Joe Morgan, the former Boston manager who inspired the 1988 team's in-season turnaround known as "Morgan Magic," died Saturday, the Red Sox announced. He was 95.
Morgan replaced John McNamara at the All-Star break in 1988, with Boston 43-42 and well back in the AL East race. Serving as interim manager, he led the Red Sox to wins in his first 12 games and 19 of his first 20 overall, and the team went on to win the AL East and reach the AL Championship Series.
Morgan led the Red Sox to another division title in 1990 and remained manager through 1991, finishing with a record of 301-262. It was his only big league managerial stint. He was with the Red Sox organization for 18 years in a variety of roles and was part of its 2006 Hall of Fame class.
Red Sox owner John Henry said Morgan "changed the course of a season and created one of the most memorable chapters in the history of this club" when he took over in 1988, adding that the two division titles that followed "only strengthened a bond with Red Sox fans that endured for the rest of his life." Red Sox president/CEO Sam Kennedy said Morgan "made us believe" and that he found Morgan to be "an even better person than the baseball man I had admired.
Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs said Morgan "was a big part of my life and will be missed," both in Triple-A and in the big leagues, adding that Morgan "played baseball hunches instead of statistics" and "will always be one of my favorites." Morgan, who grew up in nearby Walpole, Massachusetts, also played 88 games in the majors as an infielder, with stints with the Milwaukee Braves, Kansas City Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland and the…