Former Boston Red Sox manager Joe Morgan is introduced during a 1986 20-year team reunion before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies on May 25, 2016 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox …
Joe Morgan, the former Boston Red Sox manager who guided his hometown team to two division titles, has died at 95.
What we know:
Morgan died Monday at his home in Walpole, Massachusetts, according to the Red Sox. A longtime New England baseball figure, he spent decades in the sport as a player, scout, minor league manager and coach before taking over the Red Sox midway through the 1988 season.
The former skipper became an instant Boston folk hero during the club’s late-summer surge known as "Morgan Magic," when the Red Sox won 19 of their first 20 games after he replaced John McNamara. Boston captured the AL East title that year and again the following year in 1990, both ending in season-ending sweeps in the ALCS.
What they're saying:
"Joe Morgan holds a special place in Red Sox history," Principal Owner John Henry said in the statement. "When he took over in 1988, he changed the course of a season and created one of the most memorable chapters in the history of this club. The two division titles that followed only strengthened a bond with Red Sox fans that endured for the rest of his life. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him."
Big picture view:
Inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2006, he was instrumental in managing some of the sport's biggest names, such as Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs and Rich Gedman in both the minors and majors.
What they're saying:
"Joe was a fun manager to play for — always extremely positive. When you didn’t perform well, he’d say, ‘Don’t worry about it. You’ll be great next time — I guarantee it!’" said Clemens, who won the first three of his seven Cy Young Awards with Boston.
Dig deeper:
Morgan’s baseball career stretched far beyond his Red Sox tenure. He managed in the minors for Pittsburgh and Boston, coached at the major-league level and spent years as a scout and instructor. Before entering coaching, he played briefly with five major league teams after initially being signed by the Boston Braves, between 1959 and 1964 he spent time with the Milwaukee Braves, Kansas City Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals.
Morgan is survived by his wife, three children and several grandchildren.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.