Perfect — you’re hitting another deep cut from the Major League movies ⚾.

🎬 Frank “Pops” Morgan

• Played by Bob Uecker’s longtime colleague Walter Matthau’s contemporary James Gammon in Major League: Back to the Minors (1998).

• “Pops” is the veteran catcher/mentor character on the Buzz, the Triple-A farm team owned by Roger Dorn.

• He’s portrayed as the wise, old-school player who provides comic relief and heart while guiding the younger players.

⚾ #40 – Buzz White Pinstriped Jersey

• Pops wears #40 for the Buzz, the fictional minor-league affiliate in the film.

• Their uniforms were essentially modeled after the classic Indians “buzz white” pinstripes, tying the minor-league team visually back to Cleveland’s heritage.

• The look has become a cult-favorite jersey among movie baseball fans, since it’s rare to see AAA-style pinstripes in sports films.

✅ So: Frank "Pops" Morgan (#40) is the grizzled catcher in Major League: Back to the Minors, rocking the Buzz’s white pinstriped jersey — part mentor, part comic relief, and a big piece of the underdog charm of that third Major League movie.

👉 Want me to design a mock retro trading card or jersey concept for Pops Morgan #40 in the Buzz pinstripes, to match your earlier Rube Baker (#32) one?

Of course. This is a fantastic deep dive into the third film of the *Major League* series.

Here is a breakdown of **Frank 'Pops' Morgan** and his iconic jersey from *Major League: Back to the Minors*.

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### **Frank 'Pops' Morgan (played by Ted McGinley)**

* **Character:** Pops is the aging, wise, and weary manager of the Minnesota Twins' minor league affiliate, the **South Carolina Buzz**. He is a former major league pitcher whose career ended with a shoulder injury. He is deeply knowledgeable about the game but has become cynical and disillusioned after years of managing terrible teams and dealing with arrogant major leaguers.

* **Role in the Film:** He serves as the mentor to the film's protagonist, Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula), a retired pitcher who is forced to come back and manage the Buzz. Initially resistant, Pops eventually becomes Gus's right-hand man and a father figure to the team of misfits. His experience is crucial to their success.

* **Actor:** Ted McGinley, who was famous for playing "handsome jerk" characters on shows like *Happy Days* and *Married... with Children*, played against type as the grumpy but lovable Pops.

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### **The Jersey: #40 for the South Carolina "Buzz"**

This jersey is central to the film's identity and different from the one in *Major League II*.

* **Team:** The **South Carolina Buzz** is the Triple-A minor league team featured in the film. They are the affiliate of the **Minnesota Twins** (whose arrogant major league team, led by Carlos "Tek" Hernandez, serves as the antagonists).

* **Jersey Style:** Like the Cleveland Buzz jersey from *MLB II*, it is **white with blue pinstripes**. The primary logo is a similar, but not identical, cartoon bee character wearing a baseball cap. The lettering across the chest reads "**Buzz**."

* **Number 40:** This is Pops' uniform number as the team's manager. Numbers in the 40s are often worn by coaches and managers in baseball.

### **Significance and Context**

* **The Minors vs. The Majors:** The entire film is set in the world of minor league baseball, which is portrayed as gritty, fun, and more about the love of the game than the glamour of the majors. Pops' #40 Buzz jersey symbolizes this world.

* **A Different "Buzz":** It's important to distinguish this from the Rube Baker jersey. While both are "Buzz" jerseys, they represent different teams in different leagues:

* **Rube Baker:** Wears #32 for the **Cleveland Buzz** (a major league team).

* **Pops Morgan:** Wears #40 for the **South Carolina Buzz** (a minor league team).

* **A Manager's Jersey:** As a manager, Pops' jersey isn't about player performance but about leadership, strategy, and guiding the next generation of players. This reflects his character arc from a burnt-out cynic to a reinvigorated leader.

In summary, the **"Frank 'Pops' Morgan 40 Buzz White Pinstriped Baseball Jersey"** is a key artifact from *Major League: Back to the Minors*. It represents the heart of the minor league experience and the wise, seasoned character who helps an underdog team believe in itself.

Do you want me to generate an image based on "Frank 'Pops' Morgan 40 Buzz White Pinstriped Baseball Jersey Major League: Back to the Minors," such as Frank "Pops" Morgan in a #40 Buzz white pinstriped jersey from *Major League: Back to the Minors*? If so, please confirm and provide any additional details.

*Major League: Back to the Minors* (1998) is an American sports comedy film written and directed by John Warren, the third entry in the *Major League* series. It follows aging minor league pitcher Gus Cantrell (Scott Bakula), who becomes manager of the South Carolina Buzz, the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, under owner Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen). Tasked with turning around the hapless team, Gus recruits a motley crew of players—including veterans like Pedro Cerrano (Dennis Haysbert), Rube Baker (Eric Bruskotter), and Taka Tanaka (Takaaki Ishibashi)—leading to comedic clashes, cultural mishaps, and an underdog challenge against the major league Twins in an exhibition game that tests themes of perseverance, teamwork, and second chances in baseball's lower ranks.

Thom Barry portrays Frank "Pops" Morgan, a lifelong minor league outfielder and veteran player who's spent 20 years in the bushes without ever reaching the majors, coming close only once with the Red Sox organization when a player got sick in October. Known for his folksy wisdom and reluctance to switch positions (insisting he's "not a first-baseman" but an outfielder his whole life), Pops provides heart and humor to the Buzz roster, reflecting on his career in poignant moments like admitting the thrill of playing in a big league park made his long journey worthwhile.

Fan merchandise, such as custom replicas of Frank "Pops" Morgan's #40 Buzz white pinstriped baseball jersey (with stitched graphics, the team's logo, and customizable back name/number in the Buzz's colors), is available from online retailers like Boriz Sports. These jerseys are typically priced around $75.99, with options for all sizes and shipping in 3-5 weeks. Authentic props from the film, including similar striped jerseys (described as grey with blue vertical stripes in some auctions, aligning with the pinstriped design), have surfaced in collectibles markets, confirming the on-screen look. If this isn't what you meant, please clarify!