Books and articles about Wally Moses

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Moses was a swift young outfielder in the Palmetto League when approached by a Giants scout under orders to find a Jewish player. "But I'm Irish, Scotch, and English," Moses told him. The scout didn't sign him. Moses debuted with the A's in 1935, batted over .300 each of his seven years with them, and then never did so again. In 1937 he had by far his most productive season, hitting 25 home runs (his next best total was nine) with 86 RBI (20 above his next best mark). He missed a World Series chance when his 1939 trade to Detroit for Benny McCoy was nullified by Commissioner Landis, who made McCoy and 96 other Tigers free agents. Through years of second-division finishes in Philadelphia, Moses had little chance to display his speed on the basepaths. But with the 1943 White Sox, who led the league in stolen bases, he had 56, and a league-high 12 triples. In the field, he had a strong arm but was weak on ground balls. He led the AL in putouts (329) in 1945. With the Red Sox in 1946, he tied a World Series record with four hits in a game (the 23rd player to do so). He finished with the A's, and later coached for them. (NLM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 9, 1939: Wally Moses is traded by the Philadelphia A's to Detroit for Benny McCoy and George Coffman. The deal is later voided by Judge Landis, who declares McCoy a free agent because of a Tigers cover-up. He gets a $10,000 bonus to sign with the A's. » January 14, 1940: Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis gives free agency to 91 Detroit players and farm hands. Citing cover-ups in its organization, Landis hands freedom to Roy Cullenbine, Benny McCoy, Lloyd Dietz, and Steve Rachunok from the parent roster and orders $47,250 paid as compensation to 14 players. Johnny Sain is one of 23 players who will later make it to the ML. Landis's edict nullifies a deal that would have brought Wally Moses to the Tigers for Benny McCoy and George Coffman. McCoy is considered the plum of the emancipation, and several clubs bid for the 2B. Connie Mack keeps Moses and signs McCoy for a $45,000 bonus and 2-season contract at $10,000 a year. » May 21, 1940: Jimmie Foxx hits a grand-slam home run for the 2nd day in a row against Detroit in an 11–8 Red Sox win. Only Babe Ruth, twice, and Bill Dickey have slammed in consecutive days in the American League. Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, and Doc Cramer also homer for Boston. Hank Greenberg and Rudy York homer for the Bengals, while Wally Moses has a pair of triples and two singles. » August 20, 1940: In the second of two games, Wally Moses steals home in the 10th inning to give the A's the victory over the White Sox. » May 5, 1943: In the nitecap 5–2 win against the Indians, Chicago's Wally Moses steals home. It is Wally's second steal of home in extra innings, tying Tony Lazzeri's mark. Cleveland wins the opener, 2–1. » November 1, 1943: League statistics show the White Sox Luke Appling leading the AL hitters with .328, the lowest since Cobb hit .324 to lead in 1908. Conversely, of course, the pitchers' marks were topped by Spud Chandler's 1.64 ERA, the best since 1919. Spud also has the best percentage at .833, on a 20-4 won-lost mark. The White Sox aging OF Wally Moses stole 56 bases after stealing only 3 two years before. The veteran Mel Ott hits only .234 for his Giants, but he still has 18 homers -- all in the Polo Grounds. » June 18, 1944: The White Sox take a pair from the Indians in Cleveland by the scores of 3-2 and 7­6. The White Sox win the first game on a 10th-inning HR by Wally Moses, who, in the twin bill, has two triples, a double, and a single. » May 6, 1949: Bobby Shantz makes a sensational debut, tossing nine hitless innings in relief in a 13-inning, 5–4, Athletics' win over the Tigers. Shantz finally gives up two hits and a run in the 13th, but old-timer Wally Moses, now back with the A's, saves him with a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 13th. » July 26, 1949: Wally Moses gets his 2,000th hit, off Joe Ostrowski of the Browns. » June 21, 1950: Joe DiMaggio gets his 2,000th hit, a 7th-inning single off the Indians Chick Pieretti, as the Yanks win 8–2. DiMaggio joins Luke Appling and Wally Moses as the only active players with 2,000 or more hits. Eddie Lopat is the winning pitcher, running his record against Cleveland to 25–6.