Former Boston Red Sox Manager Passes Away

Ahead of Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, the Boston Red Sox announced the passing of former Red Sox manager, and author of the 1988 “Morgan Magic” season, Joseph Michael Morgan, at the age of 95. 

After a four-year professional baseball career with the Milwaukee Braves, Kansas City Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland, and the St. Louis Cardinals, Morgan shifted gears, joining the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a minor league coach in 1966. After five seasons as a coach, Morgan became the manager of the Triple-A Columbus Jets. After just one season with the Jets, Morgan was promoted to Pittsburgh’s major league staff in 1972 before returning to Triple-A for the 1973 season, where he would go on to win the 1973 Minor League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News. 

The Walpole, Mass., native returned to New England in 1974 as manager of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. Morgan served as the PawSox manager for eight seasons, including 1977, when he was named International League Manager of the Year. During his eight seasons, he racked up 601 wins, making him the winningest manager in Pawtucket history. 

After the 1982 minor league season, Boston reassigned Morgan, making him a scout for 1983 and 1984 before he joined the major league staff in 1985, first as first base coach. Morgan served in multiple roles, including bullpen coach, in the Red Sox's pennant-winning 1986 season before becoming the third-base coach for the 1987 and 1988 seasons. 

With the Red Sox sitting at a disappointing 43-42 at the All-Star break of the 1988 season, the team made the decision to fire manager John McNamara, elevating Morgan to take his place, sparking one of the greatest runs in franchise history. Upon naming Morgan the team’s manager, the Red Sox caught fire, winning 12 straight games and 19 of 20, propelling the Red Sox into first place in the American League East in what was dubbed “Morgan Magic.” The Red Sox rode that magic all the way to the American League Championship Series, where they fell to the Athletics.

Morgan served as the manager of his hometown Red Sox until the 1991 season, posting a record of 301-262 in 3.5 years at the helm, which ranks him with the 12th-most wins in Red Sox history. Morgan was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006. 

The Red Sox will finish out a series with the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.