A Fabulous 40th



Has any major league ballplayer ever had a bigger game on his 40th birthday than Joe Morgan? On September 19th, 1983, the future Hall of Famer, whose bat turned hot just in time to lift the "Wheeze Kids" Phillies to the top of the National League East, hit "the Big 4-0" by getting four hits in five times up. Two of the hits were home runs -- and the Phils needed 'em all, as the knocked off the Cubs 7 - 6.

The Phils fought back twice in the game, overcoming 3 - 0 and 5 - 2 deficits to extend their winning streak to four (it would eventually reach 11 straight) as the Phils took the division and NLCS before falling to the Orioles in the World Series.

This photo of Joe came at the 2013 BAT Dinner, the annual fundraiser benefiting needy ex-players.

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