Reds legend Joe Morgan dies at age 77
Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan died Sunday at the age of 77, the Cincinnati Reds announced on Monday.
Morgan suffered from a nerve condition called polyneuropathy.
"The Reds family is heartbroken. Joe was a giant in the game and was adored by the fans in this city," Reds CEO Bob Castellini said in a statement. "He had a lifelong loyalty and dedication to this organization that extended to our current team and front-office staff.
"As a cornerstone on one of the greatest teams in baseball history, his contributions to this franchise will live forever. Our hearts ache for his Big Red Machine teammates."
There was no Big Red Machine without Joe Morgan. pic.twitter.com/BI5h0GWbtR
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) October 12, 2020
The 10-time All-Star played 22 seasons with the Reds, Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics.
Morgan won back-to-back National League MVP awards in 1975 and 1976, during which the Reds won two straight World Series titles.
The Reds retired Morgan's No. 8 in 1998, eight years after he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
After his playing career ended, Morgan started his broadcasting career in 1985. He joined ESPN in 1990 and was a member of the network's lead baseball broadcast team for Sunday Night Baseball until 2010.
Morgan's death follows those of many other former players in 2020, including Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Tom Seaver, Whitey Ford, Tony Fernandez, Al Kaline, and Don Larsen.