What happened today in team history?
1971 – Astros deal Joe Morgan
Following the end of the ‘71 season, then Astros GM Spec Richardson sparked a deal with the Cincinnati Reds that sent Astros second baseman Joe Morgan, along with three other players, to the Reds in exchange for three players. Morgan went on to play for the Reds for eight years and become a legend in the game of baseball.
Outside of his back-to-back MVPs in 1975 and ‘76, Morgan became a key part of a Reds squad that dominated the middle part of the 1970s, winning World Series titles in ‘75 and ‘76. A Texas native, Morgan played 10 years with the Astros, including coming back for one year after leaving in 1980, before retiring after the 1984 season at 40 years old.
Other baseball history on this day
1962
MLB players and officials agree to play one single All-Star game, rather than the two they had been playing for the past four years. This was done in order to increase revenue for the sport, but it was met with overwhelming backlash, leading to 95% of the votes going towards having one game.
2007
The Phillies unveil their new alternate home uniforms with the “old” look behind them. Modeled at the time by Jimmy Rollins and Cole Hamels, the cream jerseys are still the ones they are wearing today.
2016
Yoennis Cespedes re-signed with the New York Mets for $110 million over four-years, making him the highest paid player in baseball by yearly salary.