RIP Joe Morgan

BMW · 10-12-2020, 12:13 PM

Back to back MVP awards - and just that insane batting eye. I came to baseball in the mid 80s and didn't grasp how good he was until much later, having missed his prime.

Ty Cobb · 10-12-2020, 12:16 PM

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/j...er-dead-at-77/

It's been a rough couple of weeks in the obituary column, and another piece of our youth is gone away. RIP, Joe...

CBeisbol · 10-12-2020, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Cobb

It's been a rough couple of weeks in the obituary column,

Sure has
Like 4000 additional people are dying every day

joefromchicago · 10-12-2020, 12:28 PM

"Joe Morgan was the greatest second baseman to ever play the game." -- Joe Morgan

Déjà Bru · 10-12-2020, 01:05 PM

I don't know whether it's a good sign or not when you look at a thread title or a headline like this and you say "What? What happened to him?" And then you look him up and realize that he was 77 and he essentially died of old age.

It's bad when you see people die who, in your mind, just recently were playing ball or at least announcing ballgames (25+ years doing that alone!).

But it's good if you are not counting the years, particularly in regard to yourself, and such news does indeed come as a surprise. Time passes quickly; make good use of it and keep your eyes trained forward.

BIG17EASY · 10-12-2020, 01:10 PM

Sad news, but can we keep these types of posts to the Talk Sports forum? Thanks.

actionjackson · 10-12-2020, 02:00 PM

Dear 2020,

Deleted.

Yer boy,

action

actionjackson · 10-12-2020, 02:01 PM

Also, RIP Mr. Morgan, and condolences to your family and friends.

RchW · 10-12-2020, 02:42 PM

Sad day. In his prime he was the best all round player in the game.

Jason Moyer · 10-12-2020, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

Sad day. In his prime he was the best all round player in the game.

But he hit .271 and only managed 100 RBI once!

(And if that seems mean, you know damn well Joe would be agreeing with me right now).

actionjackson · 10-12-2020, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

Sad day. In his prime he was the best all round player in the game.

Don't even have to go peak on that one. In the time period between his rookie season in 1965 and his final season in 1984, you could argue there wasn't a better position player in the game than Joe Morgan. A lot of great players played over that 20 season period. Joe Morgan may have been the best of them, which is really saying something.

actionjackson · 10-12-2020, 03:29 PM

I'll go even further. Tom Seaver was the pitcher of the seventies, and Joe Morgan was easily the position player of the seventies. There were so many ways he could beat you. What a player.

Boomcoach · 10-12-2020, 03:35 PM

As a Reds fan, I always enjoyed watching Joe play. Possibly even more, however, I loved listening to him as a broadcaster. He had chances to be a coach, but wasn't interested and always seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself behind the mic.

thehef · 10-12-2020, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Moyer

But he hit .271 and only managed 100 RBI once!

(And if that seems mean, you know damn well Joe would be agreeing with me right now).

Morgan spent about 45% of his career as a #2 hitter, a spot where we don't expect guys driving in a 100 runs. In that spot, over 550 AB's he drove in an average of 56 runs, drew 102 walks, scored 99 runs, hit 15 homers, and swiped 45 bases.

Primarily in the Big Red Machine's title winning seasons of 1975 & 1976, and for about 31% of his career, Joe hit in the #3 spot, where he drove in an average (over 550 AB's) of 91 runs, drew 117 walks, scored 103 runs, hit 20 homers, and stole 42 bases.

His decent but perhaps underwhelming .271 career batting avg is offset, IMO, by the number of walks he drew, especially in his heyday years.

He was also a bit of late-bloomer. Although a decent player over his first several seasons in Houston, he didn't start building his HOF resume until he arrived in Cincinnati (adding more power, getting more hits & walks, and become an elite base-stealer). And after that he probably hung around a bit too long. While we don't generally define a player's legacy by only considering his best years, it's worth noting that from 1972-1977, he may have been the most dangerous offensive player in the game..

CBeisbol · 10-12-2020, 04:07 PM

From 72-77 Morgan had a 162 wRC+
Second was Willie Stargell at 155

Interesting that Morgan likely would have argued against himself

mytreds · 10-12-2020, 04:21 PM

I was too young to see him play, but I greatly enjoyed his color commentary with Jon Miller. Very sad to hear of his passing.

Antonin · 10-12-2020, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RchW

Sad day. In his prime he was the best all round player in the game.

Yes indeed. I was really sad to hear this news.

CONN CHRIS · 10-12-2020, 04:47 PM

I suppose that it is just the general stress and malaise talking but it sure seems like we are losing a larger than normal number of greats this year. Did they all get together and decide 2020 was the year to check out?

RIP Joe (Someone had to be the patron saint of counting stats!)

Curve Ball Dave · 10-12-2020, 06:16 PM

Easily in the conversation as being among one of the best second basemen of all time.

actionjackson · 10-12-2020, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curve Ball Dave

Easily in the conversation as being among one of the best second basemen of all time.

Definitely on Mt. Rushmore at 2B with Rogers Hornsby, Eddie Collins, and Nap Lajoie.

10-12-2020, 12:13 PM	#1
BMW Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,030	RIP Joe Morgan Back to back MVP awards - and just that insane batting eye. I came to baseball in the mid 80s and didn't grasp how good he was until much later, having missed his prime. __________________

10-12-2020, 12:28 PM	#4
joefromchicago Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 3,630	"Joe Morgan was the greatest second baseman to ever play the game." -- Joe Morgan __________________ American-Ethnic (and Canadian) Namesets Historical Minor League Schedules 1870s City/Team Nickname Randomizers "It's Usually Sunny in Philadelphia" weather mod

10-12-2020, 01:05 PM	#5
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: United States Posts: 10,456	I don't know whether it's a good sign or not when you look at a thread title or a headline like this and you say "What? What happened to him?" And then you look him up and realize that he was 77 and he essentially died of old age. It's bad when you see people die who, in your mind, just recently were playing ball or at least announcing ballgames (25+ years doing that alone!). But it's good if you are not counting the years, particularly in regard to yourself, and such news does indeed come as a surprise. Time passes quickly; make good use of it and keep your eyes trained forward. __________________ - Bru

10-12-2020, 02:00 PM	#7
actionjackson Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 6,123	Dear 2020, Deleted. Yer boy, action __________________ My corrected FaceGen IDs .zip file here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oRd...usp=share_link OOTP post re-FG IDs here: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...postcount=3198 My DB which restores Fed Leaguers here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZoN...B2GCcULxt/view Instructions for the DB: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...07&postcount=9 Last edited by actionjackson; 10-13-2020 at 05:11 PM. Reason: bypassing the curse filter.

10-12-2020, 02:01 PM	#8
actionjackson Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 6,123	Also, RIP Mr. Morgan, and condolences to your family and friends. __________________ My corrected FaceGen IDs .zip file here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oRd...usp=share_link OOTP post re-FG IDs here: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...postcount=3198 My DB which restores Fed Leaguers here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZoN...B2GCcULxt/view Instructions for the DB: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...07&postcount=9

10-12-2020, 12:16 PM	#2
Ty Cobb Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Grayling, MI Posts: 3,948 Blog Entries: 66	RIP, Joe https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/j...er-dead-at-77/ It's been a rough couple of weeks in the obituary column, and another piece of our youth is gone away. RIP, Joe... __________________ “What’s the most you ever lost on a coin toss?” “Everyone is an atheist until Templars begin marching in the rain.” Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder. It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance.—Thomas Sowell "Alinsky works for me now."

10-12-2020, 01:10 PM	#6
BIG17EASY Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,291	Sad news, but can we keep these types of posts to the Talk Sports forum? Thanks.

10-12-2020, 02:42 PM	#9
RchW Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The big smoke Posts: 15,628	Sad day. In his prime he was the best all round player in the game. __________________ Cheers RichW If you’re looking for a good cause to donate money to please consider a Donation to Parkinson’s Canada. It may help me have a better future and if not me, someone else. Thanks. “Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” Frank Wilhoit

10-12-2020, 03:29 PM	#12
actionjackson Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 6,123	I'll go even further. Tom Seaver was the pitcher of the seventies, and Joe Morgan was easily the position player of the seventies. There were so many ways he could beat you. What a player. __________________ My corrected FaceGen IDs .zip file here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oRd...usp=share_link OOTP post re-FG IDs here: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...postcount=3198 My DB which restores Fed Leaguers here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZoN...B2GCcULxt/view Instructions for the DB: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...07&postcount=9

10-12-2020, 03:35 PM	#13
Boomcoach All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 806	As a Reds fan, I always enjoyed watching Joe play. Possibly even more, however, I loved listening to him as a broadcaster. He had chances to be a coach, but wasn't interested and always seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself behind the mic. __________________ Boomcoach Let's Go Crew

10-12-2020, 04:07 PM	#15
CBeisbol Banned Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Ban land in 3...2... Posts: 2,943	From 72-77 Morgan had a 162 wRC+ Second was Willie Stargell at 155 Interesting that Morgan likely would have argued against himself

10-12-2020, 04:21 PM	#16
mytreds All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2019 Posts: 857	I was too young to see him play, but I greatly enjoyed his color commentary with Jon Miller. Very sad to hear of his passing. __________________ “Baseball isn’t statistics; it’s Joe DiMaggio rounding second.” “Once, centuries ago, it was the beloved national pastime of the Americas, Wesley. Abandoned by a society that prized fast food and faster games. Lost to impatience.” “ The term ‘WAR’ should be replaced by ‘WAG’. WAR isn’t an actual measurement; it’s just a wild-ass guess” -Bill James RIP National League 1876-2022 I make custom ballparks.

10-12-2020, 04:47 PM	#18
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 28,370	I suppose that it is just the general stress and malaise talking but it sure seems like we are losing a larger than normal number of greats this year. Did they all get together and decide 2020 was the year to check out? RIP Joe (Someone had to be the patron saint of counting stats!) __________________ Check Out My Cards!

10-12-2020, 06:16 PM	#19
Curve Ball Dave Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,271	Easily in the conversation as being among one of the best second basemen of all time. __________________ "Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing"-Warren Spahn.