GOAT Second Baseman, MLB Black Knight Joe Morgan Passes At 77

When you talk about the greatest all-around MLB players to ever grace the diamond, Joe Morgan undoubtedly falls in that category. The diminutive Morgan was like an explosive gasoline tank, playing 22 seasons and retiring from the sport as a 10-time All-Star, a 2-time National League MVP, a 5-time Gold Glove Winner, and a 2-time World Series Champion.

We mourn the passing of Joe Morgan, a Hall of Famer, two-time MVP and two-time World Series champion. He was 77. pic.twitter.com/8RTRiRCeGq

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2020

When you reflect on his brilliant career, Morgan had one of the more accomplished baseball lives. After his career was over, Morgan announced for ABC, NBC Sports, and was a member of ESPN’s lead baseball broadcast team alongside Jon Miller until 2011.

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We lost another legendary Black Knight, Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan passes at age 77. Morgan is considered by many to be the best second baseman of all-time as the catalyst for Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” in the ‘70s who won World Series championships in 1975 and 1976 and dominated the National League for the entire decade. After 22 Hall of Fame seasons, 2,517 hits, 268 homers and 689 steals (11th in MLB history) Morgan’s popularity expanded with his long run as a talented announcer, calling World Series and playoff games. Morgan’s death follows the passing of St. Louis Cardinals icons Lou Brock and Bob Gibson — legendary MLB players and African-American dazzlers of the diamond. These pioneers may be gone, but their legacies are permanently cemented in the MLB record books and their impact on the game and pioneering spirits will not soon be forgotten as a new era of Black ballers emerge to carry on tradition.

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The vocals on the soundtracks of so many October moments were laid down by Morgan and his analysis of the game. Morgan was inducted into the Reds’ Hall of Fame in 1987, and his jersey number “8” was retired.

In 1990, Morgan was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot with 81.8% of the vote.

Considered the best second baseman to ever do it, Morgan was known for flapping his back arm like a chicken (to keep his elbow up) while in the batter’s box. The motion became his signature characteristic and was copied by young ballers across the country. It was another reminder of how uniquely talented Morgan was and how his originality, incredible ability and contributions to the legacy of Back baseball are undeniable and unforgettable.