| Howie Moss | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder/Third baseman | |
| Born:(1919-10-17)October 17, 1919 Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S. | |
| Died: May 7, 1989(1989-05-07) (aged 69) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 14, 1942, for the New York Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 1946, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .097 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 1 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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Howard Glenn Moss (October 17, 1919 – May 7, 1989) was an American professionalbaseball player, anoutfielder andthird baseman who was a prodigioushome run hitter inminor league baseball[1] but who struggled in threeMajor League trials during the 1940s. Listed at 5 feet, 111⁄2 inches (1.82 m) tall and 185 pounds (84 kg), Moss batted and threwright-handed. He was born inGastonia, North Carolina.
Moss, nicknamed "Howitzer", built his legacy as one of the most feared sluggers of theInternational League in the 1940s. In 1944, his batting prowess drove theBaltimore Orioles to theGovernors' Cup championship title after he led the league hitters with 27home runs, 141RBI and 178hits, while batting .306 with 122runs and a .549slugging percentage. For his heroics, he received the IL Most Valuable Player Award.
In 1945, Moss served for one year for theUnited States Coast Guard during World War II. After being discharged from service, he regained the IL home-run crown and held it for three consecutive seasons, hitting 38 blasts in 1946, 53 in 1947, and 33 in 1948.[1] His single-season home run mark of 53 has not been reached since then in the International League. He also is the only player in IL history to lead the circuit in home runs four times. In 1960, Moss was inducted into theInternational League Hall of Fame.
Moss endured three failed Major League tryouts. He was heldhitless in 14at bats in his first MLB audition in1942 for theNew York Giants. Then, in1946, playing for theCincinnati Reds, he extended his hitless skein to 22at bats by going 0–for–8[2] before collecting threesingles in four at-bats on April 24 against aceSt. Louis Cardinalsleft-handerHowie Pollet.[3] Returned to the minor-league Orioles in May, he played in 130games for Baltimore, then was called up by the parentCleveland Indians in September. Moss started eight games for Cleveland but could only muster two hits in 32 at-bats (.063).[4]
Altogether, in 22 Major League games, 75plate appearances and 72 at-bats, Moss garnered only seven hits, none forextra bases, with 17strikeouts, threebases on balls, and onerun batted in,batting .097.
Moss died inBaltimore, Maryland, at the age of 69.
· Baseball Almanac