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Joe Morgan, Driving Force Of Big Red Machine, Dies At 77

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CINCINNATI (AP) — The Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan has died.

In this Wednesday, April 7, 2010, file photo, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan acknowledges the crowd after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the Reds' baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, in Cincinnati.
FILE – In this Wednesday, April 7, 2010, file photo, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan acknowledges the crowd after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the Reds’ baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, in Cincinnati. [AP Photo | Al Behrman]
A family spokesman says he died at his home Sunday in Danville, California. Morgan was suffering from a nerve condition, a form of polyneuropathy.

He became the sparkplug of the Big Red Machine and the prototype for baseball’s artificial turf era.

Morgan was a two-time NL Most Valuable Player, a 10-time All-Star and won five Gold Gloves.

He could hit a home run, steal a base and disrupt any game with his daring.

Most of all, the 5-foot-7 dynamo known for flapping his left elbow drove a Cincinnati team featuring the likes of Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Tony Perez to World Series titles in 1975 and ’76.

Joe Morgan was 77 years old.