Via a mlb.com feature entitled “Legends gather for Stadium sendoff” that was published the day before the 2008 All-Star Game:
“This is the greatest fraternity in the world,” said Joe Morgan, the second baseman on those same great Cincinnati teams of the ’70s. “You can talk about the other halls of fame, but baseball is held to a higher standard.
“When we get together, it’s always special for me. But this … the mystique of the Yankees and of New York … this All-Star Game will be very exciting: It’s the first time the venue matches greatness of the players.
“You play the All-Star Game in some of the newer parks, and the players are the stars of the show, and rightfully so. Tonight, both the park and the players will be stars.”
And, yet, when it came time to be on the field, at Yankee Stadium, during the 2008 All Star Game “pre-game ceremonies,” Joe Morgan took a pass.
Morgan was at the Stadium the day before the game – to cover the Homerun Derby for ESPN. So, what happened?
Well, for years there’s been a perception in some circles that Joe Morgan thinks Ryne Sandberg is unworthy of being a member of Cooperstown. And, related, there’s a school of thought out there that suggests Morgan’s way of protesting Sandberg’s inclusion in the Hall of Fame is to be a no-show when Sandberg is present at a “Famer” function.
In any event, Joe Morgan is not looking good right now for giving Yankee Stadium the snub this week. And, if he’s there to do the last game of the regular season this year – as it appears ESPN is slated to cover the game – it will be interesting to see how well Morgan is recieved by the fans.
14 Responses to “Little Joe Morgan Talks The Talk – And Then Takes A Walk”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I know people have their pet causes, but “Ryne Sandberg isn’t a hall-of-famer” is a pretty lame one. And by not showing up, you’re only hurting the fans and yourself. Sandberg was still there and your protest is meaningless.
Or was this actually the “Dave Concepcion is a Hall-of-Famer” protest?
July 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Well Id be willing to bet Morgan will be received fine. First let me say that I am no Morgan fan. Truth be told I hate ESPN, especially the Sunday Night Baseball cast of schmucks. John Buck is more annoying then Morgan I must say. Moving on —-> Not many people are going to know why Morgan wasnt there. Add to that, not many people would have noticed if he were or not. Add yet again that this story is not a main stream media headline, but more or less blog material.
If it was up to me, I wouldnt let ESPN anywhere near Yankee Stadium, let alone the final game. My family and I live in Ohio, but are NY natives. We all have the baseball package to follow the Mets/Yanks but being in OH means that if a game is on ESPN our package tends to be blacked out. My father wont watch the games aired on ESPN and I will watch it but only if I have it muted. I lost all respect for ESPN this season. They are a bunch of Boston bias fans, not professional sports reporters. In a game this season when Chein-Ming Wang faced off against (then) Clevelands C.C. Sabathia; Wang pitched 8 innings of shut out ball and gave way to Mo for the save. While C.C. pitched a complete game and took the loss 1-0. The story? Well…..it was all about C.C. Never mentioning that he actually lost or that he was out pitched by Wang.
That was the final straw for me. I mean Baseball Tonights Yankee Stadium tribute last night (the only reason I watched) must have been painful for them to put together. And it showed, as instead of a few minutes of Yankee highlights over the years, it was highlights of basically all post seasons. Including losses. Im never ashamed of the team losing, but losing in Yankee stadium, their home, isnt a highlight of the stadiums history.
But alas I digress.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Morgan is an idiot, as shown every time he opens his mouth, or on the great firejoemorgan website, but he’s a world-class a-hole for his behavior towards Sandberg, whether that was the cause behind this particular AS snub or not.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
If I recall correctly, Joe Morgan’s gripe wasn’t that Sandberg is in the hall of fame, but that Sandberg retired, then unretired later on and wound up breaking the all time home run record for 2nd basemen.
That said, I also recall the whole thing being (sort of) debunked in that the 2 are civil towards each other and have been at events together.
I don’t know why Joe Morgan wasn’t out there, I am pretty sure it had nothing to do with Sandberg, and I am also positive that no matter what, Joe Morgan is still an ass.
That said, since he was at the stadium the day before, something might have happened that made him have to go back home, I’m curious why Johnny Bench wasn’t there.
I did know there was no chance Nolan Ryan would be there, he hasn’t been back to the hall of fame itself since being inducted, and doesn’t go to any hall of fame events.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I did know there was no chance Nolan Ryan would be there, he hasn’t been back to the hall of fame itself since being inducted, and doesn’t go to any hall of fame events.
———————————-
How come?
July 17th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
How come?
——————
“Where was Nolan Ryan: Ryan told me last week he wouldn’t be going to New York for the Hall of Fame. Nolan’s not one for pretense and the Hall of Fame festivities at Yankee Stadium were going to include a whole lot of pretense. Nolan sneaked into Yankee Stadium when the Rangers were there earlier this month to pay a farewell visit. Took his grandson. Typical Ryan; eschewing the spotlight for family.”
That was from The Dallas Morning News blog
July 17th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I remember seeing Nolan Ryan at the Stadium for the Ranger games, no big deal there. Bostonowned there is a Red Sox slant on ESPN BUT there is a Yankee slant too. So many stories have popped out of Yankee Empire that have chumped the Sox as of late: the Arod opting out comes to mind when the Bosox won the WS last year. Yes, there is a Red Sox bias BUT the Yankees are not treated like the Os or the Giants either.
Another thing, the Red Sox seem to be on every week on TBS, Fox, and ESPN or is it me? It seems to be an overall media elite embracing of the Red Sox’s as America’s team. Yeah, the Yanks spend a gluttonous amount of money , are in the biggest market, and have the most championships BUT what is this the Beantowner’s revenge or something?
Morgan said something nice about the Yanks for once? Look, I don’t know what happened but whatever. Joe probably had a good reason to not show up.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Morgan’s daughter gave birth over the weekend and he wanted to be with his daughter and new grandchild.
But don’t let trivial things like life get in the way of people thinking he must be snubbing the Yankees.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Basura – got a link on that?
July 18th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I’d need to “link” you to my daughter. She’s at Stanford and heard this on local radio and for some reason she mentioned it to me since though she’s not a baseball fan she had a memory of me mentioning Joe Morgan once or twice.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Basura – here’s a question for you.
Morgan is taking heat for his no-show everywhere – just not here. Do a google search on it. Therefore, if the granchild thing was true, wouldn’t make sense that there would be at least one media report of it – somewhere?
I’ve searched high and low for it…because, if I was wrong, I want to admit it. But, I can’t find any story, anywhere, that ties back to what you claim.
So, until then, while I respect your right to have an opinion, I see no fact that would bring cause for me to change my position on this.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:14 am
What I claim? That my daughter told me a snippet she heard on her local radio?
I regret even bringing it up, you can go back to feeling snubbed.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
~~What I claim? ~~
That “Morgan’s daughter gave birth over the weekend and he wanted to be with his daughter and new grandchild.”
Since there’s no proof of this being true, at this moment, it’s just a claim by you, to me, and nothing else.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
If it is true that Joe Morgan refuses to attend events with Ryne Sandberg, and I wouldn’t put this childishness past him, it’s another example of his detestable arrogance. They’re essentially the same player with the exception of Morgan having played more seasons and winning championships. I guess Morgan would also protest Bobby Doerr being in the Hall.