Former big league player, manager, and longtime staple of the Red Sox organization Joe Morgan passed away on Saturday at age 95. Morgan’s long career in baseball is best remembered for his time as Boston’s manager from 1988-91, as the Sox won a pair of AL East titles during his tenure.
Born in Walpole, Massachusetts, the man known within Red Sox Nation as “Walpole Joe” actually began his pro career with Boston’s other team, as the Braves signed him to his first contract in 1952. Between two years of military service and several years in the minors, Morgan didn’t make his MLB debut until 1959 when the Braves had moved to Milwaukee. He went on to play in 88 big league games over parts of four seasons from 1959-64, suiting up with the Braves, Athletics, Phillies, Indians, and Cardinals.
The 1966 season was Morgan’s last as a player, and his first as a manager in the Pirates’ farm system. Morgan managed at several different levels of Pittsburgh’s organization through the 1973 season, and he spent 1972 as a member of the big league coaching staff. Following the 1973 campaign, Morgan returned to Massachusetts to join the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox for what ended up as a nine-year run as the PawSox manager.
Morgan worked as a scout for the Red Sox in 1983-84 before joining Boston’s big league coaching staff for the start of the 1985 season. His role on the staff changed a few times in the next four seasons, and Morgan was acting as the third base coach when he was promoted to interim manager in July 1988. The Red Sox had a modest 43-42 record at the All-Star break, prompting ownership to fire skipper John McNamara and install Morgan as a temporary fix until a new full-time manager could be hired.
Instead, Morgan entrenched himself in the job since the Red Sox suddenly became almost unbeatable. Boston went 19-1 in Morgan’s first 20 games as manager, in a memorable surge that became known as “Morgan Magic.” Younger fans probably heard this phrase referenced many times earlier this season when the Red Sox went from the AL East basement to playoff contenders thanks to their incredible 32-5 record from late June to the start of August.
The 1988 Sox went on to win the AL East being swept by the Oakland A’s in the ALCS. Another division title and another sweep at the Athletics’ hands took place in 1990, and Morgan also posted winning records in both 1989 and 1991. However, just as Morgan’s managerial run began with a major hot streak, it ended in reverse fashion — Boston went 2-9 in the season’s final 11 games to erase any chance at another AL East crown. This late slump cost Morgan his job, and he retired from baseball following the year with a career 301-262 managerial record.
We at MLB Trade Rumors send our condolences to Morgan’s family, friends, and many fans.
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