On this date (April 13) in 1954, a 24-year-old outfielder named Wally Moon made his debut for the St.Louis Cardinals – playing CF and batting second against the Cubs on Opening Day in St. Louis. Moon got his MLB career off to a good start, hitting a solo home run (off Paul Minner) in his first MLB plate appearance. He book-ended a solid rookie campaign by also going yard in his final plate appearance of the season – a two-run shot off the Braves’ Ernie Johnson (a game-winner) in the top of the eleventh inning in Milwaukee. His did pretty well in between those two dingers, finishing his rookie season with a .304 average, 12 home runs, 76 RBI, 106 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.
So, how did Moon “best” Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks? In the NL Rookie of the Year balloting, Moon emerged the winner with 71 percent of the vote – followed by Ernie Banks (17 percent), Gene Conley (8 percent) and Hank Aaron (4 percent).
Later in his career, Moon would gain (positive) notoriety for his “Moon Shots”- home runs launched (for the Dodgers) into the left field seats at the LA Coliseum (were the transplanted Dodgers played from 1958-61). The Coliseum clearly was not an ideal location for baseball – with its 440-foot distance to right-center and 250-foot distance (with a 40-foot high screen) down the left field line. It was 300-feet down the right-field line, but the fence angled out quickly to 400-foot-plus distances. A left-handed hitter, Moon adjusted his swing to hit looping fly balls off of or over that left field screen – popularly termed “Moon Shots” by fans and media.
Moon enjoyed a 12-season MLB career (Cardinals – 1954-58/Dodgers – 1959-65). He ended with a stat line of .289-142- 661, was a two-time All Star (1957 & 1950), won a Gold Glove in 1960 and, of course, was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1954. He led the National League in triples and on-base percentage once each; hit .295 or better in seven seasons (a high of .328 in 1961) and hit a career high 24 home runs in 1957.
Closing It Out in MinnesotaFor BBRT’s Minnesota readers, Wally Moon’s final major-leaguer plate appearance came against the Twins’ Mudcat Grant at Metropolitan Stadium on October 13, 1965 (Game Six of the 1965 World Series). Moon pinch hit and grounded out second-to-first.) That, of course, is the game in which Grant pitched a complete-game six-hitter (one run surrendered) and also knocked a three-run home run. (More #WhyIHateTheDH).
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; “Coliseum’s dimensions affected the play on the field,” Rob Neyer, ESPN, March 29, 2008.
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