Joe Morgan’s unremarkable exit

Joe Morgan Oakland A's 1985 Topps Record Breaker No. 5

Joe Morgan Oakland A's 1985 Topps Record Breaker No. 5 back

Late in Joe Morgan’s playing career, the legendary second baseman etched his name in the record books and then unceremoniously called it quits.

On June 24, 1984, Morgan belted his 265th career homer as a second baseman, according to the back of the 1985 Topps Record Breaker card pictured to the right.  The homer allowed Morgan, who was with his fourth team in five years, surpassed Rogers Hornsby mark of 264 homers.

During his final big league season, Morgan played in 116 games and recorded a .244 batting average, 89 hits and 43 RBI. The former member of the Big Red Machine slugged six home runs to finish with 268 for his career.

The record stood until it was surpassed by Ryan Sandberg during his 1996-97 comeback. Ryno finished 277 homers and held the record until Jeff Kent surpassed it in 2004. Kent finished with 377 career home runs.

A little more than three months later in his final game, Morgan doubled in the first inning and then was lifted for a pitch-runner. He left the field to a standing ovation by the fans at Oakland Alameda County Coliseum.

While his hometown club was ending out the 1984 season with an 8-2 win over the Kansas City Royals, Morgan was packing up his locker for the final time and slipped out of the ballpark.

When reporters approached his locker following the game, all they found was an abandoned necktie and two unused A’s tickets, according to an Associated Press article.