born in oklahoma city, oklahoma, morgan began his pro career in 1944, playing for two minor league teams before he was drafted for world war ii military duty and spent the 1945–46 seasons in the united states army, where he served in the european theater of operations. in 1949, he was named most valuable player and all-star shortstop of the triple-a international league after he won the league batting crown (.337) and collected 112 runs batted in as a member of the montreal royals.