1988, twenty-five years ago, has become known to Sox Nation as "The Year of Morgan Magic". But as January opened, Joe Morgan was only a seldom- quoted coach in a dugout led by John McNamara. "Johnny Mac" was a quiet but often testy skipper whom many fans blamed-at least partially-for the the loss of the 86 World Series. The 87 team, though nowhere as bad as the Fenway Follies of 2012, had dropped 17 games from their 86 level, finishing 78-84, fifth in a seven-team division.
Despite this, there was optimism as 88 began. The Sox had pulled off a big free-agent signing in closer Lee Smith. In eight years with the Cubs, Smith had amassed 40 wins and 180 saves and twice been chosen a NL all-star. He was expected to fill a huge hole in the Boston bullpen, one of the factors in the World Series defeat. The Globe's Dan Shaughnessy, fresh from writing the book "One Strike Away", which chronicled the 86 season, described 1987 as "a year filled with broken promises and bad tidings. Contract hassles (Roger Clemens was the worst), injuries, road woes, a brutal bullpen and a throbbing World Series hangover conspired to produce the worst Sox season since 1966."
GM Lou Gorman seemed on the right track, unloading a number of veterans from the 86 squad, including the famous (Dave Henderson and Don Baylor) and the infamous (Bill Buckner and Calvin Schiraldi) along with eight other vets. But a solid group was still around, including Clemens, Bruce Hurst, Marty Barrett, Jim Rice, Wade Boggs and Mike Greenwell. There was projected young talent coming up- Ellis Burks, Todd Benzinger, Sam Horn, Brady Anderson and Jody Reed. There were also enigmas like Oil Can Boyd, who would never return to his 86 level.
"It's been a quiet winter so far," Shaughnessy quoted Gorman as saying, "But tickets are going like hell and there's a real feeling of optimism about the club. All the players I've talked with are excited about Lee Smith coming."
The optimism- some of it well-placed and some not- would play a large part in the futures of McNamara and Morgan in 1988.
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