec department! What an amazing day for a 5th grader!

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