Joe Morgan

[earlywynnfan]

OK, I lied, here's another. Did Joe Morgan ever order S44 bats? Did he order "Poop" brown models? I have a bat dating to 1979 that's 34" and 33 oz.

Thanks, Ken

[JimCaravello]

Hi Ken - S44 was Morgan's primary choise of wood from 1972 through 1979. He placed about 75 orders for S44 bats during this time period. Most lengths were 34.5" with weight in the 31 and 32 ounce range. I don't see a Hickory ( poop brown ) order though in the late 70's. Can you send me some pics to look at? Let me know what else you need. Thanks, Jim - jcaravello@nc.rr.com

[MikeSharon]

I have 8 Morgan bats spanning his career from the 1960's until the 1980's. I have one in particular that is from approximatley 1963-4, his rookie year with the Colt's . However it has a different signature than the others. Did he change signatures with Louiville or do I have a bat from the other Joe Morgan?
Thanks
Mike Sharon

[MSpecht]

Hi--

Joe Morgan's records cover three separate bat cards prior to the inyroduction of computerized H & B records in 1981. The first card, containing his first bat order in 1093 (O1S) through 1/16/70 shows the following information at the top of the card: Morgan, Joe Leonard Modesto BBC (Baseball Club), Durham BBC, San Antonio, Houston Astros. Then the following notation appears: "New auto 4/19/63." The term New Auto appears in reference to the order of two model O1 bats on 4/19/63 which likely corresponds to the date he signed a contract with H & B.

Below the "Morgan, Joe Leonard" notation, and following the "New Auto 4/19/63+ notation is another notation, in a different handwriting, that says "Joe # 2." That would presumably indicate the use of a second, alternative autograph on Joe's bats., likely started sometime before the last recorded order on the bat card dated 1/16/70. In some instances, it is noted within the sequence of orders exactly when a "new auto" replaces the original signature. That unfortunately does not occur on Morgan's bat cards.

His second card, covering the period from 4/2/70 to 9/22/75, also contains both notations at the top of the card -- "New auto 4/19/63 " and " Joe # 2." His final bat card, containing orders from 1/16/76 through 5/19/81, only carries the notation "Auto Joe #2" at the top, indicating that, at least from 1976 forward, the second style autograph was used.

If you could post photos of 1) the early signature model bat from the 1061-1964 labeling period, and 2) the earliest example of the second style signature model with the labeling period identified, it would narrow the time frame of the switch for forum members.

Thanks

Mike Jackitout7@aol.com

[Birdbats]

I have 8 Morgan bats spanning his career from the 1960's until the 1980's. I have one in particular that is from approximatley 1963-4, his rookie year with the Colt's . However it has a different signature than the others. Did he change signatures with Louiville or do I have a bat from the other Joe Morgan?
Thanks
Mike Sharon

Mike,

If your bats turns out to be from the "other" Joe Morgan, I'd be interested in it. The "other" Joe had three ABs for the 1964 Cardinals -- I collect that team and Joe is one of the obscure guys I haven't found a bat for yet. FYI, Joe's uni numbers were 10 ('64), 4 ('60-61 in Cleveland) and 1 ('60 in Philadelphia). If that matches the uni number on the knob of your bat, it could be a clue. The "real" Joe wore 12, 35 and 18 early in his career.

Jeff
http://www.birdbats.com