BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Joe Morgan

Joe Morgan wants to make peace with the Reds and say thanks to his fans.

That's why Morgan, the National League Most Valuable Player when the Big Red Machine won World Championships in 1975-76, will return to Cincinnati for a June 6 ceremony retiring his No. 8.

Morgan's number is one of three the Reds will retire this season. Also being honored are Frank Robinson and the late Ted Kluszewski.

When congratulations were extended to Morgan by The Enquirer at his Oakland office Tuesday (''This is a big deal in Cincinnati,'' he was told), Morgan didn't wait for the sentence's completion. ''It's a big deal for me, too,'' he said.

''Reds fans have always treated me like my number was hanging on the wall even though it wasn't,'' Morgan said. ''. . . the bond's always been there.''

But the bond hasn't always been there with ownership.

Morgan wrote in his autobiography that since the Reds didn't retire his number in 1990 - the year he entered the Hall of Fame - he wouldn't participate in any such ceremony in the future. Morgan also was angered by racially insensitive remarks made by President and CEO Marge Schott.

Morgan said the actions of Managing Executive John Allen helped change his mind.

''I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,'' Morgan said. ''I think the one thing I hope to do is be part of the healing process with the Reds and the fans and the former players. I don't live in the past . . . it's time for me to go forward. I hope it can be something positive (for everybody).''

Another reason he relented, Morgan said, was the timing.

''The firing of Tony Perez, the statements made by Marge about African Americans, it all had an embarrassing effect on me,'' Morgan said. ''I was not comfortable with having my number retired (given the way) the outside world was viewing Cincinnati. It was unfair to the fans.

''John (Allen) has changed the whole perception of the Reds to people outside (Cincinnati), myself included. They (the Reds) have made an effort to correct the problems of the past.''

WITH ALLEN, THE FAN IS ALWAYS RIGHT Tim Sullivan column
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OFFSEASON STORIES
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