Jerry Moses – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Jerry Moses made a name for himself in baseball during his nine-year Major League career. From 1965 to 1975, he suited up for seven different teams.

Born in Mississippi, Moses became the youngest player in Boston Red Sox history to hit a pinch-hit home run—he was only 18. His journey from high school quarterback to pro baseball player is honestly pretty fascinating.

Moses put together a career batting average of .251, with 25 home runs and 109 RBIs in 386 games. He even earned a spot as a 1970 American League All-Star. He kicked off his pro career with the Red Sox after signing a $50,000 bonus contract in 1964. He picked baseball over football, even though schools like Alabama (under Bear Bryant) wanted him.

At 6-foot-3, Moses played for the Boston Red Sox, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox.

Let’s dig into Moses’ early days in Mississippi, his climb through the minors, and what he brought to so many big-league clubs. From his record-setting debut to his last game in 1975, his story shows what it’s like for a journeyman player to leave a mark wherever he lands.

Early Life and Path to the Major Leagues

Jerry Moses was born August 9, 1946, in Yazoo City, Mississippi. He grew up in a baseball family that shaped his future.

He showed off serious athletic skills in both football and baseball at Yazoo City High, which got recruiters and scouts interested. That led to his $50,000 signing bonus with the Boston Red Sox in 1964.

Birthplace and Family Background

Gerald Braheen Moses was born in a hospital in Yazoo City, Mississippi. His parents were Samuel Stephen Moses and Mary Francis Moses.

Sammy, his dad, worked as a baseball scout from 1944 until 1969, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but also with the Angels and Dodgers.

Jerry had three siblings: Tiffie, Sam (“Rollo”), and Pam. Rollo became an All-American football player at Yazoo City High and went on to play at Ole Miss.

The Moses family stayed close to baseball thanks to their father’s scouting career. Jerry’s parents always showed up—he’d later say they were “everywhere my brother and I went.”

His dad coached his Little League team with Sam Nicholas, and Jerry caught and pitched.

Mickey Mantle was Jerry’s favorite player. With all the baseball connections and his dad’s role as a scout, Jerry had the perfect environment to develop his skills early on.

Amateur Baseball and High School Achievements

Jerry shined as a multi-sport athlete at Yazoo City High School from 1961 to 1963. He played quarterback, earning All-America honors as a junior and All-State as a senior, but baseball was his real passion.

For four years, Jerry caught for coach Robert “Cob” Jarvis. People called him “Mule” because he could really hit. As a freshman, he became the only player to hit a ball over the 340-foot sign in left field.

His American Legion Baseball experience mattered a lot. At 16, his dad took him to Jackson to play for Mississippi’s top American Legion team. They won the state championship and went to regionals in Memphis, where Jerry caught the eye of scouts.

He got football scholarship offers from almost every SEC school, including a breakfast with Bear Bryant, but he decided to chase his baseball dreams instead.

Signing with the Boston Red Sox

A bunch of MLB teams wanted Jerry—the Boston Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, Pirates, Angels, and Dodgers all showed interest. Red Sox scout George Digby, who scouted the Deep South, eventually landed Moses.

The signing process had a little drama. Jerry’s dad took him to California to hear the Angels’ offer, but Sammy didn’t like the contract terms. They went back to Mississippi.

George Digby signed Jerry for $50,000 in Yazoo City in 1964. That made Moses a “bonus baby” under rules meant to stop teams with deep pockets from hoarding top talent.

Bob Montgomery, another Red Sox signee, joked that Digby drove a Chevrolet when he signed him in 1962, but after signing Jerry, it was a Cadillac.

Grace LeFlore Barbour, mom of Jerry’s teammate Haley Barbour (who later became governor of Mississippi), pushed him toward Boston. She loved the Red Sox and often went to spring training to watch Ted Williams, so she encouraged Jerry to go with Boston.

Professional Career Overview

Jerry Moses spent nine seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1965 to 1975. He played for seven different teams.

He debuted at 18 with the Boston Red Sox and became an All-Star in 1970. After that, he moved through several organizations via trades.

MLB Debut and Early Years with the Red Sox

Moses broke into the majors on May 9, 1965, with the Boston Red Sox, just 18 years old. He’d signed a $50,000 bonus contract with Boston in 1964, turning down football scholarships from SEC schools.

His first career hit? Pretty memorable. On May 25, 1965, Moses became the youngest Red Sox player to hit a home run, at 18 years and 289 days old. The pinch-hit blast came off Jim “Mudcat” Grant.

Early on, Moses bounced between the majors and minors. He had short stints in 1965 and 1968, but in 1969, he became a regular. That year, he hit .304 with four home runs and 17 RBIs, sharing catching with Russ Gibson and Tom Satriano.

Manager Eddie Kasko took Moses under his wing. Moses caught for pitchers like Jim Lonborg, Ray Culp, and Sparky Lyle while with Boston.

All-Star Season and Notable Performances

Moses hit his career peak in 1970 when he made the American League All-Star team with Carl Yastrzemski. The All-Star Game happened in Cincinnati on July 14, 1970.

He didn’t actually play in the game, though. He warmed up pitchers Mel Stottlemyre and Clyde Wright and watched the famous Pete Rose–Ray Fosse collision at home plate.

Moses later said, “I was so amazed. My wife, mother, sister, LeFlore Barbour were all there. I was in the locker room with Brooks and Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard, Jim Palmer, Catfish Hunter, etc.”

Injuries, including a split finger, limited him to 92 games in 1970. He batted .263 with six home runs and 35 RBIs. On August 9, 1975—his 29th birthday—he tripled off Hall of Famer Jim Palmer in his last MLB at-bat.

Summary of Team Transitions

Moses played for seven teams in his nine-year MLB run, showing just how often catchers got moved around in the 1970s. After his All-Star year with Boston, the team traded him (along with Tony Conigliaro and Ray Jarvis) to the California Angels for Doug Griffin on October 12, 1970.

Teams Moses played for:

• Boston Red Sox (1965, 1968-1970)
• California Angels (1971-1972)
• Cleveland Indians (1973)
• New York Yankees (1974)
• Detroit Tigers (1974)
• San Diego Padres (1975)
• Chicago White Sox (1975)

He finished up with the White Sox in 1975, playing just two games but hitting .500. His career totals: 386 games, a .251 average, 25 home runs, and 109 RBIs in 1,072 at-bats.

Teams shuffled catchers around a lot back then. Moses’s frequent moves show how clubs filled roster gaps with experienced backups.

Key Highlights with the Boston Red Sox

Jerry Moses made his biggest splash with the Red Sox during a time when the franchise was changing fast. His debut homer at 18 and his 1970 All-Star nod showed he had real promise.

Breakout Moments and Contributions

Moses got instant attention with his second career at-bat on May 25, 1965. Just 18 years and 289 days old, he became the youngest Red Sox player ever to homer.

He hit the pinch-hit blast off Cleveland’s Jim “Mudcat” Grant. Frank Malzone, in the dugout, said the ball went “halfway up the light pole in left-center, hit it a ton.”

His biggest honor came in 1970 when he made the All-Star team with Carl Yastrzemski. The nod came after a strong first half.

He remembered: “I was so amazed. My wife, mother, sister, LeFlore Barbour were all there. I was in the locker room with Brooks and Frank Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard.”

In the 1969 season, Moses batted .304 with four home runs and 17 RBIs. He split catching duties with Russ Gibson and Tom Satriano and proved himself a steady presence behind the plate.

Partnerships with Teammates

Moses built strong friendships with several Red Sox teammates. He roomed with Tony Conigliaro on the road and shared an apartment near Fenway with pitcher Jim Lonborg.

Lonborg praised Moses’s catching skills: “Jerry had very good hands and a very good arm, was agile and gave a great target behind the plate.”

Moses loved working with the pitching staff. He caught Sparky Lyle for several seasons and felt a special connection with Galen Cisco in 1968.

“He was the only pitcher I ever told to pitch without a sign,” Moses said about Cisco. “He was that good.”

Manager Eddie Kasko became a mentor, and Moses credited him for helping him grow as a player and a person, both in the minors and majors.

Trade Departure and Legacy

Moses’s time with the Red Sox ended suddenly on October 12, 1970. He got home to Yazoo City at 3 a.m. to see his mother, who told him he’d been traded.

The deal sent Moses, Tony Conigliaro, and Ray Jarvis to the California Angels for Doug Griffin. That ended Moses’s four-season run with Boston.

He played only 92 games in 1970 because of injuries, but Moses left a lasting impression. Boston fans called him “Mo” and respected his hard work.

Moses played during a Red Sox resurgence. The team won the 1967 pennant and led the American League in attendance during his best years.

He stayed connected to Boston after retiring. Moses lived in Eastern Massachusetts and often helped Mike Andrews with Jimmy Fund charity work.

Performance Analytics and Career Statistics

Jerry Moses finished with a .251 career batting average in 386 games, hitting 25 home runs and driving in 109 runs over his nine-year MLB career.

His 1.6 career WAR shows he was a reliable backup catcher who brought steady defensive value behind the plate.

Batting and Offensive Metrics

Moses racked up 269 hits in 1,072 at-bats during his career. His best year at the plate came in 1969 with Boston, when he batted .304 and collected 41 hits in 135 at-bats.

He never really flashed much power as a catcher. Over his career, he hit 25 home runs, and his best single-season mark was 6 homers in 1970.

In a short 18-game stretch in 1968, his on-base plus slugging (OPS) shot up to 1.035. For his career, he finished with a .676 OPS and an 89 OPS+, so his offense was a bit below average.

Key Offensive Statistics:

• Batting Average: .251
• Home Runs: 25
• RBIs: 109
• Runs: 89
• Hits: 269

Moses drew 63 walks and struck out 184 times, showing patience at the plate but also a tendency to whiff. In 1970, he drove in 35 runs for the Red Sox, his best RBI season.

Defensive Performance as Catcher

Moses spent most of his time in the big leagues behind the plate. Teams in the 1960s and 1970s really leaned on his defense.

Standing 6’3″ and weighing 210 pounds, he gave pitchers a big target. He had a solid arm and called games well, so managers trusted him as a backup for several teams.

He caught for seven different teams, which says something about how clubs valued his steady glove and veteran presence.

Moses didn’t just catch—he also played first base, right field, left field, and even filled in as a designated hitter. That versatility definitely helped him stick around and gave his teams some roster flexibility.

His defensive WAR helped balance out his lighter bat. Teams counted on him to handle pitchers and keep things steady behind the dish when it mattered.

Noteworthy Records and Recognitions

Moses made the All-Star team in 1970 while with the Boston Red Sox. That was his top offensive season, hitting .263 with 6 home runs and 35 RBIs.

He broke into the majors at age 18, debuting with Boston on May 9, 1965. The Red Sox signed him to a bonus contract in 1964 right after he finished at Yazoo City High School.

His last game came on August 9, 1975—his 29th birthday. He went 1-for-1 that day against Baltimore, wrapping up his career on a high note.

Moses suited up for the Red Sox, Angels, Indians, Yankees, Tigers, Padres, and White Sox. He spent his longest stretch—four seasons—with Boston from 1965 to 1970.

He played 386 career games, which is pretty close to a decade in the majors. While he wasn’t a big hitter, Moses gave teams reliable defense and a steady veteran presence over his nine years.

Playing for Multiple Major League Teams

After making the All-Star team with Boston in 1970, Moses bounced around as a journeyman. He never spent more than one full season with any team after that, playing for six different organizations in his last five years, usually as a backup catcher with only a few starts.

Tenures with Angels, Indians, and Yankees

The Red Sox traded Moses, along with Tony Conigliaro and Ray Jarvis, to the California Angels on October 11, 1970. The Angels got the trio in exchange for Ken Tatum, Jarvis Tatum, and Doug Griffin.

Moses couldn’t lock down the starting catcher role in California. He started just 47 games behind the plate in 1971, while John Stephenson handled most of the catching. His average slipped to .227, and that pretty much started his run as a backup.

Before the 1972 season, the Cleveland Indians picked up Moses in a trade. He didn’t get much of a shot there either, starting just 35 games at catcher in his only year with Cleveland.

After that, Moses landed with the New York Yankees thanks to a big trade at the Winter Meetings on November 27, 1972. The Indians sent Moses and Graig Nettles to New York for John Ellis, Charlie Spikes, Rusty Torres, and Jerry Kenney. With the Yankees in 1973, Moses had his smallest role yet, starting only 16 games at catcher.

Stints with Tigers, Padres, and White Sox

The Detroit Tigers picked up Moses on March 19, 1974, in a three-team trade. The Yankees sent him to Detroit and got Ed Farmer and Walt Williams in return, while Cleveland sent Rick Sawyer to New York and received Jim Perry from Detroit.

With the Tigers in 1974, Moses had his busiest season since Boston. He started 64 games at catcher, his most since leaving the Red Sox. Even with more playing time, he hit just .237 with 4 homers and 19 RBIs, splitting time with Bill Freehan, Gene Lamont, and John Wockenfuss.

Moses’s last two stops came in 1975, not by trade but by sales. The Tigers sold him to the New York Mets in January 1975. The Mets quickly flipped him to the San Diego Padres in April, and he started only 3 games there.

The Padres then sold him to the Chicago White Sox in July 1975. He didn’t start any games as a catcher for the White Sox, and his final major league appearance came on August 9, 1975, at Comiskey Park—again, on his 29th birthday.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Jerry Moses wrapped up his nine-season Major League career in 1975 with the Chicago White Sox. After stepping away from baseball, he threw himself into helping former players through the MLB Players Alumni Association and got a reputation for his charity work around Boston.

Final Season and Retirement in 1975

In his last MLB season with the White Sox, Moses played just two games and batted .500. His final appearance came on August 9, 1975, which happened to be his 29th birthday.

He officially retired from pro baseball in 1976 at age 28. Across nine seasons from 1965 to 1975, he played for seven teams, finishing with 386 games, 25 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a .251 average.

After barely seeing the field in his final year, Moses decided to hang it up. He’d spent most of his career as a backup catcher, but did manage to snag an All-Star nod with the Red Sox in 1970.

Post-Retirement Involvement with Baseball

Once he retired, Moses got deeply involved with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association. He served as President and sat on the Board of Directors.

He pushed for better benefits for inactive, non-vested former players who didn’t get pension coverage. Moses helped organize charity events, like the Legends for Youth Clinic Series.

He became a leading voice for players who’d missed out on pensions, and this advocacy work really defined his post-baseball life.

Moses stayed close to the sport through alumni events and activities. He used his experience to help other former players adjust to life after baseball.

Personal Life and Health

After retiring, Moses settled outside Boston and became known for his charity efforts. He especially supported the Jimmy Fund, a famous Boston charity for cancer research and patient care.

People in baseball circles admired him for his generosity and commitment to helping others. His charity work went way beyond baseball, touching the broader community.

Jerry Moses died on March 26, 2018, at age 71 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He kept working with former players and giving back to his community right up until the end, leaving a legacy that reached far past his playing days.

Legacy and Lasting Recognition

Jerry Moses left a mark on baseball through his nine-year MLB career across seven teams, including his All-Star year in 1970. His influence went beyond stats, shaping teammates and holding a spot in the record books long after he retired.

Impact on Teams and Fans

Moses made an impression on several teams between 1965 and 1975. Red Sox fans took to him early, calling him “Mo” after his strong showing in September 1968.

He set a record as the youngest Red Sox player to hit a home run—just 18 years and 289 days old. That pinch-hit homer off Jim “Mudcat” Grant on May 25, 1965, stuck with fans and teammates.

Frank Malzone, who watched from the dugout, kept calling Moses “Kid” for years after. Malzone described the homer as going “halfway up the light pole in left-center” and said, “Boston fans really liked him here.”

Moses brought a football toughness and attitude that fans across all seven teams appreciated. He didn’t shy away from blocking the plate or handling tough pitchers, earning respect from his peers.

Appearances in Baseball Reference and Baseball Almanac

Moses’s stats and milestones are still right there in the baseball record books. Baseball Reference lists his career totals: 386 games, 25 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a .251 average over nine seasons.

His 1970 All-Star selection with Boston stands out in the official MLB records. That put him alongside stars like Carl Yastrzemski as a Red Sox representative that year.

Databases still track his journey through seven teams. His path—from Boston to California, Cleveland, New York, Detroit, San Diego, and Chicago—shows just how much teams moved catchers around back then.

The records also keep his claim as Boston’s youngest home run hitter alive. Fans digging into Red Sox history can still find that milestone today.

Influence on Future Catchers and MLB Players

Moses made an impact that reached way past his own playing days, especially through mentorship and youth development programs. He teamed up with his old Red Sox teammate Mike Andrews to start the “Mike Andrews & Jerry Moses Youth Baseball Camp.”

At the camp, they taught young catchers and players, sharing techniques Moses picked up during his pro career. Moses had experience catching for multiple teams, and he learned a lot about working with different pitching staffs.

He passed on that knowledge to aspiring players. His knack for defense and building trust with pitchers rubbed off on teammates, some of whom later became coaches and managers.

The friendships he made during his playing years turned into a network that kept shaping baseball development. Moses also switched from being a high school quarterback to a pro catcher, which showed just how versatile he was.

That move inspired other multi-sport athletes. When he chose baseball over football scholarships, it sent a message—sometimes you really do have to follow your gut in sports.