Wally Moon

Infobox MLB retired
name=Wally Moon


position=Outfielder
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1930|4|3
city-state|Bay|Arkansas
debutdate=April 13
debutyear=by|1954
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate=September 12
finalyear=by|1965
finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.289
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=142
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=661
teams=
* St. Louis Cardinals (by|1954-by|1958)
* Los Angeles Dodgers (by|1959-by|1965)
highlights=
* 2x All-Star selection (1957, 1959)
* 2x World Series champion (1959, 1965)
* Gold Glove Award winner (1960)
* 1954 NL Rookie of the Year

Wallace Wade MoonSteve Springer, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-moon23mar23,1,3704791.story Dodgers' Moon found success in Coliseum] ," Los Angeles Times", March 23, 2008.] , known popularly as Wally Moon, (born April 3, 1930, in the small town of Bay in Craighead County, Arkansas) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Moon played his 12-year career in the National League for the St. Louis Cardinals (1954-1958) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1959-1965). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

Moon was named after Wallace Wade, the former college football coach of the Alabama and Duke. From a family of educators, he earned a master's degree in administrative education from Texas A&M University in College Station while he was still in the minor leagues.Steve Springer, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-moon23mar23,1,3704791.story Dodgers' Moon found success in Coliseum] ," Los Angeles Times", March 23, 2008.] He coached from 1953-1954 at Lake City, also in Craighead County. In the spring of 1954 the Cardinals told Moon to report to their minor league spring training camp. He ignored the order and reported instead to St. Petersburg with the Cardinals. He said that he would make the team or quit baseball. They let him stay, and by the end of the spring training he replaced Enos Slaughter in the outfield.

Moon made his majors debut on April 13, 1954. To make room for him in the roster, St. Louis sent the veteran Enos Slaughter to the Yankees. Moon responded for good. In his first at-bat, despite chants of "We want Slaughter", he belted a home run against the Cubs; in the same game Tom Alston became the first African American to play for the Cardinals. Moon finished with a .304 batting average, 12 home runs, 76 RBI, and career-high numbers in runs (106), hits (193), doubles (29), and stolen bases (18) in 151 games. He earned both the "MLB" Rookie of the Year and "The Sporting News" Rookie of the Year honors. Almost a unanimous vote, Moon won easily over rookies Ernie Banks, Gene Conley and Hank Aaron.Steve Springer, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-moon23mar23,1,3704791.story Dodgers' Moon found success in Coliseum] ," Los Angeles Times", March 23, 2008.]

A fine left fielder with a good arm, Moon also played right field and center as well as the first base. He was a Gold Glove Award winner in 1960 as he made the All--Star team in 1957 and 1959. Twice in his career, Moon compiled double figures in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases: 22, 11, 16, 12 in 1956, and 26, 11, 19, 15 in 1959, his first year with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers traded for Moon by sending outfielder Gino Cimoli, both of whom were coming off years in which they batted below .250; the Cardinals also added pitcher Phil Paine, who did not end up playing for the Dodgers. Moon was initially concerned about batting for the Dodgers, who then played in the converted L. A. Coliseum: right field was 440 feet away, making it difficult for a left-handed batter like Moon. However, the left-field seats were only 251 feet away, protected by a relatively low 42-foot high screen. After consulting with friend and mentor Stan Musial, Moon adjusting his batting to emphasize hitting to left. The results were very successful.Steve Springer, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-moon23mar23,1,3704791.story Dodgers' Moon found success in Coliseum] ," Los Angeles Times", March 23, 2008.] In his first season with the Dodgers, he took his team from seventh place to the World Championship, providing support in the line-up for Duke Snider, Gil Hodges and Don Demeter. He gained quick public acclaim in 1959 for the "Moon shots" that he hit over the high left field screen. [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Moon_Wally.stm] Steve Springer, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-moon23mar23,1,3704791.story Dodgers' Moon found success in Coliseum] ," Los Angeles Times", March 23, 2008.]

Beside this, he hit a career-high 24 homers in 1957. Moon enjoyed another good season in 1961, batting .328 with 17 home runs and 88 RBI.

A career .289 hitter, Moon also hit 142 home runs with 661 RBI in 1457 games. He had tremendous discipline at the plate, compiling a remarkable 1.90 walk-to-strikeout ratio (644-t0-591), with a .371 on base percentage and a .445 slugging average for a combined .816 OPS. Appropriately, he scored the last run ever in the Coliseum.Steve Springer, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-moon23mar23,1,3704791.story Dodgers' Moon found success in Coliseum] ," Los Angeles Times", March 23, 2008.]

After playing in the majors, Moon went on to become athletic director and baseball coach at John Brown University, and a coach and minor league manager and owner of the San Antonio Dodgers for four years beginning in the late 1970s. Moon moved to Bryan, Texas, where he has lived for over 25 years. He retired in 1998. He is married to Bettye and has five children and seven grandchildren.Steve Springer, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-moon23mar23,1,3704791.story Dodgers' Moon found success in Coliseum] ," Los Angeles Times", March 23, 2008.]

Related links

* List of NL Gold Glove Winners at Outfield
* MLB Rookie of the Year Award
* The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
* Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* List of Major League Baseball triples champions
* Los Angeles Dodgers all-time roster

References

External links

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