Just a note here on my 60th
birthday. Hard to believe
that in 1959 I became a Dodger
fan, bleeding Dodger Blue.
Hard to believe as I was living
in Canada in the eastern time
zone. Having said that, Wally
Moon was my first sports hero,
reminded me of a cowboy playing
baseball. What better combination
than that.
Ross Baylin, Ottawa,
Ontario
Mr. Moon, I play competitive
fast-pitch softball. I'm 15.
I'm a catcher. My late grandfather
was Joe Holt from Bay, AR.
He would always tell me to
hit the ball like you. He
and Maxie Morrison have told
may stories about you. They
may have stretched the truth
just a little about how good
they were!!! If I stay healthy,
looks like I'm going to be
able to play college softball.
I play on a team out of Mississippi
and we play 12 to 14 college
exposure tournaments each
year. My Grandpa Joe gave
me one of your autographed
baseballs, I keep it on my
shelf in my room next to his
American flag they gave me
when he died. Hope you remember
him. Thanks and you have a
great website!!!
Hayley, Jonesboro, AR
Wally do you remember one
day with the Cardinals in
the late '50's at Sportsmen's
Park? I went with my dad to
a ballgame and I remember
you hit a tremendous shot
to right field and hit the
big stadium clock and broke
off the hand of the clock.
Would you happen to remember
the date because later in
life one of my best friends
was also at that same game,
but we didn't know each other
at the time until one of us
was telling the story to the
other one and it turned out
we were both at that game.
Just wondered if you remembered.
Randall Elmore, Kirksville,
MO
Hi Wally, I'm a sportswriter
here in south Florida and
covered the Marlins game against
San Diego today. A player
for the Marlins, Chris Coghlan,
has 46 hits in August. That's
the most since you did it
in July 1954 with 52. I was
happy to write a game story
mentioning your name.
Paul Gereffi, Fort Lauderdale,
FL
I enjoyed watching you play!
Your Moonshots were great!
My little brother caught one
of them way back in '61. He
still has it. Nobody wears
#9 like you did!
Steve Chism, Sparks,
NV
I just found this site and
was very excited. As a kid
I watched Wally play for the
Dodgers. He was always one
of my favorite players of
all time. At age 55 now, I
just wanted him to know how
much he has meant to me all
these years...and I pray for
him to continue to enjoy retirement.
Thanks for the way you played
the game.
Rick Schusser, Pleasanton,
CA
Hi Coach, I am a former student
from JBU. I doubt you would
remember me, but I was just
looking at your web-site and
thought I would drop you a
line. I am assistant superintendent
at Van Buren School District
in Van Buren, Arkansas, and
should complete my doctorate
either by Christmas or spring
2010. I just wanted to say
what an honor it was to be
a student of yours in class
while at JBU 1970-74.
Lonnie Myers, Van Buren,
AR
I have some guy named Chuck
Gardner working here that
says he was the best second
baseman of all time and you
would verify that.
Bob Hamlett, Dallas,
TX
I happened to find your website
and wonder if you still remember
when we used to play tin can
ball with a Pet Milk can and
a broomstick in Bay, Arkansas?
Gerald Turner, Puyallup,
WA
When I was a kid growing
up in the LA area in the
1960s you were my favorite
player. My family and I
would go to several games
a year and I was always
cheering for you. Fun times!
Thanks for the fun memories!
Joan Klein, San Jose,
CA
Dear Mr. Moon: While in
the process of moving my
ninety-nine-year-old grandmother
to an assisted-care facility
I stumbled upon an H &
B 140S, Special, Power Drive
33-inch bat. The bat is
in good condition, has color
aged and there are some
minor surface dings and
marks along the barrel.
My grandmother does not
remember when or where she
or my grandfather acquired
the bat. When I mentioned
your name to my dad he got
excited and proceeded to
tell some Wally Moon stories
when you were with the Dodgers.
Michael Collins, Vista,
CA
Oh how I remember you. I
have at least one autographed
Cardinal postcard from you
and one 8X10 signed photo.
You were one of my all time
heroes. You were a credit
to the game and to humanity.
Congratulations on your
web site and may God bless
you and yours.
Kermit Tanzey, Bartlesville,
OK
What a thrill to find a
web site for the player
who was my favorite Dodger
in the 60's. Shame on Walter
Alston for not playing you
more often in '63, '64 &
'65...the more you were
in the lineup, the better
your production. I remember
the '64 & '65 seasons...he'd
platoon you with Ron Fairly
and you'd get to pinch hit
in games you didn't start.
When you got a hit during
the pinch hit at bat, you'd
be in the starting lineup
the next day. Go 'oh for
four' on one day and you'd
be back on the bench. As
one of your fans, I thought
you were a better player
than Fairly. Just my opinion
after all these years. Best
Regards, Mr. Moon.
David Sydney, Larkspur,
CA
I grew up with Stan Musial
being my favorite player
so I recall you very clearly
when you were a Cardinal.
However I also liked the
Brooklyn Dodgers. Billy
Cox lived right down the
road and Carl Furillo also
lived not far away. I want
to thank you for the memories
and tell you I appreciated
the way you played the game.
Bob Cope, Danville,
PA
Mr. Moon you have been my
baseball hero since I was
eight years old and you
continue to be to this day.
I loved watching you play
for the Cardinals and listing
to the Dodger games. You
are a household name in
my family. Thank you for
all the wonderful memories.
Ralph Johnson, Waipahu,
HI
Wally,I have been a Dodgers
fan since 1961 and loved
the Moon shots, as I write
this I look to my left and
see the personalized ball
from you in 1964,a signed
card from you that you sent
my wife as a surprise for
my 40th birthday in 1993,as
well as an autograph picture
that to be honest I don't
remember where I got and
a frame that contains cards
from all 12 years of your
career,you were my first
baseball hero for which
all I can say is Thanks!
Blake Phillips, Coppell,
TX
I'm proud to become a member
of your fan club. You have
been one of my favorite
Dodgers of all time! Thanks
for all the great baseball
memories!
Nancy Northcross,
Westcliffe, CO
I have always liked you.....
same name and same birthday...despite
playing for those hated
Dodgers!
Phil Moon, Stockton,
CA
My dad "Arnie"
or "Al" Zehner
was on your baseball team
at John Brown University.
He has spoken so HIGHLY
of you over the years and
I would love to reunite
the two of you!!!! You were
a very influential figure
in his life. I would love
to hear from you and put
you back in contact with
my father!!!!!!
Stephanie Zehner,
St. Louis, MO
I was probably 14 or so
years old when I became
a Wally Moon fan. I had
recently gotten my first
magazine subscription to
Sport magazine and shortly
thereafter there was a cover
story with a photo of Wally
leaning against a batting
cage, I think. It was a
wonderful story and it presented
him as a really nice guy.
Formative years
really
nice guy playing for the
Dodgers my favorite
team, even though theyd
left my hometown of New
York. I rapidly became an
ardent Wally Moon fan. My
fervor grew as he answered
my letters, first with a
postcard that had his signature
printed on it, later with
some more personalized notes.
One of my favorite stories
and memories revolves around
meeting Wally in New York.
Id written to him
telling him that Id
wait for him outside of
Shea Stadium the next time
the Dodgers came to play
the Mets. And wait I did.
The Dodger bus was hours
late (or so it seemed in
that hot sun) and when it
arrived minutes before the
scheduled start of the game,
the players were running
into the stadium and not
stopping to say hello
to fans. I got Wallys
attention and he came back
to give me his autograph.
My hero stopped and took
my pen and tried to give
me his autograph and the
darn pen wouldnt write.
It had baked in the summer
sun and had dried up. I
was mortified and there
was no time to look around
for another pen. Wally told
me to contact him the next
time the Dodgers came to
town. I did, and he kindly
met me, introduced me to
his roommate (Jeff Torborg,
I think), and had a great
conversation with me. I
was so nervous, and I thought
of him as friend
rather than as a famous
baseball player, that
I didnt bother asking
for his autograph. I thought
it would demean the friendship.
Now, some 45 years later,
I still cherish that meeting.
I have always thought of
Wally as one of the good
guys out there. Years later,
maybe 1990, I met Wally
at the Winter baseball meetings
and blurted out this story.
We shared a bite to eat.
He was gracious. Of course,
his "Moonshots"
were phenomenal, he had
a great eye as a hitter,
and he was a terrific player.
I still think of myself
as his greatest fan.
Harvey Jassem, Canton,
CT
Mr. Moon, I had a wonderful
time getting to meet you,
and what an outstanding
person you are! Then I find
out on this website that
your from Arkansas (I have
yet to meet someone I didn't
like from Arkansas), and
that your an Aggie, too.
WHOOOOP! May God keep blessing
you Mr. Moon.
Michael Ochoa, Lufkin,
TX
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