Roberto Alomar	vs.	Joe Morgan
	(Allsport)		(AP)
	Second Baseman/1988- .304 batting average 151 homers 829 RBI 377 stolen bases .375 on-base percentage ALCS MVP 1992 Ten-time All-Star Eight-time Gold Glover Complete Alomar profile (Statistics through the 1999 season)		Second Baseman/1963-84 .271 batting average 268 home runs 1,133 RBI 689 stolen bases .392 on-base percentage MVP 1975, 1976 Nine-time All-Star Five-time Gold Glover Hall of Fame 1990 Complete Morgan bio

	Roberto Alomar's once-golden image has been somewhat tarnished by controversy and turmoil. Acquired by the Blue Jays along with Joe Carter in a blockbuster trade which sent Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez to the Padres, Alomar's ability to deliver in the clutch helped catapult the Jays to their first-ever championship in 1992. After a second World Series win in 1993, Alomar played two more seasons for the Blue Jays before signing a multi-million dollar contract with the Baltimore Orioles in the winter of 1996. There his reputation took a sudden nosedive. Arguing with umpire John Hirschbeck over a called third strike in the heat of a pennant race, Alomar let his emotions get the best of him and spit in Hirschbeck's face. To add insult to injury, Alomar later mouthed off about Hirschbeck’s personal life, saying the umpire had never been as good since his son died. Baseball fans have punished him more harshly than the A.L. did, unleashing a chorus of boos upon Alomar that has only recently abated.		Joe Morgan made good teams great and great teams even better. He unhinged pitchers by dancing off first base, got key hits in big spots, and played sparkling defense when it counted most. His MVP-caliber play heavily influenced the outcomes of several key World Series games. With two outs in the ninth inning, Morgan singled in the go-ahead run in Game Seven of the 1975 World Series. His tremendous leads off first base had so distracted Red Sox pitcher Jim Willoughby in the sixth inning of Game Five that 'Little Joe' drew 15 consecutive pickoff throws before Tony Perez smacked a three-run home run to give the Reds a four-run cushion. His steady defense around the bag helped a poised Reds squad defeat tough Red Sox and Yankee clubs in 1975 and 1976.
	HITTING		HITTING
	A switch-hitter with extra-base power, Alomar has hit at least .300 in seven of the past eight seasons. Managing to tune out Cleveland fans' verbal assaults during the 1996 A.L. Division Series, Robby delivered a two-out game tying single in Game Four off Tribe closer Jose Mesa in the top of the ninth. Three innings later, Alomar smashed a series-winning home run which catapulted the upstart Orioles past the defending A.L. champs. For Alomar, it was the second time he had carried an underdog club to victory in the postseason. In 1992, only his fourth full big-league season, his .423 ALCS batting average earned him the series' MVP award while lifting the Blue Jays past Oakland and into the franchise's first World Series.		Morgan was the cornerstone of the 'Big Red Machine' offense in the 1970s, evident by his back-to-back MVP awards in the Reds championship seasons of 1975 and 1976. His 1,865 career walks placed him third on the all-time list, right behind Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. Following Pete Rose in the number-two hole in the Reds lineup, Morgan would often flap his arms back and forth to time the pitch, enabling him to drive tough fastballs into the gaps or out of the park. When he was on base, the Reds’ mighty offense grew even more dangerous.
	DEFENSE		DEFENSE
	An eight-time Gold-Glove award winner, Alomar has excellent range, a great throwing arm, and a creative flair seldom seen in baseball these days. A recent Sports Illustrated article ranked him behind only Bill Mazeroski among the best defensive second baseman of all time.		Morgan, a five-time Gold Glove award winner, lacked great range but had steady hands and knew how to move around the bag. To compensate for a relatively weak throwing arm, Morgan used a small glove to make it easier to get the ball out of the webbing, which helped him make quick and accurate throws to first.
	BASERUNNING		BASERUNNING
	Alomar's quick first step enables him to get excellent jumps off the bag. In his best years with the Blue Jays, he stole 157 bases from 1991 to 1993. Bothered by nagging injuries, Alomar collected just 44 steals in three seasons with the Orioles, but rebounded to swipe 37 bases for the Indians in 1999. Always a threat to run, Alomar has the ability to set an offense in motion; a smart and aggressive baserunner, he knows when to take the extra base.		Quick on his feet and always on base, Morgan swiped 67 bases in 1975 and 60 more in 1976, setting up Johnny Bench, Tony Perez and George Foster for RBI situations. His 689 career steals rank thirteenth on the all-time list.
	LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER		LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER
	Once considered a player who gave a full effort whenever he took the field, Alomar showed a considerable lack of motivation in Baltimore. Many observers noted that some of Alomar's Oriole teammates were miffed at Roberto's unwillingness to run hard to first after hitting a ground ball. But Alomar seemed reinvigorated after signing a three-year deal with Cleveland prior to last season. Perhaps it was the presence of his brother Sandy Alomar Jr., the Indians' catcher, but Alomar could once again be seen hustling on the basepaths and diving for every ball in the field.		Morgan was loved by his teammates wherever he went. Joe's clubhouse influence was unmatched, leading the Reds to five division titles and two world championships during his eight-year stay in Cincinnati. Following his Hall of Fame playing career, Morgan stepped into the broadcast booth as a color commentator where he has been lauded for his insight and tremendous knowledge of the game.