Why wasn’t Joe Morgan at the All-Star Game last night? Oh right, Ryne Sandberg was there.
Posted by: Richie Rich in Cubs, Joe Morgan, MLB All-Star Game, MLB Hall of Fame, Uncategorized
So during the opening pomp and circumstance before last night’s All-Star Game, the Living Hall of Famers at each position were in Yankee Stadium to greet the starting 2008 All-Stars as they were introduced to the crowd.
It was a great moment to see living legends from the Hall of Fame out there on the same field with the 2008 All-Stars.
But there was one glaring omission.
And it was at second base.
As Chase Utley and Dustin Pedroia came out during the introductions, they got to meet Hall of Fame Second Basemen Rod Carew, Bill Mazeroski, and Ryne Sandberg.
But not Joe Morgan.
Did Morgan develop another flareup of the dreaded disese Ryne-itis (also known as Sandberg Syndrome) wherein those afflicted can’t be anywhere near the man who broke Morgan’s HR record for Second Basemen? As you’ll recall, Joe Morgan was conspiculously absent at Sandberg’s Hall of Fame induction in 2005.
It’s not like Joe didn’t know how to get to Yankee Stadium … he was in the building the night before when he announced the 2008 Home Run Derby.
No, I think this is just another case of Joe Morgan not wanting to share ANY stage with Ryne Sandberg.
It’s a shame when the Vice-Chairman of the Baseball Hall of Fame doesn’t show up for events like this if Sandberg is there.
It perpetuates the belief that Morgan’s putting himself before the game for personal reasons … even if that’s not the reason.
Update: We have learned Joe Morgan was a participant in the All-Star Parade before the Game, so it’s not as if he left New York after the Home Run Derby.
Parade Hat Tip – the not awful Awful Announcing, who agrees with HRD that Joe Morgan is ducking Sandberg.
Entries (RSS)
July 17th, 2008 at 1:46 am
What about Pete Rose?
July 17th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
The greatest living HOFer was not there either: Stan Musial. Probably because of health issues. I saw him in St. Louis on May 18th for Stan Musial Day and he was in a wheelchair and not very healthy loooking. Hopefully he will be able to make the 2009 ASG in St. Louis. In my opinion, Musial is one of the most overlooked and underappreciated players (outside of St. Louis) in the history of baseball.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Stan Musial was great no doubt, but he is no Pete Rose.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I would have thought that Johnny Bench would have represented catchers as well (seeing as how he was one of the best that ever played that position).
July 18th, 2008 at 7:10 am
also the same could be said for fisk ryan koufax seaver sparky koufax yaz-bunning–where were they? and why not–if mccovey can make it why not–im not sure about eck and cepeda–were they there?