Joe Morgan

• Born: September 19, 1943
• Birthplace: Bonham, Texas
• Died: October 11, 2020
• Place of death: Danville, California

Sport: Baseball

Early Life

Joseph Leonard Morgan was born in Bonham, Texas, a small community north of Dallas, on September 19, 1943. Most of his childhood, which he described as an ordinary one, was spent in Oakland, California, where the Morgans moved in 1950.

Morgan’s father, Leonard, always encouraged him to play ball and to develop his abilities to the fullest extent. The Morgans lived only a short walk from the Oakland Oaks ballpark. Morgan and his father often attended four or five games a week when the minor-league Oaks were at home.

The Road to Excellence

Morgan, who was 5 feet 7 inches in height and usually played in the big leagues at a weight of about 160 pounds, was always somewhat small for his age but remained confident. In sandlot games, he was often the first player chosen.

Morgan also played Little League baseball and in the Young American, Connie Mack, Babe Ruth, and American Legion leagues. He played shortstop for his Castlemont High School team, but his favorite big leaguers were both second basemen—Jackie Robinson and, especially, Nellie Fox, a small but successful player with the Chicago White Sox during the 1950s.

Morgan attended junior college for one year in Oakland. He attracted the attention of big-league scouts, who saw beyond his small size to appreciate his talent, his aggressive play, and his self-confidence. Morgan shared his mother’s respect for education and eventually returned to college to complete his degree after he retired. The chance to sign a contract with Houston in the National League (NL) in November 1962 was too much for him to pass up.

In only two years, Morgan climbed through the minor leagues. The first year was divided between Houston farm teams in Modesto, California, and Durham, North Carolina. In 1965, after an outstanding year at San Antonio in the AA Texas League, he became a big leaguer.

The Emerging Champion

One of the big influences on Morgan’s success as Houston’s new second baseman was his hero, Nellie Fox, who was finishing his own career in Houston and who unselfishly helped his replacement. Morgan believed that the best tip he got was to keep a positive attitude. For example, a player in a batting slump could still contribute to his team with heads-up play in the field.

A left-handed batter, Morgan had a good eye and was patient at the plate. Between his hits and walks, he was often on base more than 250 times a season. He stole many bases and was a team leader in runs scored. At second, he had good range and became a master at making the double play.

Soon after Morgan became a major leaguer, he married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Stewart. They had two daughters, Lisa and Angela.

After the 1971 season, Morgan was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati already had the nucleus of a fine team, but Morgan improved the Reds at second base and also added speed on the base paths, something the team had lacked.

Morgan soon won over Cincinnati fans with his competitiveness and enthusiasm and with his success at bat, in the field, and on the bases. In his first season in Cincinnati, the Reds went to the World Series. Cincinnati won the World Series in both 1975 and 1976, and Morgan's contribution to the Reds’ success was recognized when he was voted the NL most valuable player in both seasons.

Continuing the Story

While with the Astros, Morgan had had two knee injuries, including one that had cost him almost an entire season. He also missed a number of games one year while he was on Army Reserve duty. Usually, however, he missed few games. After 1977, his performance began to decline, his batting slumped, and injuries became more frequent.

In 1980, Morgan returned to the Astros as a free agent. He then moved on to the San Francisco Giants for two years and to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1983. Although he was no longer at his peak, all three teams benefited from his leadership and sound play. He concluded his career with the Oakland Athletics.

In retirement, Morgan remained in the Oakland area, where he had several business investments. He also announced baseball on television, becoming one of the best analysts of the game. In 1990, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Some experts rank Morgan as one of the two or three top second basemen of all time. During his first six years with the Reds, his performance might well have surpassed that of any other second baseman in major-league history. No one who has ever played this position did as many things as well as Morgan was able to do at his peak.

Besides his five Gold Gloves, Morgan hit for average and with power, and ran the bases exceptionally well. He also provided leadership and an example for teammates with his aggressive and intelligent play. He always seemed to know how he could contribute to his team—when to hit behind the runner, when to steal a base, where to position himself in the field, when to try for a sacrifice fly. The book he wrote for young ballplayers in 1976, Baseball My Way, made clear his approach.

In the years after his playing days, Morgan proved his abilities as a commentator by becoming a respected member of ESPN’s broadcast team. He and his broadcasting partner Jon Miller began working together in 1990, and he memorably maintained a presence on the network through 2010. He also appeared on NBC during the coverage of postseason play. Over the years, he won multiple Emmy Awards for his baseball commentary. In 2010, he returned to the Cincinnati Reds, this time as a special advisor to baseball operations.

Morgan died at his home in Danville, California, on October 11, 2020, following a struggle with polyneuropathy; he was seventy-seven.

Summary

Joe Morgan played twenty full seasons in the big leagues. His greatest years were in Cincinnati, where he gained recognition as baseball’s most complete player. He was considered one of the best second basemen in baseball history and remained an influence on young infielders.

Bibliography

Morgan, Joe. Baseball My Way. New York: Atheneum, 1976.

Morgan, Joe. Joe Morgan: A Life in Baseball. New York: W. W. Norton, 1993.

Morgan, Joe, and Dick Lally. Long Balls, No Strikes: What Baseball Must Do to Keep the Good Times Rolling. New York: Crown, 1999.

Morgan, Joe, Dick Lally, and Sparky Anderson. Baseball for Dummies. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2005.

Weber, Bruce. "Joe Morgan, Hall of Fame Second Baseman, Is Dead at 77." The New York Times, 13 Oct. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/10/12/sports/joe-morgan-reds-dead.html. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.