Joe Morgan Has Passed Away

[Seven]

Just awful news. We've lost so many people this year, Morgan the latest on a long line of Baseball greats.

[Belfast1933]

Terrible news.... this year continues to be such a brutal one. Helluva player, such a winner for those great Reds teams

[Case12]

He was young. 77. Just watched him on FastBall last night. What a great man. He was a rookie with the Houston Colt .45s MLB team. He will be missed.

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by Case12

He was young. 77. Just watched him on FastBall last night. What a great man. He was a rookie with the Houston Colt .45s MLB team. He will be missed.

Sad to hear it. He was actually a bit older than I would have thought because I forgot that he was nearly 30 by the time he joined the Big Red Machine. RIP

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Unreal. RIP. He was an absolute dick to me as a kid when he broadcasted with Jon Miller. Would not sign a baseball for an 8 year old but signed for everyone else and the adults lol oh well. I know I'm not entitled to getting a graph, just sucked being 8 growing up watching those two broadcast.

[ClementeFanOh]

I grew up listening on the radio to the exploits of the Big Red Machine. Joe Morgan was a great player, quiet and effective. Rest in Peace... Trent King

[perezfan]

The first of "The Great Eight" to pass. What a phenomenal player he was. He and Hornsby were probably the two greatest 2nd Basemen of all-time.

Acquiring Joe Morgan from Houston was the final cog in the making of Big Red Machine. They could never get over the hump until the arrival of Little Joe.
Baseball may never see a better "starting eight" than that legendary group.

RIP, Joe.

[clydepepper]

RIP to 'my' goat @ 2nd.


2004 UD Timeless Teams- JOE MORGAN Auto.jpg

[jb67]

A very sad day! Loved watching Joe play when I was growing up. RIP.

[111gecko]

I grew up north of San Francisco and I remember looking at Willie McCovey and Joe Morgan rookie cards thinking...one day I hope I can afford one. I think we all had that 1 player/card as a kid..bummer on this new today.

[pclpads]

Loved his "arm flap." Never saw that B4 or since.

[marzoumanian]

How sad. A class act and a nice man.
You know, if you go to enough Nationals over the years you can end up staying at the same hotel as some of the autograph guests. I'll never forget attending a National (Baltimore?) and eating breakfast one Saturday morning at a Marriott or Westin. In the corner of the breakfast room I couldn't help but hear (and see) Morgan with a bunch of his friends, telling stories and laughing a lot. It's a quirky memory that I'll never forget.
Here's another one. I attended the National in 1987 in SF. In the mid-1980s Bob Costas used to do a radio program called "Coast to Coast." The week before the National he said he would be in SF (the All-Star game was being held in Oakland that year), doing a radio show with HOFers at the Four Seasons Hotel. So on the Sunday night of the program I walked over there and just sat in the lounge to see what would happen. Sure enough, Costas was setting up for the radio show. He was going to interview 5 or 6 HOFers and they were all there, EXCEPT for Morgan. Costas was running around, worrying if Morgan would show up. At literally the last minute he strode in and made for a great show. I even was served a free drink while sitting in the lounge (with about 5 other people!). RIP, Joe. And thank you.

[Frank A]

Bad year to be an old Baseball player. Their dropping like flies.

[conor912]

Man. At this rate we’re putting together quite the 2020 departed team. Still 11 weeks left. Yeesh.

Joe Morgan 4
Al Kaline 9
Lou Brock 7

Rotation
Tom Seaver
Bob Gibson
Whitey Ford

[jchcollins]

Sad. The 2020 hits just keep on coming. I didn't see Joe play, but used to listen to him and Jon Miller doing ESPN Sunday Night Baseball as a kid growing up, and being into cards then, I quickly found out who he was around the time of his HOF election. In terms of the hobby I think Joe is an underrated great and could be appreciated more for what he did on the Big Red Machine at the height of their run. RIP sir...

[triwak]

R.i.p.

[Tao_Moko]

Hang in there Tommy and Willie!!! Jimmy Wynn didn't get a mention but he passed this year too.

[Kaneen]

As a kid growing up near Cincinnati in the 70s, the "Big Red Machine" team really captured me and made me a baseball fan for life. I spent many nights after bedtime with a little transistor radio (google it kids) under my pillow listening to the Reds radio broadcasts...such great memories they provided. So this one hits me especially hard. Perhaps no cohesive starting lineup unit has ever defined the sports identity of a city quite like "The Great 8" and Cincinnati. Hard to accept the news that the first member of that legendary unit has passed. What a legacy and giant footprint they left on a city, the history of baseball, and on many childhood's like mine.

RIP "Little Joe!"

[kailes2872]

I was born in '72, so I first remember watching Joe with the Giants in '80. That was about the time I started following baseball and collecting baseball cards, so I read immediately about the MVP's in 75 and 76. It was crazy to think that with Bench, Rose, and company, Morgan was the MVP.

What I think is interesting is that it was in his 10th and 11th year that he won the award. I went back and looked at old sets and all-star cards and it seems that he was a good player, but not a perennial all-star. I'm not sure who the '72 Joe Morgan would compare to today that would help make it relative, but I am just a bit surprised that he went from this really good, sought after strong player to a back to back MVP which eventually was the driver for his HOF induction. The fact that Houston let him be traded says a lot about his relative value in the league at the time.

By no means any disrespect to Joe - especially on this day. I am just surprised about such a late peak and wonder if there are any comps that anyone can think of - someone who was more than half way through their career before they make that second spike to first tier. I was born 90 minutes from Cincinnati and grew up a Reds fan. By the time I was actively following, most of the great 8 had moved on and the Reds were struggling in the 82-84 time frame. But, "who is better, Bench vs Rose?" could sometime rise to the level of a playground fight.

[commishbob]

We moved to Houston in 1967. I remained an Orioles fan but I quickly 'adopted' the '67 Astros crew that included Morgan, Staub, Cuellar, Wynn, Sonny Jackson, Dierker and Ed Mathews. I didn't know anyone so with time on my hands I started a scrapbook like I had done with my teams when I was younger. It was fun and even though the team struggled I looked forward to listening to their radio broadcasts and then slicing up the sports page the next day.

Joe Morgan was a big part of that. He played with passion and style. RIP

[doug.goodman]

Since the Asterisks are on TV right now, here is Joe's last game playing for Houston...

[bigfanNY]

RIP Mr Morgan. I was a fan of the reds up until 1976 when the played the Yankees in the World Series. My Dad would take me to Shea Stadium once a year to see a Mets Reds game first game I think was 1971 and last was definitely 76. I have always liked live baseball and the Reds from that time were powerhouse. A real pleasure to watch Joe and the rest of the Big Red Machine. Truly a great 8 no holes in that lineup and certainly not Joe who was as clutch as they come.

[cornhusker]

Joe was one of the first pro ball player my son had ever met. He was so nervous that he forgot the introduction he had practiced then his voice squeeked a bit when he tried to talk. Joe loosened him up by cracking a few jokes and told a story about getting caught in a rundown. Made our day.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by cornhusker

Joe was one of the first pro ball player my son had ever met. He was so nervous that he forgot the introduction he had practiced then his voice squeeked a bit when he tried to talk. Joe loosened him up by cracking a few jokes and told a story about getting caught in a rundown. Made our day.

Awesome story!

Sadly, we're mortal and we all hold an expiration date. Just really tough when you see your childhood heroes moving on. 2020 has been really tough on fans.

How many kids mimicked that wing flap of Joe's when he was at bat. Great video of Joe and the wing flap and Rose flying head first into 3B.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj_xIaPkzrk

[Case12]

Originally Posted by Tao_Moko

Hang in there Tommy and Willie!!! Jimmy Wynn didn't get a mention but he passed this year too.

And Don Larsen (Jan 1, 2020)

[Kingcobb]

R.I.P. Joe I will always remember trying to imitate your arm flap batting stance in our neighborhood whiffle ball games.

[tonyo]

My favorite player as a kid.

In tribute to Joe , I'll show this picture I colored back in 75

[conor912]

Originally Posted by tonyo

My favorite player as a kid.

In tribute to Joe , I'll show this picture I colored back in 75

This is amazing! Thanks for sharing.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by tonyo

My favorite player as a kid.

In tribute to Joe , I'll show this picture I colored back in 75

That is fantastic! Better than some of the 2020 Topps artistic/sketch material I've seen floating around these past few months.

RIP Joe! Another great one lost in 2020.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Tao_Moko

Hang in there Tommy and Willie!!! Jimmy Wynn didn't get a mention but he passed this year too.

let's not forget...Hang in there Tommy's brother too, Hank. Loved the Toy Cannon when he played for the Astros and especially the Dodgers. Didn't know Tommy Aaron was sick? Honestly, not sure who Tommy is? Tommy Agee? Tommy John? Tommy Lasorda? Love Tommy Lasorda and have spent many afternoons with him in the Dodger Dugout club. My friend pitched on the 88 team so, the "Tommy" Stories are endless. Wishing them all, a healthy and safe rest of 2020. What a waste of a year.

[Case12]

Originally Posted by tonyo

My favorite player as a kid.

In tribute to Joe , I'll show this picture I colored back in 75

That is moving. A kid daydreaming and drawing his favorite baseball star. Doesn't get any better than that!...

[icollectDCsports]

Originally Posted by tonyo

My favorite player as a kid.

In tribute to Joe , I'll show this picture I colored back in 75

Fantastic. Just fantastic.

[darwinbulldog]

May or may not have been the best 2nd baseman ever, but all the other serious candidates were playing over 100 years ago.

[Bocabirdman]

RIP Joe.... That makes 84 Major Leaguers so far this year

Player Date of Death Debut Year Final Year
Johnny*Antonelli 2/28/2020 1948 1961
Ramon*Aviles 1/27/2020 1977 1981
Kim*Batiste 10/7/2020 1991 1996
Glenn*Beckert 4/12/2020 1965 1975
Jim*Bolger 4/9/2020 1950 1959
Frank*Bolling 7/11/2020 1954 1966
Lou*Brock 9/6/2020 1961 1979
Oscar*Brown 6/3/2020 1969 1973
Tyson*Brummett 7/3/2020 2012 2012
Horace*Clarke 8/5/2020 1965 1974
Gil*Coan 2/4/2020 1946 1956
Ramon*Conde 2/23/2020 1962 1962
Ted*Cox 3/11/2020 1977 1981
Jim*Derrington 3/12/2020 1956 1957
Adrian*Devine 6/27/2020 1973 1980
Paul*Doyle 5/6/2020 1969 1972
Angel*Echevarria 2/7/2020 1996 2002
Narciso*Elvira 1/28/2020 1990 1990
Ed*Farmer 4/1/2020 1971 1983
Tony*Fernandez 2/15/2020 1983 2001
Ed*Fitz Gerald 6/14/2020 1948 1959
Whitey*Ford 10/8/2020 1950 1967
Damaso*Garcia 4/15/2020 1978 1989
Bob*Gibson 10/2/2020 1959 1975
Bill*Gilbreth 7/12/2020 1971 1974
Larry*Gowell 5/11/2020 1972 1972
Rich*Hacker 4/22/2020 1971 1971
Charlie*Haeger 10/3/2020 2006 2010
Jay*Hankins 1/20/2020 1961 1963
Carroll*Hardy 8/9/2020 1958 1967
Don*Hasenmayer 1/28/2020 1945 1946
Remy*Hermoso 8/22/2020 1967 1974
Dick*Hyde 4/15/2020 1955 1961
Ray*Jarvis 4/24/2020 1969 1970
Bart*Johnson 4/22/2020 1969 1977
Ben*Johnson 5/8/2020 1959 1960
Lou*Johnson 9/30/2020 1960 1969
Jay*Johnstone 9/26/2020 1966 1985
Howie*Judson 8/18/2020 1948 1954
Al*Kaline 4/6/2020 1953 1974
Eddie*Kasko 6/24/2020 1957 1966
Matt*Keough 5/1/2020 1977 1986
Dick*Koecher 2/4/2020 1946 1948
Don*Larsen 1/1/2020 1953 1967
Bob*Lee 3/25/2020 1964 1968
Bobby*Locke 6/4/2020 1959 1968
Jim*Manning 1/1/2020 1962 1962
Hank*Mason 5/29/2020 1958 1960
John*Matias 4/7/2020 1970 1970
Mike*McCormick 6/13/2020 1956 1971
John*Miller 6/5/2020 1962 1967
Joe*Morgan 10/11/2020 1963 1984
Bob*Oliver 4/19/2020 1965 1975
Bill*Oster 6/6/2020 1954 1954
Jim*Owens 9/8/2020 1955 1967
Jarrod*Patterson 3/11/2020 2001 2003
Don*Pavletich 3/5/2020 1957 1971
Ron*Perranoski 10/2/2020 1961 1973
Paul*Pettit 9/24/2020 1951 1953
Biff*Pocoroba 5/24/2020 1975 1984
Bobby*Prescott 8/2/2020 1961 1961
Hal*Raether 9/26/2020 1954 1957
Ken*Retzer 5/17/2020 1961 1964
Jorge*Rubio 6/14/2020 1966 1967
Mike*Ryan 7/7/2020 1964 1974
Dick*Scott 2/10/2020 1963 1964
Tom*Seaver 8/31/2020 1967 1986
Bob*Sebra 7/22/2020 1985 1990
Hal*Smith 1/9/2020 1955 1964
Ed*Sprague 1/10/2020 1968 1976
Bob*Stephenson 3/20/2020 1955 1955
Tony*Taylor 7/16/2020 1958 1976
Bert*Thiel 7/31/2020 1952 1952
Arnold*Umbach 5/30/2020 1964 1966
Dan*Walters 4/23/2020 1992 1993
Claudell*Washington 6/10/2020 1974 1990
Bob*Watson 5/14/2020 1966 1984
Ray*Webster 6/3/2020 1959 1960
Fred*Wenz 10/6/2020 1968 1970
Wally*Wolf 7/7/2020 1969 1970
Hank*Workman 3/16/2020 1950 1950
Jimmy*Wynn 3/26/2020 1963 1977
George*Yankowski 2/25/2020 1942 1949