BBTF's Primate Studies Discussion :: Mike Morgan, the Nexus of the Baseball Universe?

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1. Devin has a deep burning passion for fuzzy socks Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603901)

Okay, how's this: My Mike Morgan number is 5. I played Wiffle Ball in the backyard with my sister. My sister worked with Jeff Torborg's son Dale in a sporting-goods store. Dale is currently working as a coach for his father Jeff (I assume that though coach-player connections aren't being allowed, coach-manager ones would be, or at the least father-son ones.) Jeff Torborg played on the 1971 California Angels with Dave Laroche. Dave Laroche played on the 1982 Yankees with Mike Morgan.

2. Bob Meta-Meusel Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603902)

I've got a Mike Morgan number of 4. My uncle pitched to me in the back yard when I was a kid. When he was in little league he had 2 at bats against Charlie Puleo, who eventually became a journeyman major league releiver. Puleo was on the 1984 Reds with Eric Davis. Davis was on the 1996 Reds with Mike Morgan.

3. Jay Jaffe Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603903)

Bobo Newsome, who played from 1929 to 1953, was the Mike Morgan of his day, a well-travelled pitcher with a losing record. Newsome played for nine teams, and changed uniforms 17 times in his career (he had multiple stints with several teams, including the St. Louis Browns and the Washington Senators). Newsome would be to the 19th century ballplayers what Morgan is to the 21st century ones. Of course there were fewer teams in Newsome's day, so he played with fewer teammates. Anyone care to figure out Newsome's Morgan number?

As for me: The only foul ball I ever retrieved was at a rookie league game in Walla Walla, Washington, and was signed by catcher Bob Geren. Geren eventually made the big leagues and was a teammate of Don Mattingly, who was a teammate of Mike Morgan. Making my Mike Morgan number 3.

That's as close as I'm gonna get.

4. Jay Jaffe Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603905)

Bobo Newsome played with Early Wynn on the Senators in '42-'43. Wynn played with Tommy John on the '63 Indians. John was Morgan's teammate on the Yankees in '82. So that's 3.

5. Christian (ruz) Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603906)

I've got a Morgan number of 3, looks like...the only foul ball I ever caught was off the bat of Mike Greenwell, who played on the 1995-96 Red Sox with Mike Maddux, who played on the 1990 Dodgers with Mike Morgan.

6. scruff Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603908)

DAMN JAY!!

I just spent the last hour and a half, went through every possible combination, almost literally, trying to find a teammate of Rico Carty or Tito Fuentes that played with Bobo Newsom. Tried to find a teammate of Eddie Yost or Yogi Berra or Sherm Lollar's that played with Morgan. I was hitting the end of careers, trying to pin it, didn't look at Wynn's 1959-62, only 63. I found Morgan-Fuentes-Kuenn-Priddy-Newsom. Also had Newsom-Yost-Fregosi-Gossage-Morgan.

So finally, I get Newsom-Wynn-John-Morgan to knock it to four, I'm all fired up -- and I see you found it already, just like that. What a bummer. If my boss knew what I was doing for the last hour and a half . . . I can't believe I didn't think of John. I was scolling down the list looking up teammates for Piniella, Watson, Nettles, and then I finally got to John and it's already done.

This could become a pretty good drinking game for statheads . . .

7. David Geiser Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603909)

I think you can drop your Splendid Splinter Morgan number by one.

Ted Williams played with Gary Geiger in 1959/60, who played with Bob Watson on the 1969/70 Astros, who played with Morgan on the 1982 Yankees.

8. David Geiser Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603911)

It was tough to get Babe Ruth's Morgan number down to 4 (i.e., 3 players separating them), but I finally got it.

Any guesses?

9. Jay Jaffe Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603912)

Morgan, Tommy John, Early Wynn, Pete Appleton, Babe Ruth.

10. Voros McCracken Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603913)

I have a feeling Minnie Minoso could be useful here. I'm assuming Minoso is a 2 with Morgan as there has to be someone fromthe 1980 White Sox who was a teammate of Morgan's. I suspect Baines must have been Morgan's teammate at some point.

I remember seeing a late 80s Elias Baseball Analyst where under players Frank Tanana "struggles" against is listed "Minnie Minoso."

11. Devin has a deep burning passion for fuzzy socks Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603914)

That's one heck of a missing link. The Red Sox rosters in the 20s and early 30s are a complete mess. (Okay, they stunk, but it still seems a little extreme.) The best I can give you is: Joe Wood-Herb Pennock-Jack Quinn-Red Ruffing-Tom Oliver-Rick Ferrell-Jimmy Foxx. I think this comes out to about 14 or 15 for the century. (Of course, you could cheat because Pennock came back to the Sox in '34 and matches with Lefty Grove. And if you wanted to nit-pick, you could claim that Williams missed the war years, so it's not a complete chain.)

On the other hand, I can do the Mets in 4 steps: Ed Kranepool-Jesse Orosco-Darryl Strawberry-John Franco. Not bad for 40 seasons.

12. Chris Dial Posted: June 12, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603915)

I batted against Frank DiMichele in a MSBL game in Philadelphia. He was a member of the 1988 Angels with Tony Armas. Armas was a teammate of Morgan's on the 1978 A's. I have a Morgan number of 3 (and that's actually playing ! (sort of))

13. MattB Posted: June 13, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603920)

How about the Orioles in 4 for 48 seasons.

Cal Abrams - Brooks Robinson - Eddie Murray - Cal Ripken, Jr.

Except for 1954, the has always been a future All-Star on the Orioles. That's got to be a record of some sort.

14. MattB Posted: June 13, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603921)

I meant future Hall of Famer. It's not a record at all to have an All-Star on your team every year. Even a future All-Star.

15. Robert Dudek Posted: June 13, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603922)

Does everyone who is active in 2001 or was active in 2000 have a Morgan number of 2 or less ?

If so, who is the last (i.e. most recent birthyear) player to have a Morgan number of 3 or more ?

A related question - which team is the last not to have at least one player to have played with Morgan.

16. Rich Rifkin I Posted: June 13, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603928)

My Morgan number to Babe Ruth is 5, entirely composed of Hall of Famers. In 1981, I retrieved a Carlton Fisk home run, when Pudge was playing for the White Sox. In 1973, Fisk was a teammate of Luis Aparicio on the Red Sox. In 1962, Aparacio played with Early Wynn on the White Sox. In 1943, Wynn and Lefty Gomez were teammates on the Washington Senators. And in 1934, Gomez and Ruth played together on the Yankees.

Surprisingly, my Morgan number to Ty Cobb is even lower: 3. In 1983, I shook hands with Ted Williams after a college baseball game. Williams was a teammate of Jimmie Foxx on the 1942 Red Sox; and Foxx played with Ty Cobb on the 1928 Philadelphia Athletics.

17. Dan Szymborski

Posted: June 15, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603931)

I don't have playing connections with any recent players, so I have to go through my grandfather, who played a little with Greenberg as a kid (although I only played catch with my grandfather, I think that's enough to count). Best I can see is Szymborski ---> Scholom ---> Greenberg ---> Pierce ---> Cardenal ---> Renko ---> Morgan, which sort of sucks. If just meeting counts, I can go Szymborski ---> Mientkiewicz ---> Morgan, which is much cooler.

18. Eric Posted: June 17, 2001 at 11:08 PM (#603933)

I think that we could nominate a few guys as the Mike Morgan of the 19th Century. My nominees would be:

-Paul Hines (1872-1891), 9 teams, 3 leagues, Morgan # of 6 (Hines >Lowe >Cobb > Foxx > D Ennis > H Wilhelm > John > M Morgan)
-Deacon White (1871-1890), 9 teams, 3 leagues, Morgan # of 6 (White > S Thompson > Cobb etc...)
-Deacon McGuire (1884-1908, '10, '12) 12 teams (80-90 years before Morgan did it), 3 leagues, Morgan # of 5 (McGuire > Cobb etc...)
-Dan Brouthers (1879-1896, 1904) 11 teams, 3 leagues, Morgan # of 5 (Brouthers > Keeler > J Quinn > Lombardi > Spahn > Carty > Morgan)

Too bad Anson only played with three teams. His Morgan number would seem to be 6 (Anson > C Griffith > I Meusel > M Ott> B Thomson > E Banks > B North > M Morgan)

My Morgan numbers might not be the lowest possible numbers, but it's all I could come up with in a couple hours. Please feel free to revise them downward!!!!

eric chalek
newmarket, nh

19. Obama Bomaye Posted: August 19, 2009 at 01:36 PM (#3297945)

I guess my Morgan number is 3, as I met Jeff Torborg at a baseball camp when I was about 10.

20. AROM Posted: August 19, 2009 at 01:45 PM (#3297955)

I think mine is 3. Looks like Morgan missed being teammates with Gregg Olson by one year, so I can use Olson (flew out to left off him in fantasy camp) - Randy Johnson - Mike Morgan.

21. Bob Dernier Cri

Posted: August 19, 2009 at 01:56 PM (#3297963)

I saw Mike Morgan naked. More than once.

22. Gazizza, my Dilznoofuses! Posted: August 19, 2009 at 01:57 PM (#3297965)

My Mike Morgan Chain:
Me -> My great Uncle
My great uncle went to spring training with the Cardinals and batted against Dizzy Dean

And Courtesy of The Oracle on B-R.Com:

Dizzy Dean played with Skeeter Webb for the 1932 St. Louis Cardinals
Skeeter Webb played with Vic Wertz for the 1947 Detroit Tigers
Vic Wertz played with Willie Horton for the 1963 Detroit Tigers
Willie Horton played with Mike Morgan for the 1978 Oakland Athletics

23. Tom Nawrocki Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:05 PM (#3297976)

I helped coach a Little League team that had two of Pedro Astacio's sons on it. Pedro Astacio's sons were sired by Pedro Astacio. Pedro Astacio played with Greg Colbrunn on the 1998 Rockies. Greg Colbrunn was on the 2001 Diamondbacks with Mike Morgan.

I think that makes me a 4.

24. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 02:34 PM (#3298017)

I went to HS with AAA OF Billy Masse. I'm sure one of his teammates played with Morgan, but there isn't a minor league oracle to verify this.

25. Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Molina Posted: August 19, 2009 at 04:49 PM (#3298198)

Ok, my Mike Morgan number is 4.

I used to bowl on a team with John Joslyn, who played in the minors with Bo Jackson. Jackson played with Sammy Sosa on the '91 White Sox and Sosa played with Mike Morgan on the '92 Cubs.

26. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 19, 2009 at 04:57 PM (#3298210)

I met Jim Negrych once. Jim Negrych played on the 2008 Altoona Curve with Luis Cruz. Luis Cruz played on the 2008 Pirates with Doug Mientkiewicz. Doug Mientkiewicz played on the 1998 Twins with Mike Morgan.

27. Rafael Bellylard: Built like a Molina Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:00 PM (#3298213)

It was tough to get Babe Ruth's Morgan number down to 4 (i.e., 3 players separating them), but I finally got it.

Babe Ruth played with Leo Durocher in 1925, Durocher managed Mike Easler on the '75 Astros, Easler played with John Candelaria on the '82 Pirates and Candelaria and Morgan were teammates on the 91' Dodgers.

28. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:02 PM (#3298216)

I went to HS with AAA OF Billy Masse. I'm sure one of his teammates played with Morgan, but there isn't a minor league oracle to verify this.

?!? Just look at the rosters! Lots of options. Gerald Williams, Rich Gedman, Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Sam Horn, Lyle Mouton, Andy Pettitte, Brad Ausmus, J.T. Snow...

29. McCoy Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:03 PM (#3298219)

I was once thought to be part of a group that included Larry Andersen at a bar so I got free drinks. Larry Andersen played with Thomas Howard who played with Mike Morgan. So that makes me a three.

30. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:04 PM (#3298220)

My Mike Morgan number is three.
I used to play flag football with Erik Schullstrom.
Erik Schullstrom played with Pat Meares for the 1994 Minnesota Twins.
Meares played with Morgan for the '98 Twins.

31. SoSH U at work Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:13 PM (#3298228)

This guywas a high school teammate and one of my oldest friends.

He played in Niagara with Ron Rightnowar.

Who played in Milwaukee with Ricky Bones.

Who played in Cincinnati with Morgan.

32. Crispix Attacks Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:16 PM (#3298230)

You played flag football with the legendary, record-holding Erik Schullstrom?

33. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:21 PM (#3298239)

?!? Just look at the rosters! Lots of options. Gerald Williams, Rich Gedman, Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Sam Horn, Lyle Mouton, Andy Pettitte, Brad Ausmus, J.T. Snow...

Did any of them play with Morgan? I thought that Ausmus might've, but I don't have time today to check all of these guys. Work has been hectic this summer.

34. SoSH U at work Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:21 PM (#3298241)

Sorry, it appears my link is not working. The link in 31 should have directed to Kevin Keon, an 1989 draft pick of the Rangers originally signed by Omar Minaya.

35. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: August 19, 2009 at 05:36 PM (#3298255)

Crispix: I did. Baseball, too, possibly -- though he's a little older, and was a lot better (though he didn't become a really big guy until college, apparently). Post-MLB, he was a pretty good closer in Japan for a couple of years, as I recall.

I'd love to get a Morgan Number through J.R./Isaiah Rider (who I definitely played baseball with) but I'm not sure I could get there.

Another way I can get to a Morgan 4: I used to work with Sean O'Connor, who was an A's minor-leaguer in the mid-80's. Sean once doubled off Vida Blue in spring training. Vida Blue played with Marty Perez for the 1977 Oakland Athletics. Perez played with Mike Morgan on the A's the next year.

36. Designated Sitter (GGC) Posted: June 23, 2011 at 10:40 AM (#3860232)

Wow, this thread is still open. Happy belated tenth birthday to my internet writing debut!

37. Argu!!!! SATAN!!!! (Sessile Fielder) Posted: June 23, 2011 at 11:33 AM (#3860241)

I'd love to get a Morgan Number through J.R./Isaiah Rider (who I definitely played baseball with) but I'm not sure I could get there.

Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes played baseball with Isaiah Rider
Isaiah Rider was on the 93-94 Timberwolves with Mike Brown
Mike Brown was on the 86-87 Bulls with Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan was on the 94 Barons with Matt Karchner
Matt Karchner was on the 98 Cubs with Mike Morgan

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