Joe Morgan's Picks : A Legendary List on Baseball Almanac

Top Ten Players

Joe Morgan was not selected by ESPN as a game announcer because of his skill as a player. He was selected because of his complete understanding of the game of baseball!

When IDG Books, makers of the "Dummies" series, needed someone to help them with a new project in 1998 dedicated to baseball, they selected Joe Morgan. Bob Costas once said, "There may not be anyone alive who knows more about baseball than Joe Morgan." Here are Morgan's Picks in various categories:

"Players are funny. They respect guys who make a lot of money, even if they don't deserve it. The manager is the most important guy on the team and should be treated on a higher level." - Joe Morgan

Top Ten Players by Joe Morgan (1998)
All-Time	Current
Willie Mays	Ken Griffey, Jr.
Babe Ruth	Barry Bonds
Hank Aaron	Frank Thomas
Ty Cobb	Mike Piazza
Mickey Mantle	Jeff Bagwell
Frank Robinson	Tony Gwynn
Joe DiMaggio	Larry Walker
Roberto Clemente	Mark McGwire
Jackie Robinson	Mo Vaughn
Ted Williams	Juan Gonzalez
Top Ten Players By Joe Morgan

Top Ten Pitchers by Joe Morgan (1998)
All-Time	Current
Cy Young	Greg Maddux
Warren Spahn	Roger Clemens
Walter Johnson	Randy Johnson
Lefty Grove	Tom Glavine
Christy Mathewson	John Smoltz
Steve Carlton	Pat Hentgen
Tom Seaver	Pedro Martinez
Sandy Koufax	David Cone
Bob Gibson	Mike Mussina
Juan Marichal	Alex Fernandez
Top Ten Pitchers By Joe Morgan

Top Ten Fielders by Joe Morgan (1998)
All-Time	Current
Willie Mays	Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ozzie Smith	Barry Bonds
Curt Flood	Ivan Rodriguez
Bill Mazeroski	Charles Johnson
Johnny Bench	Roberto Alomar
Roberto Clemente	Omar Vizquel
Brooks Robinson	Jim Edmonds
Keith Hernandez	Rey Ordonez
Ken Griffey	Ken Caminiti
Luis Aparicio	Barry Larkin
Top Ten Fielders By Joe Morgan

Name

Top Ten Future Stars By Joe Morgan

Ten Records That Are Least Likely To Be Broken by Joe Morgan (1998)
#	Record
1	Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak
2	Cy Young's 511 career wins
3	Babe Ruth's .690 career slugging percentage
4	Jack Chesbro's 41-win season
5	Johnny Vander Meer's two consecutive no-hitters
6	Nolan Ryan's 5,714 career strikeouts
7	Rogers Hornsby's .424 batting average
8	Ed Walsh's 1.82 career ERA
9	Hank Aaron's 755 career home runs
10	Cal Ripken, Jr.'s consecutive games-played streak
Ten Records That Are Least Likely To Be Broken By Joe Morgan

Ten Events that Transformed the Game by Joe Morgan (1998)
#	Year	Event
1	1845	Establishing baseball's rules.
2	1871	Forming the first major league.
3	1893	Moving the pitcher's mound back.
4	1920	Starting the farm system.
5	1920	Betting on baseball: The Black Sox.
6	1935	Turning on the lights for night baseball.
7	1946	Shattering the color line.
8	1957	Heading west with the Dodgers and Giants.
9	1975	Removing the reserve clause.
10	1994	Striking: The baseball strike of 1994.
Ten Events that Transformed the Game By Joe Morgan

Do Joe Morgan's lists intrigue you? If so, purchase Baseball For Dummies as he explains all of his choices and even talks about selections that almost made the book.

Chris Berman of ESPN said, "Whether you are a first-day fan or a lifetime fan of baseball as I am, everyone can learn something from Baseball for Dummies."

Joe Morgan was the Rookie of the Year in 1965, won back to back Most Valuable Player Awards, appeared on eight consecutive All-Star Squads, and was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.

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