Billy Moran
Encyclopedia
William Nelson Moran is a retired American
professional baseball
player. Primarily a second baseman
, he played in the Major Leagues
from 1958–1959 and 1961–1965 for the Cleveland Indians
and Los Angeles Angels
. Moran threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg).
After his first two MLB seasons with Cleveland, Moran was sold to the Triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
in 1960, and then acquired from Toronto by the Angels in the middle of their maiden American League
season, .
.282 with 17 home runs and 74 runs batted in. He also led AL second basemen in putouts and was second in assists
and third in fielding percentage
. Moran was selected as the starting second baseman — ahead of eventual league Most Valuable Player
runner-up Bobby Richardson
— on the 1962 American League All-Star
team. Moran started in both All-Star games that season, collecting two hits
in seven at bats and playing errorless ball in the field. Meanwhile, the Angels stunned baseball by finishing third in the American League standings in the team's second season of existence.
In , Moran again was a mainstay of the Angels' infield, starting 150 games and batting .275 with seven homers and 65 RBI. He led the AL's second basemen in putouts and assists, but made a league-leading 22 errors
at second base. It was his last season as a regular player in MLB. The following season, Moran lost his job to rookie
Bobby Knoop
and in June he was sent back to the Indians in a three-team trade also involving the Minnesota Twins
, and finished his MLB career as a utility infielder with Cleveland in 1964–1965.
As a Major Leaguer, Moran appeared in 634 games played
, with 2,076 at bats and 545 hits
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. Primarily a second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
, he played in the Major Leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1958–1959 and 1961–1965 for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. Moran threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg).
After his first two MLB seasons with Cleveland, Moran was sold to the Triple-A Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in 1960, and then acquired from Toronto by the Angels in the middle of their maiden American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
season, .
Star of 1962 Angels
In , Moran became the Angels' regular second baseman, starting 159 of the team's 162 games and posting career-best statistics as a batter, hittingBatting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.282 with 17 home runs and 74 runs batted in. He also led AL second basemen in putouts and was second in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and third in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. Moran was selected as the starting second baseman — ahead of eventual league Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
runner-up Bobby Richardson
Bobby Richardson
Robert Clinton "Bobby" Richardson is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees from through . Batting and throwing right-handed, he was a superb defensive infielder, as well as something of a clutch hitter, who played no small role in the Yankee baseball...
— on the 1962 American League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team. Moran started in both All-Star games that season, collecting two hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in seven at bats and playing errorless ball in the field. Meanwhile, the Angels stunned baseball by finishing third in the American League standings in the team's second season of existence.
In , Moran again was a mainstay of the Angels' infield, starting 150 games and batting .275 with seven homers and 65 RBI. He led the AL's second basemen in putouts and assists, but made a league-leading 22 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
at second base. It was his last season as a regular player in MLB. The following season, Moran lost his job to rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
Bobby Knoop
Bobby Knoop
Robert Frank Knoop [kuh-NOPP] is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and right-handed batter who played for the California Angels , Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals ....
and in June he was sent back to the Indians in a three-team trade also involving the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, and finished his MLB career as a utility infielder with Cleveland in 1964–1965.
As a Major Leaguer, Moran appeared in 634 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, with 2,076 at bats and 545 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
.