Wally Moon
Born: 4/3/1930 in Bay, AR, USA
Died: 2/9/2018 in Bryan, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1954-04-13 | Final Game: 1965-09-12
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 169 lbs
Full name: Wallace Wade Moon
Biography
Wally Moon was a prominent Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1954 to 1965. Born in 1930, Moon emerged as a talented position player known for his consistent hitting and versatility on the field. Over the course of 1,457 games, he accumulated 1,399 hits, showcased his power with 142 home runs, and drove in 661 runs, all while maintaining a commendable batting average of .289. His speed on the bases was also notable, as he recorded 89 stolen bases throughout his career.
Moon's impact on the game was recognized early in his career when he earned both the Rookie of the Year award and the TSN Rookie of the Year award. He was selected as an All-Star three times, reflecting his status as one of the premier players of his era. His playing style was characterized by a strong batting presence and an ability to perform in clutch situations, which made him a valuable asset to his teams. As a player who thrived in the mid-20th century, Moon contributed to the evolving landscape of baseball during a time when the game was transitioning into a more offensively driven era. His legacy remains a testament to his skills and achievements on the diamond.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1457 | 4843 | 737 | 1399 | 212 | 60 | 142 | 661 | 89 | 644 | 591 | 0.289 | 0.371 | 0.445 | 0.817 | 14793.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | STL | NL | 151 | 635 | 106 | 193 | 29 | 9 | 12 | 76 | 18 | 71 | 73 | 0.304 | 1529.5 |
| 1955 | STL | NL | 152 | 593 | 86 | 175 | 24 | 8 | 19 | 76 | 11 | 47 | 65 | 0.295 | 1297.3 |
| 1956 | STL | NL | 149 | 540 | 86 | 161 | 22 | 11 | 16 | 68 | 12 | 80 | 50 | 0.298 | 2166.8 |
| 1957 | STL | NL | 142 | 516 | 86 | 152 | 28 | 5 | 24 | 73 | 5 | 62 | 57 | 0.295 | 2282.1 |
| 1958 | STL | NL | 108 | 290 | 36 | 69 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 38 | 2 | 47 | 30 | 0.238 | 19.6 |
| 1959 | LAD | NL | 145 | 543 | 93 | 164 | 26 | 11 | 19 | 74 | 15 | 81 | 64 | 0.302 | 2849.2 |
| 1960 | LAD | NL | 138 | 469 | 74 | 140 | 21 | 6 | 13 | 69 | 6 | 67 | 53 | 0.299 | 1759.2 |
| 1961 | LAD | NL | 134 | 463 | 79 | 152 | 25 | 3 | 17 | 88 | 7 | 89 | 79 | 0.328 | 3103.7 |
| 1962 | LAD | NL | 95 | 244 | 36 | 59 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 5 | 30 | 33 | 0.242 | -298.4 |
| 1963 | LAD | NL | 122 | 343 | 41 | 90 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 48 | 5 | 45 | 43 | 0.262 | 531.2 |
| 1964 | LAD | NL | 68 | 118 | 8 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 22 | 0.220 | -251.5 |
| 1965 | LAD | NL | 53 | 89 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 22 | 0.202 | -195.3 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 25 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.240 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | WS | LAN | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 |
| 1959 | WS | LAN | 6 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0.261 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 136 | 132 | 1194 | 99 | 22 | 120 |
| OF | 1141 | 1093 | 1939 | 75 | 46 | 13 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | SLN | OF | 148 | 148 | 387 | 11 | 9 | 2 |
| 1955 | SLN | 1B | 51 | 48 | 445 | 34 | 7 | 40 |
| 1955 | SLN | OF | 100 | 96 | 188 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| 1956 | SLN | 1B | 52 | 52 | 498 | 47 | 9 | 52 |
| 1956 | SLN | OF | 97 | 95 | 159 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| 1957 | SLN | OF | 133 | 132 | 245 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
| 1958 | SLN | OF | 82 | 75 | 122 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 1959 | LAN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | LAN | OF | 143 | 141 | 224 | 13 | 4 | 2 |
| 1960 | LAN | OF | 127 | 120 | 194 | 15 | 3 | 3 |
| 1961 | LAN | OF | 133 | 131 | 186 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| 1962 | LAN | 1B | 32 | 32 | 249 | 18 | 6 | 28 |
| 1962 | LAN | OF | 36 | 25 | 51 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | LAN | OF | 96 | 90 | 125 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 1964 | LAN | OF | 23 | 22 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | LAN | OF | 23 | 18 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 137 |
| Left Field | 602 |
| Center Field | 215 |
| Right Field | 410 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Gold Glove | LF |
| 1954 | Rookie of the Year | |
| 1954 | TSN Rookie of the Year |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University | College Station | TX | 1949, 1950 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 22.0 | 224 | 0 |
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 4th | 161.0 | 336 | 4 |
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 27th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1954 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 1st | 17.0 | 24 | 17 |