Johnny Bench: Joe Morgan is preparing for bone marrow transplant

Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan is preparing to receive a bone marrow transplant, former teammate Johnny Bench told SI Now.

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Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan is preparing to receive a bone marrow transplant, former Reds teammate Johnny Bench told SI Now. 

Pete Rose revealed last weekend at his Reds Hall of Fame induction that Morgan is in need of a bone marrow transplant due to an undisclosed medical condition. Bench confirmed on SI Now that Morgan has a donor lined up and is preparing to receive the transplant. 

“He’s getting his body prepared for that,” Bench said. “He’s got a perfect match. Last week was the best he’s sounded, really good spirits.”

Morgan, 72, spent the peak years of his 22-season MLB career with the Reds. He won back-to-back MVP awards in 1975 and 1976, helping lead Cincinnati to a World Series championship in both years. 

Morgan retired in 1984 and began a career as a broadcaster the following year. In 1990, he began a two-decade run on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.