Sept. 23, 2007
NORFOLK, VA--Joe Morgan, the heart and soul of the Cincinnati Reds "Big Red Machine," of the 1970's, a Hall of Famer and award winning sportscaster will be the keynote speaker and clinician for the 31st annual GTI Systems, Inc. "Meetthe Stars" Banquet at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, and the annual Greenwich Kitchens/ODU Baseball Clinic, Jan 25 and 26, 2008.
Tickets for the Jan. 25th banquet are $60 and on sale at the Old Dominion AthleticTicket office in the Athletic Administration Building (683-5484). The GreenwichKitchens Baseball Clinic will be held Saturday, Jan. 26 with one session, beginningat 9 a.m. in the Constant Convocation Center.
Morgan was the rarest of combinations; a five-time Gold Glove second basemanwho could hit for average and power, and one of the premier base stealers of his era.Morgan was also the field leader of the Reds, who some baseball observers consider thegreatest team of all times.
Morgan began his Major League career with the Houston Colt 45's,who later became the Houston Astros. In the 1965, he was named National League Rookie of the Year. After nine seasons with Houston, Morgan was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1972. During his career with the Reds, Morgan was named Most Valuable Player in the National League in 1975 and 1976. He was the Commissioner's Award winner in 1976 for the most votes by the fans for the All-Star Game and in 1982 was named the National League's Comeback Player of the Year.
Before ending his career in 1984, Joe had established a new career home run record for a second baseman (268) and is currently second on that list. He played in a record 92 consecutive games without an error by a second baseman and competed in four World Series, winning two championships. He also played in seven league championship series, and established an All-Star record by hitting in seven consecutive games.
In addition, Morgan won five Gold Glove Awards, played in ten All-Star gamesand recorded 692 stolen bases. He topped 40 or more steals in a season nine times. Healso led the National League in on-base Percentage and walks four times each. Morgan was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1990.
Residing in the San Francisco bay area, Morgan has been a TV announcer for ABC, NBC, Giantsvision, and sportschannel. He has been with ESPN since 1989 as their number one color analyst. His television work has garnered him and Ace and an Emmy.
The event annually features some of the top names in major league baseball. In past years Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, BrooksRobinson, Lou Brock, Steve Carlton, Jim Palmer, Johnny Bench, Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver, Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Gaylord Perry, Dave Winfield,Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr.have served as clinicians.