Editing Joe Morgan

{{Short description|American baseball player and analyst (1943–2020)}}
{{about|the Baseball Hall of Famer|the baseball player and manager|Joe Morgan (manager)|other people named Joe Morgan|Joe Morgan (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Joe Morgan
|image=Joe Morgan Reds 1972.jpg
|caption=Morgan with the Cincinnati Reds in 1972
|position=[[Second baseman]]
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{birth date|mf=yes|1943|9|19}}
|birth_place=[[Bonham, Texas]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|mf=yes|2020|10|11|1943|9|19}}
|death_place= [[Danville, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 21
|debutyear=1963
|debutteam=Houston Colt .45s
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 30
|finalyear=1984
|finalteam=Oakland Athletics
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.271
|stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]
|stat2value=2,517
|stat3label=[[Home run]]s
|stat3value=268
|stat4label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat4value=1,133
|stat5label=[[Stolen base]]s
|stat5value=689
|teams=
* [[Houston Astros|Houston Colt .45s / Astros]] ({{mlby|1963}}–{{mlby|1971}})
* [[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|1972}}–{{mlby|1979}})
* [[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|1980}})
* [[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|1981}}–{{mlby|1982}})
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|1983}})
* [[Oakland Athletics]] ({{mlby|1984}})
|highlights=
* 10× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1966]], [[1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1970]], [[1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1972]]–[[1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1979]])
* 2× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1975}}, {{wsy|1976}})
* 2× [[NL MVP]] (1975, 1976)
* 5× [[Gold Glove Award]] (1973–1977)
* [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1982)
* [[Cincinnati Reds#Retired numbers|Cincinnati Reds No. 8]] retired
* [[Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum|Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame]]
* [[Houston Astros#Astros Hall of Fame|Houston Astros Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate=[[1990 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1990]]
|hofvote=81.8% (first ballot)
}}

'''Joe Leonard Morgan''' (September 19, 1943 – October 11, 2020) was an American professional [[baseball]] [[second baseman]] who played 22 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Houston Astros|Houston Colt .45s / Astros]], [[Cincinnati Reds]], [[San Francisco Giants]], [[Philadelphia Phillies]], and [[Oakland Athletics]] from 1963 to 1984. He won two [[World Series]] championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]] in each of those years. Considered one of the greatest second basemen of all time, Morgan was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[1990 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1990]] in his first year of eligibility.

After retiring as an active player, Morgan became a baseball [[Sports commentator|broadcaster]] for the Reds, Giants, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], and [[ESPN]], as well as a stint in the mid-to-late 1990s on [[NBC]]'s postseason telecasts, teamed with [[Bob Costas]] and [[Bob Uecker]]. He hosted a weekly nationally [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] radio show on [[Sports USA Radio Network|Sports USA]], while serving as a special advisor to the Reds.

==Playing career==
Morgan was African American<ref name="black" /> and the oldest of six children. Born in [[Bonham, Texas]], he lived there until he was five years old. His family then moved to [[Oakland, California]]. Morgan was nicknamed "Little Joe" for his diminutive {{convert|5|ft|7|in|adj=on}} stature. As a youth, he played [[American Legion baseball]] on a team sponsored by Post 471 in Oakland.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Joe Morgan (1943–2020)|journal=The American Legion Magazine|publisher=[[American Legion]]|date=December 2020|volume=189|number=6|page=8}}</ref> Morgan was a standout baseball player at [[Castlemont High School]], but did not receive any offers from major league teams due to his size. He played [[college baseball]] at [[Oakland City College]] before being signed by the [[Houston Colt .45s]] as an amateur free agent in 1962, receiving a $3,000 [[signing bonus]] and a $500 per month salary.<ref name=SABR>{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/joe-morgan/|title=Joe Morgan|first=Charles F.|last=Faber|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

=== Houston Colt .45s/Astros ===
Morgan made his major league baseball debut on September 21, 1963.<ref name=SABR/> Despite going on to win multiple World Series and MVPs for the Reds, he said his debut for the Colt .45s was the highlight of his career.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Joe Morgan, early Astros All-Star, dies|url=https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/former-astros-star-joe-morgan-dies|access-date=2021-01-31|website=MLB.com|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Morgan Joe Houston.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Morgan with Houston, {{c.|1969}}]]
Early in his career, Morgan struggled with his swing because he kept his back elbow down too low. Teammate [[Nellie Fox]] (also a stocky second baseman) suggested to Morgan that while at the plate he should flap his back arm like a [[chicken]] to keep his elbow up.<ref>Jauss, Bill. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/08/05/morgan-a-tribute-to-games-little-men/ "Morgan A Tribute To Game's 'Little Men': One Of His Idols Was Nellie Fox,"] ''Chicago Tribune'' (August 5, 1990).</ref> Morgan followed the advice, and his flapping arm became his signature.<ref name=SABR/>

Morgan played his first nine major league seasons for the Houston Astros, compiling 72 [[home run]]s and 219 [[stolen base]]s. He was named an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] twice during this period, in 1966 and 1970. On June 25, 1966, Morgan was struck on the kneecap by a line drive (hit by [[Lee Maye]]) during batting practice.<ref>[http://www.astrosdaily.com/history/1966/timeline.html "1966 – Timeline,"] Astros Daily. Accessed June 25, 2012.</ref> The broken kneecap forced Morgan out of the lineup for 40 games, during which the Astros went 11–29 (for a .275 [[winning percentage]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=morgajo02&t=b&year=1966|title=Joe Morgan 1966 Batting Game Log|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1966-schedule-scores.shtml|title=1966 Houston Astros Schedule |work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

Although Morgan played with distinction for Houston, the Astros wanted more power in their lineup. Additionally, manager [[Harry Walker]] considered Morgan a troublemaker.<ref name="TBT">{{Cite book|title=The Team-by-Team Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball |last=Purdy |first=Dennis |year=2006 |publisher=Workman Publishing Company |location=New York City |isbn=0-7611-3943-5 }}</ref> As a result, they traded Morgan to the [[Cincinnati Reds]] as part of a blockbuster multi-player deal on November 29, 1971, announced at baseball's winter meetings.<ref name=SABR/>

===Cincinnati Reds===
To this day the aforementioned trade is considered an epoch-making deal for Cincinnati, although at the time many experts felt that the Astros got the better end of the deal.<ref>Neyer, Rob (2006). ''Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders''. Simon & Schuster. p. 193.</ref> Power-hitting [[Lee May]], All-Star second baseman [[Tommy Helms]], and outfielder/pinch hitter [[Jimmy Stewart (baseball)|Jimmy Stewart]] went to the Astros. In addition to Morgan, included in the deal to the Reds were [[César Gerónimo]] (who became their regular right fielder and then center fielder), starting pitcher [[Jack Billingham]], veteran infielder [[Denis Menke]], and minor league outfielder [[Ed Armbrister]]. Morgan joined leadoff hitter [[Pete Rose]] as prolific catalysts at the top of the Reds' lineup.  Morgan added home run power, not always displayed with the Astros in the cavernous [[Astrodome]], outstanding speed and excellent defense.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theathletic.com/1656406/2020/03/06/the-baseball-100-no-21-joe-morgan/|title=The Baseball 100: No. 21, Joe Morgan|first=Joe|last=Posnanski|date=March 6, 2020|website=The Athletic|access-date=October 12, 2020|quote="[H]e hit 13 homers in '71 – and didn't appreciate that he played half his home games in the hitters' dungeon that was the Houston Astrodome."}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/morgan-joes|title=Joe Morgan|publisher=Baseball Hall of Fame|access-date=October 12, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[File:Joe Morgan - Cincinnati Reds.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Morgan with the Cincinnati Reds in 1977]]

As part of the [[Big Red Machine]], Morgan made eight consecutive [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] appearances (1972–79) to go along with his 1966 and 1970 appearances with Houston. Morgan, along with teammates [[Pete Rose]], [[Johnny Bench]], [[Tony Pérez]], and [[Dave Concepción]], led the Reds to consecutive championships in the [[World Series]]. He drove in [[Ken Griffey, Sr.|Ken Griffey]] for the winning run in Game 7 of the [[1975 World Series]]. Morgan was also the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[MLB Most Valuable Player award|MVP]] in 1975 and 1976.<ref name="sfgateorbit"/> He was the first second baseman in the history of the National League to win the MVP back to back.<ref>''Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures'', 2008 Edition, p. 152, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, {{ISBN|978-0-451-22363-0}}</ref> In Morgan's NL MVP years he combined for a .324 batting average, 44 home runs, 205 runs batted in, 246 bases on balls, and 127 stolen bases.<ref name="wpred">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/04/10/mlb-best-baseball-trades-ever/|title=The Red Sox have made two of the best trades in baseball history|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 12, 2020|url-access=limited}}</ref>

Morgan was an extremely capable hitter—especially in clutch situations. While his lifetime average was only .271, he hit between .288 and .327 during his peak years with the Reds. Additionally, he drew many walks, resulting in an excellent .392 [[on-base percentage]]. He also hit 268 home runs to go with his 449 doubles and 96 triples, excellent power for a middle infielder of his era, and was considered by some the finest base stealer of his generation (689 steals at greater than 80% success rate). Besides his prowess at the plate and on the bases, Morgan was an exceptional infielder, winning the [[Gold Glove Award]] in consecutive years from 1973 to 1977.<ref name="sfgateorbit">{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Hall-of-Famer-Joe-Morgan-one-of-Oakland-s-15639236.php |title=Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, one of Oakland's greatest players, dies at 77 |website=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> His short height proved an asset to him, as he had one of baseball's smallest [[strike zone]]s. "The umpires gave him everything. If he didn't swing at the pitch, it was a ball," recalled [[Tommy John]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=John|first1=Tommy|last2=Valenti|first2=Dan|title=TJ: My Twenty-Six Years in Baseball|publisher=Bantam|location=New York|year=1991|isbn=0-553-07184-X|page=275}}</ref>

===Later career===
Morgan returned to [[1980 Houston Astros season|Houston]] in 1980 as a free agent on a reported contract of $255,000 for one season.<ref name=SABR/> He helped the young Astros win the [[National League West|NL West]],  batting .243 in 141 games while leading the league in walks with 93. The Astros then lost the [[1980 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]] to the [[1980 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]]. Morgan bristled with team manager [[Bill Virdon]] at being taken out in late innings for [[Rafael Landestoy]]. Late in the year, Morgan expressed to one reporter his doubt in playing for Virdon again.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1980/10/15/Second-baseman-Joe-Morgan-who-told-a-reporter-he/8800340430400/ | title=Second baseman Joe Morgan, who told a reporter he }}</ref>

Morgan signed onto the [[San Francisco Giants]] for the next two seasons.<ref name=SABR/> The [[1982 San Francisco Giants season|1982 season]] had a bumpy start for the team, but they were neck and neck for second place with the [[1982 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] (each behind Atlanta) with a three-game set to possibly determine the division race. The Dodgers eliminated San Francisco on the second-to-last day, but Morgan hit a go-ahead three run home run to give the Giants a lead they would not relinquish that saw Los Angeles eliminated in favor of the Braves winning the NL West; Morgan batted .240 and played in just 90 games, his lowest number of games played since 1968. Morgan won the 1982 [[Willie Mac Award]] for his spirit and leadership.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schulman |first=Henry  |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Why-Giants-players-fans-care-so-much-about-6546472.php |title=Why Giants players, fans care so much about Willie Mac Award |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |date=October 2, 2015 |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> He batted .289 in 134 games the following season for the Giants.

[[File:Joe Morgan 1981 Giants.JPG|thumb|right|225px|Morgan at bat for the Giants in [[1981 San Francisco Giants season|1981]].]]
Morgan was acquired along with [[Al Holland]] by the [[1983 Philadelphia Phillies season|Phillies]] from the [[1982 San Francisco Giants season|Giants]] for [[Mike Krukow]], [[Mark Davis (pitcher)|Mark Davis]] and minor-league outfielder C.L. Penigar on December 14, 1982.<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/14/Phillies-trade-Krukow-2-others-for-Morgan-Holland/5451408690000/ "Phillies trade Krukow, 2 others for Morgan, Holland," ''United Press International'' (UPI), Tuesday, December 14, 1982.] Retrieved January 29, 2023.</ref> He was reunited with former Reds teammates [[Pete Rose]] and [[Tony Pérez]]. The lineup was soon dubbed the [[1983 Philadelphia Phillies season|"Wheeze Kids"]], referring to the considerable age in their starting lineup, where just one starting player was under 30 years old.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/remembering-1983-phillies | title=Pennant-winning "Wheeze Kids" | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref> On his 40th birthday in 1983, Morgan had four hits, including two home runs and a double, at [[Veterans Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score, September 19, 1983 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI198309190.shtml |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]] |access-date=24 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

The Phillies beat the Dodgers in the NLCS to reach the World Series for the second time in four seasons. Morgan got to play in the [[1983 World Series|World Series]] for the final time, facing off against the [[1983 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]]. In Game 1, he hit a home run in the sixth inning to tie the game; he became the second oldest player to hit a home run in the World Series ([[Enos Slaughter]] was a few months older at the age of 40). He went 5-for-19 in the Series, which included a second home run in Game 5, but the Phillies lost in five games.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1983_WS.shtml | title=1983 World Series - Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies (4-1) }}</ref> Morgan finished his career with the [[1984 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] in 1984, playing 116 games and batting .244. He collected a hit in his final game on September 30, collecting a double in his one at-bat before being taken out of the game.<ref name=SABR/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK198409300.shtml | title=Kansas City Royals vs Oakland Athletics Box Score: September 30, 1984 }}</ref>

==Post-playing career==

===Hall of Fame===
In 1990, Morgan was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] with more than 81% of the vote.  He entered together with [[Jim Palmer]], both in their first year of eligibility. Morgan and Palmer were the 25th/26th players in MLB history to be elected in their first year of eligibility.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/first-ballot-mlb-hall-of-famers-c300943350|title = Every first-ballot Hall of Famer in MLB history| website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref>

In 2017, Morgan wrote a letter to the Hall of Fame in which he asked that players who had cheated by using performance-enhancing steroids not be elected into the Hall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/joe-morgan-wrote-a-letter-asking-hall-of-fame-voters-not-to-support-ped-users/|title = Joe Morgan wrote a letter asking Hall of Fame voters not to support PED users| date=November 21, 2017 }}</ref>

===Legacy===
After his career ended, Morgan was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1987, and his jersey number 8 was retired. The Reds dedicated a statue for Morgan at [[Great American Ball Park]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Warnemuende |first=Jeremy |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-unveil-hall-of-famer-joe-morgans-statue-before-saturdays-game/c-59857238 |title=Reds unveil Morgan's statue before Saturday's game |work=MLB.com |date=September 7, 2013 |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = CincinnatiReds8.png
|Name   = Joe Morgan 
|Number = 8
|Team   = Cincinnati Reds
|Year   = 1987
|}}
In the ''New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract'', [[Bill James]] named Morgan the best second baseman in baseball history, ahead of #2 [[Eddie Collins]] and #3 [[Rogers Hornsby]]. He also named Morgan as the "greatest percentages player in baseball history", due to his strong fielding percentage, stolen base percentage, [[walk-to-strikeout ratio]], and walks per plate appearance.<ref>Bill James, ''The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract'' (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001), 479–481.</ref> The statement was included with the caveat that many players in baseball history could not be included in the formula due to lack of data. In the four decades since Morgan's retirement, only one player ([[Rickey Henderson]]) has had as many home runs and stolen bases as Morgan did for a career.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-12 |title=Baseball keeps losing legends in 2020, and Joe Morgan might have been the smallest and mightiest of them all |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30100937/baseball-keeps-losing-legends-2020-joe-morgan-the-smallest-mightiest-all |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Morgan had at least [[20–50 club|20 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season]] three times during his career,<ref>{{cite news|first=Gordon|last=Wittenmyer|title=Here's the story behind how Elly De La Cruz is making Reds history after win over Marlins|date=August 6, 2024|newspaper=Cincinnati Enquirer|url=https://www.aol.com/heres-story-behind-elly-la-014539120.html|via=AOL}}</ref> including twice with at least 60 steals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reds' Elly De La Cruz becomes fifth player to reach 20 HRs, 60 SB in a season|date=August 21, 2024|work=Sportsnet|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/reds-elly-de-la-cruz-becomes-fifth-player-to-reach-20-hrs-60-sb-in-a-season/|access-date=December 29, 2024}}</ref>

In 1999, Morgan ranked Number 60 on ''[[The Sporting News]]''{{'}} list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml |title=Baseball's 100 Greatest Players |work=[[The Sporting News]] |date=1998 |access-date=July 10, 2017}}</ref> and was nominated as a finalist for the [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/mlb_history_moreinfo.jsp |title=The All-Century Team &#124; MLB.com |publisher=Mlb.mlb.com |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

Morgan served as a member of the board of the [[Baseball Assistance Team]], a [[501(c)(3) organization]] dedicated to helping former Major League, Minor League, and [[Negro league]] players through financial and medical hardships. In addition, since 1994, he served on the board of directors for the Baseball Hall of Fame, and was vice-chairman from 2000 until his death in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballhall.org/about-the-hall/staff/board-of-directors|title=Board of Directors|website=Baseball Hall of Fame}}</ref>

==Broadcasting career==

===Local gigs and college baseball===
Morgan started his broadcasting career in 1985 for the [[1985 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]].<ref name="dispatch">{{cite news|title=Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Joe Morgan dies at 77|url=https://eu.dispatch.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2020/10/12/cincinnati-reds-hall-famer-joe-morgan-dies-77/5966790002/|work=[[The Columbus Dispatch]]|author1=Nightengale, Bobby|date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> On September 11, 1985, Morgan, along with his television [[List of Cincinnati Reds broadcasters|broadcasting partner]] [[Ken Wilson (sportscaster)|Ken Wilson]], was on hand to call [[Pete Rose]]'s record-breaking 4,192nd career hit. [[1986 San Francisco Giants season|A year later]], Morgan started a nine-year stint as an [[List of San Francisco Giants broadcasters|announcer]] for the [[San Francisco Giants]]. Morgan added one more local gig when he joined the [[Oakland Athletics]]' [[List of Oakland Athletics broadcasters|broadcasting team]] for the [[1995 Oakland Athletics season|1995 season]].<ref name=awfulobit>{{cite news|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/joe-morgan-hall-of-fame-baseball-player-acclaimed-broadcaster-passes-away-at-77.html |title=Joe Morgan, Hall of Fame baseball player and acclaimed broadcaster, passes away at 77|website=Awful Announcing|author1=Casselberry, Ian |date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

In 1986, ESPN hired Morgan to call ''[[Monday Night Baseball]]'' and [[College World Series]] games.<ref name=apnews>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/1f770e5c111e433a423d603095d4ab9e |title=Joe Morgan and Jay Johnstone, a pair of former major league |publisher=[[The Associated Press]] |date=March 7, 1986 |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

===ABC Sports===
From 1988 to 1989, Morgan served as an announcer for [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]], where he helped announce ''[[Monday Night Baseball|Monday Night]]'' and ''[[Thursday Night Baseball]]'' games (providing backup for the led announcing crew composed of [[Al Michaels]], [[Tim McCarver]], and [[Jim Palmer]]), the [[1988 American League Championship Series]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Sarni|first=Jim|date=October 7, 1988|title=ABC Is Good Or Bad, Depending On Series|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-10-07/sports/8802280638_1_mccarver-abc-dodgers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416133209/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1988-10-07/sports/8802280638_1_mccarver-abc-dodgers|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 16, 2015|newspaper=[[Sun Sentinel]]|location=South Florida }}</ref> with [[Gary Bender]] and [[Reggie Jackson]], and served as a field reporter for the [[1989 World Series]] along with [[Gary Thorne]] (Morgan's regular season partner in 1989). Morgan was on the field at San Francisco's [[Candlestick Park]] alongside [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Willie Mays]] (whom Morgan was getting set to interview) the moment the [[1989 Loma Prieta earthquake|Loma Prieta earthquake]] hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/will-clark-matt-williams-reflect-on-1989-loma-prieta-quake/79240/ |title=Will Clark, Matt Williams Reflect on 1989 Quake |publisher=NBC Bay Area |date=October 17, 2014 |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

===NBC Sports===
From 1994 to 2000, Morgan teamed with [[Bob Costas]] and [[Bob Uecker]] (until 1997) to call baseball games on [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]] (and in association with [[The Baseball Network]] from 1994 to 1995).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-10-14-1996288007-story.html |title=Costas-Morgan-Uecker, talent combo that works  |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 14, 1996 |author1=Kent, Milton |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-06-02-9806020074-story.html |title=Uecker Quits; NBC Won't Replace Him  |work=Chicago Tribune |date=June 2, 1998 |author1=Hirsley, Michael |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> During this period, Morgan helped call three World Series ([[1995 World Series|1995]], [[1997 World Series|1997]], and [[1999 World Series|1999]]) and four All-Star Games ([[1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1994]], [[1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1996]], [[1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1998]], and [[2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2000]]). Morgan also called three [[American League Championship Series]] ([[1996 American League Championship Series|1996]], [[1998 American League Championship Series|1998]], and [[2000 American League Championship Series|2000]]) and three [[National League Championship Series]] ([[1995 National League Championship Series|1995]] alongside [[Greg Gumbel]], [[1997 National League Championship Series|1997]], and [[1999 National League Championship Series|1999]]).<ref name=awfulobit/>

Morgan spent a previous stint (1986–1987) with NBC calling regional ''[[Major League Baseball Game of the Week|Game of the Week]]'' telecasts alongside [[Bob Carpenter (sportscaster)|Bob Carpenter]].<ref>{{YouTube|title=1987-09-19 NBC GOW Intro_Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants|id=payE0Fljr-4}}</ref> During NBC's coverage of the [[1985 National League Championship Series|1985]]<ref>{{YouTube|title=1985 10 09 1985 NLCS Game 1 St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles|id=eaE3HTt6MIc}}</ref> and [[1987 National League Championship Series]], Morgan served as a [[Major League Baseball: An Inside Look|pregame]] analyst alongside hosts [[Dick Enberg]] (in 1985)<ref>{{cite news|title=Scully's Team the Winner in Playoffs|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/15/sports/tv-sports-scully-s-team-the-winner-in-playoffs.html|first=Michael|last=Goodwin|date=October 15, 1985|access-date=October 12, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> and [[Marv Albert]] (in 1987).<ref>{{cite news|title=Highlights|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/141122949/|page=45|date=October 6, 1987|access-date=October 12, 2020|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|quote="Marv Albert tackles the pre-game show assignment with Joe Morgan."}}</ref>

===ESPN===
[[File:Joe Morgan 2011.JPG|thumb|right|225px|Morgan in the Baseball Hall of Fame parade in 2011.]]
Morgan was a member of [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]]'s lead baseball broadcast team alongside [[Jon Miller]] and [[Orel Hershiser]]. Besides teaming with Miller for ''[[Sunday Night Baseball]]'' (since its inception in 1990) telecasts, Morgan also teamed with Miller for [[League Championship Series]] and [[World Series]] broadcasts on [[Major League Baseball on ESPN|ESPN Radio]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theathletic.com/1756085/2020/04/19/a-national-treasure-how-sunday-night-baseball-got-its-start-30-years-ago/|title='A national treasure': How 'Sunday Night Baseball' got its start 30 years ago|first=Andrew|last=Baggarly|date=April 19, 2020|website=The Athletic|access-date=October 12, 2020}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=ESPN Bids Miller and Morgan a Not-So-Fond Farewell|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/sports/baseball/12sandomir.html|first=Richard|last=Sandomir|date=November 11, 2010|access-date=October 12, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

In 1999, Morgan teamed with his then-[[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]] colleague [[Bob Costas]] to call two weekday night telecasts for [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]]. The first was on [[Wednesday Night Baseball|Wednesday]], August 25 with [[1999 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] playing against the [[1999 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]]. The second was on Tuesday, September 21 with the [[1999 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] playing against the [[1999 New York Mets season|New York Mets]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1999/08/25/Sports-Media/MEDIA-NOTES.aspx|title=Media Notes|date=August 25, 1999|work=Sports Business Daily|publisher=Advance Publications|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> He won two [[Sports Emmy Awards]] for [[Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio and Sports Event Analyst|Outstanding Sports Event Analyst]] in 1998 and 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/joe-morgan|title=Joe Morgan|website=[[Emmy Awards]]|access-date=January 27, 2023}}</ref>

In 2006, he called the [[2006 Little League World Series|Little League World Series]] Championship with [[Brent Musburger]] and [[Orel Hershiser]] on [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]], replacing the recently fired [[Harold Reynolds]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2006/08/Issue-215/Sports-Media/People-Personalities-Joe-Morgan-Replaces-Reynolds-On-LLWS.aspx |title=People & Personalities: Joe Morgan Replaces Reynolds On LLWS |work=Sports Business Journal|date=August 4, 2006 |access-date=July 10, 2017}}</ref> During the 2006 MLB playoffs, the network had Morgan pull double duty by calling the first half of the [[2006 New York Mets season|Mets]]–[[2006 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Dodgers]] [[2006 National League Division Series|playoff game]] at [[Shea Stadium]] before traveling across town to call the [[2006 New York Yankees season|Yankees]]–[[2006 Detroit Tigers season|Tigers]] night [[2006 American League Division Series|game]] at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2006-10-02-weekend_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=Networks take N.Y. minute to decide baseball's two postseason money series | date=October 2, 2006 | access-date=May 6, 2010}}</ref>

In 2009, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''{{'}}s [[Joe Posnanski]] spoke about the perceived disparity between Morgan's celebrated playing style and his on-air persona:
:"The disconnect between Morgan the player and Morgan the announcer is one that I'm just not sure anyone has figured. [[Bill James]] tells a great story about how one time Jon Miller showed Morgan Bill's ''New Historical Baseball Abstract'', which has Morgan ranked as the best second baseman of all time, ahead of [[Rogers Hornsby]]. Well, Morgan starts griping that this was ridiculous, that Hornsby hit .358 in his career, and Morgan never hit .358, and so on. And there it was, perfectly aligned—Joe Morgan the announcer arguing against Joe Morgan the player."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.gelfmagazine.com/archives/the_sportswriting_machine.php |title=The Sportswriting Machine |work=[[Gelf Magazine]] |last=Roth |first=David |date=September 26, 2009 |access-date=July 10, 2017}}</ref>

In the wake of Morgan taking an official role with the Cincinnati Reds as a "special adviser to baseball operations", it was announced on November 8, 2010, that Morgan would not be returning for the 2011 season as an announcer on ''ESPN Sunday Night Baseball''. His former broadcast partner Jon Miller's contract expired in 2010 and ESPN chose not to renew his contract. Morgan and Miller were replaced by [[Bobby Valentine]] and [[Dan Shulman]], respectively (while ESPN retained Orel Hershiser, who joined the ''Sunday Night Baseball'' telecasts in 2010).<ref>{{cite web|author=Richard Sandomir |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/12/sports/baseball/12sandomir.html |title=ESPN Bids Miller and Morgan a Not-So-Fond Farewell – The New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 11, 2010 |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

===Other appearances===
Morgan was also a broadcaster in the ''[[MLB 2K]]'' video game series from [[2K Sports]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hall of Famer, Big Red Machine second baseman Joe Morgan dies at 77|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2020/10/12/joe-morgan-dies-reds-espn/5966693002/|first=Chris|last=Bumbaca|date=October 12, 2020|access-date=October 12, 2020|newspaper=USA Today}}</ref>

It was announced on June 17, 2011, that Morgan would begin a daily, one-hour general-sports-talk radio program on [[Sports USA Radio Network]], beginning on August 22 of that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/joe-morgan-getting-new-weekday-radio-show/89010 |title=Joe Morgan Getting New Weekday Radio Show |work=[[Adweek]] |last=Martin |first=Cam |date=June 17, 2011 |access-date=July 10, 2017}}</ref>

===Return to the Reds===
In April 2010, Morgan returned to the Reds as an advisor to baseball operations, including community outreach for the Reds.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/article/9464838 |title=Morgan returns to Reds as advisor |work=reds.mlb.com |last=Sheldon |first=Mark |date=April 21, 2010 |access-date=July 10, 2017}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Morgan married Gloria Stewart, his high school girlfriend, on April 3, 1967. They had two children, and divorced in the 1980s. He then married Theresa Behymer in 1990. They had twins in 1991.<ref name=SABR/>

In March 1988, while transiting through [[Los Angeles International Airport]], Morgan was violently thrown to the floor, handcuffed, and arrested by [[Los Angeles Police Department]] (LAPD) detectives who profiled him as a [[Mule (smuggling)|drug courier]].<ref name="black">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-11-me-134-story.html|title=Joe Morgan's Suit Protests 'Profile of Drug Dealer' That Led to Arrest : Civil rights: The former baseball star says he was unfairly targeted by police and detained at LAX because he is black. A second trial on his claim is set.|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 11, 1990}}</ref> He filed and won a civil rights case against the LAPD in 1991,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eQchAAAAIBAJ&pg=3648%2C1636899|title=Joe Morgan testifies|date=February 12, 1991|newspaper=[[The Hour (newspaper)|The Hour]]}}</ref> and was awarded $540,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-04-30-me-1104-story.html|title=Judge Upholds Award Given to Joe Morgan|date=April 30, 1991|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> In 1993, a federal court upheld his claim that his [[civil rights]] had been violated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/997/1244/382186/|title=Joe Morgan, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Bill Woessner, Defendant,andclay Searle; Los Angeles City, Defendants-appellants (two Cases), 997 F.2d 1244 (9th Cir. 1993)|date=June 10, 1993|publisher=www.law.justia.com}}</ref>

In 2015, Morgan was diagnosed with [[Myelodysplastic syndrome]], which developed into [[leukemia]]. He received a [[bone marrow transplant]] from one of his daughters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/how-joe-morgans-brush-leukemia-gave-fathers-day-new-meaning |title=How Joe Morgan's brush with leukemia gave Father's Day a new meaning |publisher=NBC Sports |date=June 19, 2020 |author1=Poole, Monte|format=Giants |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> Morgan died on October 11, 2020, at the age of 77, at his home in [[Danville, California]]. He suffered from a non-specified [[polyneuropathy]] in the time leading up to his death.<ref name=AP>{{cite news|title=Joe Morgan, driving force of Big Red Machine, dies at 77|url=https://apnews.com/article/mlb-baseball-cincinnati-pete-rose-whitey-ford-d706f11ad7f1249e2d1c494b1e21f47d|first=Joe|last=Kay|date=October 12, 2020|access-date=October 12, 2020|work=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2020/10/12/cincinnati-reds-hall-famer-joe-morgan-dies-77/5966790002/|title=Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Joe Morgan dies at 77|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|author=Bobby Nightengale|date=October 12, 2020|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref> Behymer-Morgan survives him.

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball|Texas}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame]]
* [[Houston Astros award winners and league leaders]]
*[[List of Gold Glove middle infield duos]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career hits leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career total bases leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|morgan-joe}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=119371|espn=407|br=m/morgajo02|fangraphs=1009179|brm=morgan001joe|retro=M/Pmorgj001}}
*{{Sabrbio|bf4f7a6e}}
*[https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/09/07/SP53776.DTL ''San Francisco Chronicle''] – Joe Morgan's clutch homer knocked the Dodgers out of the pennant race on the final day of the 1982 season and made the Braves champions.


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{{succession box| before = [[Lou Brock]]<br />[[Bob Watson]]<br />[[George Foster (baseball)|George Foster]] | title = [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|National League Player of the Month]]| years = April 1975<br />June 1975<br />August 1976| after = [[Bob Watson]]<br />[[Dave Kingman]]<br />[[Steve Garvey]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Tom Seaver]] | title = Lead color commentator, ''[[Major League Baseball on NBC]]''| years = 1994&ndash;2000<br />(with [[Bob Uecker]] from 1994&ndash;1997) | after = Last}}
{{Succession box| before = First | title = Lead color commentator, ''[[Sunday Night Baseball]]''| years = 1990&ndash;2010<br />(with [[Steve Phillips]] in 2009 and [[Orel Hershiser]] in 2010) | after = [[Orel Hershiser]] and [[Bobby Valentine]]}}
{{Succession box| before = [[Jeff Torborg]]| title = [[List of World Series broadcasters|World Series network radio color commentator]] | years = 1998; 2001-2010 | after = [[Rick Sutcliffe]]<br />[[Orel Hershiser]] and [[Bobby Valentine]]}}
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