Former Diamondbacks pitcher reflects on 2001 World Series win
Former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Morgan spoke about the 2001 World Series and the current team at the club’s 2025 fantasy camp.
The 2001 champions cited the need for five strong starting pitchers and a more reliable bullpen.Key players from the 2001 team, including Luis Gonzalez and Matt Williams, shared their insights ahead of the 25th anniversary of their title.
The Major League Baseball season is over and Diamondbacks players and staff have largely scattered until the start of 2026 spring training.
But the minor league side of the team complex, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, was abuzz with activity on Thursday morning, Nov. 6.
Former players gathered as coaches were getting ready to lead their teams out onto the complex fields for Diamondbacks fantasy camp games, which allow adults to suit up in team uniforms and play baseball games while being guided by former big leaguers.
That’s where The Arizona Republic caught up with a few members of the 2001 Diamondbacks World Series championship team to reminisce, as next season will be the 25th since that title was won. Luis Gonzalez, Jay Bell, Matt Williams and Mike Morgan also shared their thoughts on how the current Diamondbacks can get back to the World Series after falling short of the postseason the past two seasons.
The prevailing theme from the ex-players was pitching and defense, with the ability to execute on offense.
“I still believe that you have to have pitching and defense in order to win, no question about it,” Bell said. “One of the things Toronto did this year was they won with singles. They understood how to advance runners, they understood how to hit behind runners, they understood how to hit and run. … they were a complete team.
“In order for the Diamondbacks to compete and get back to the World Series, they have to do all of that. There has to be a little luck that goes into that.”
Williams, the third baseman on the 2001 team, said that team won with “elder statesmen” that were all about winning.
“The guy on the bump that starts the game dictates, generally,” Williams said, “and if you can play good defense behind him, then you set yourself up within that game, within a week, a month, a season to have success.”
Morgan, who appeared in 31 games in 2001 as his long career wound down, said the current Diamondbacks team needs five good starters. Arizona began last season with depth in its rotation, but lost Jordan Montgomery and Corbin Burnes to season-ending injuries early in the season and later traded Merrill Kelly.
“A few years ago against the Rangers, they had that chance,” Morgan said. “I always pull for them to win the World Series, or at least get in.
“If you don’t have the pitching, man, you’re not even going to get in the playoffs.”
Gonzalez, hero of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, said some players had down years and others, such as Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll, had outstanding years.
“Those are your usual suspects that you want to have good years and they did,” Gonzalez said. “But the cast members around them, we have to find guys that are going to put up numbers that are going to help our team win games.
“We have to find pitchers that are going to stay healthy. Our bullpen was a really big drawback for us this past year, so hopefully we can make some changes there and help us win games, especially close and late.”
Gonzalez was one of several players from the 2001 team appearing at fantasy camp. Every Nov. 4, the group text shared among many players that year is populated with congratulations on the anniversary of the only major men’s sports championship ever won by a Phoenix team.
“We’re still all the best of friends,” Gonzalez said.