Roger Moret – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Roger Moret really made his mark as a talented left-handed pitcher in the 1970s. He played for several Major League Baseball teams before finally hanging up his cleats in 1978.

His career lasted almost a decade in the big leagues. He mostly pitched in relief, though sometimes he started games too.

Moret’s professional baseball journey took him from the Boston Red Sox to the Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, and Chicago Cubs before he retired at 28. He had both standout performances and some personal challenges along the way, which really shaped his legacy in the sport.

Let’s take a look at Moret’s life, from his early days to his professional career. We’ll check out his playing style, the events that led to his retirement, and what happened after baseball.

His story gives us some insight into the pressures and realities pro athletes faced during a pretty transformative time in baseball.

Early Life and Background

Roger Moret was born September 16, 1949, in Guayama, Puerto Rico. He grew up in a family that absolutely loved baseball and he showed a knack for the sport from the start.

Family and Childhood

Roger came from a tight-knit Puerto Rican family in Guayama. His dad worked construction jobs around town, while his mom ran the household.

Baseball was just part of daily life for the Morets. The family would gather around the radio and listen to games together.

Roger’s older brother played in local leagues too. Growing up in Puerto Rico in the 1950s and 60s, Roger was surrounded by baseball culture.

The island had already produced several major league players by then. Kids in his neighborhood played ball in the streets and empty lots every chance they got.

Roger went to local schools in Guayama. He did well in class, but baseball was always his main passion.

Teachers sometimes caught him doodling baseball diamonds in his notebooks instead of paying attention.

Beginning in Baseball

Roger started playing organized baseball at 12 in youth leagues around town. Coaches picked up on his left-handed pitching quickly.

He already had good control and could mix up his pitches. By 16, Roger was pitching for his high school team and quickly became their ace.

He led them to several wins and soon, local scouts started showing up at his games. In 1968, when he was 18, the Boston Red Sox signed him as an amateur free agent.

The signing bonus wasn’t huge, but it gave him a real shot at chasing his baseball dream. Roger left Puerto Rico and started his pro career in the Red Sox minor league system.

He began with rookie league teams, then moved up through the ranks.

Professional Baseball Career

Roger Moret pitched in the majors for seven seasons, playing with three different teams from 1970 to 1978. He made his biggest splash with the Boston Red Sox, where he spent most of his career and hit his stride.

MLB Debut and Early Years

The Boston Red Sox signed Roger as an amateur free agent in 1968. He made his major league debut on September 16, 1970, at just 20 years old.

He spent his early years bouncing between the minors and majors, working on his skills. Moret showed flashes of promise as a lefty with decent velocity and a solid breaking ball.

The Red Sox saw enough in him to keep him around. He slowly earned more playing time as the early 1970s rolled on.

His rookie season was short, just a handful of games. The team wanted to see what he could do at the big league level.

Major Teams Played For

Moret spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox from 1970 to 1975. That six-year stretch was his most productive time in baseball.

The Red Sox mainly used him as a starting pitcher. By the mid-70s, he was a regular in their rotation.

In 1976, he landed with the Atlanta Braves after a trade. He pitched there for two seasons, from 1976 to 1977.

The Braves kept him in the starting rotation, but his numbers dipped compared to his Boston days. Moret wrapped up his career with the Texas Rangers in 1978.

That last season marked the end of his time in the majors, and he stepped away at age 28.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Moret’s best season came in 1973, putting up a 13-17 record with a 3.17 ERA for Boston. That year, he really established himself as a reliable starter.

He threw a career-high 249 innings that season. The team leaned on him for his consistency and durability.

On July 18, 1974, Moret tossed a one-hitter against the Oakland Athletics. That game, he just dominated the hitters.

He finished up with a career record of 47-27 and a 3.66 ERA over 105 major league appearances. In 692 innings, he struck out 394 batters.

Notable Seasons

1973 was Moret’s breakout year with 13 wins and a 3.17 ERA. He slotted in as Boston’s third starter, behind Luis Tiant and Bill Lee.

That year, he made 35 starts and completed 11 games. Those 249 innings pitched? He never topped that again.

1974 was pretty solid too, with a 14-13 record and 3.87 ERA. The one-hitter against Oakland was the high point of that season.

After 1975, his performance started slipping. His last three seasons with Atlanta and Texas were rougher, with fewer innings and less effectiveness.

His 1978 season with Texas only lasted 15 games. Arm problems and a loss of velocity pushed him to call it quits.

1978 Retirement and Transition

Roger Moret left professional baseball in 1978, closing a career that had lasted nearly a decade in the majors. His retirement followed a tough stretch with performance struggles and personal challenges that pushed him to step away.

Circumstances Leading to Retirement

That last season in 1978 was tough for Moret. After bouncing around teams in his later years, he just couldn’t keep up the effectiveness he’d shown earlier.

He struggled with inconsistency through the mid-70s. His ERA climbed way up compared to his early days in Boston.

Personal issues factored in too. Moret talked openly about the mental pressures of pro baseball and how they took a toll on his game.

By 1978, his options in the majors had really dried up. Teams weren’t eager to take chances on older pitchers who weren’t performing.

Impact of Retirement on Career

Moret retired at 28, which is pretty young for a ballplayer. That early exit meant he missed out on a few more productive years, maybe.

His final career stats reflected both his early promise and the struggles he faced later on. He left behind numbers that showed what he could do at his best, especially with Boston.

After baseball, Moret had to figure out life outside the game. Like a lot of retired athletes, he needed to find a new path and adjust to a world that wasn’t built around baseball.

Playing Style and Legacy

Roger Moret built his reputation as a crafty lefty with a smooth delivery and good control. Fans remember his best moments from big games where his pitching was the difference.

Pitching Techniques

Moret used a classic left-handed approach that focused more on control than pure power. His fastball sat in the mid-80s, which worked just fine back then.

Primary Pitches:

• Four-seam fastball
• Curveball
• Changeup
• Slider

His curveball was really his best pitch. Right-handed hitters especially had a tough time with it.

He kept his delivery simple and repeatable. That helped him throw strikes when it counted.

Moret could handle both lefties and righties. His changeup gave him an edge against right-handed batters, and his fastball location gave lefties fits.

Control was probably his best asset. He didn’t walk many hitters and could hit his spots when the catcher called for it.

Memorable Performances

That 1973 season with Boston was his best—13 wins, 17 losses, and a 3.17 ERA across 33 starts. He was a workhorse.

On June 4, 1975, against the Milwaukee Brewers, Moret threw a complete game shutout. He allowed just four hits and struck out eight.

He became a key part of Boston’s rotation in 1975. The Red Sox won the American League pennant that year, and Moret chipped in with 14 wins.

Notable Statistics:

• Career ERA: 3.66
• Strikeouts: 581
• Wins: 47

He could pitch deep into games, which made him valuable. Moret completed 28 games in his career, saving the bullpen for other nights.

Personal Life After Baseball

After stepping away from pro baseball in 1978, Roger Moret focused on building a quieter life. He got involved with youth baseball programs and supported causes in his community.

Post-Retirement Activities

Moret stayed connected to the sport by coaching and mentoring young players. He worked with local youth leagues in Puerto Rico and Massachusetts.

His major league experience made him a great teacher of pitching mechanics. He passed on his knowledge to the next generation.

He also tried his hand at business after retiring. Moret opened a small sporting goods shop that supplied local baseball teams.

This let him stay close to the game and build relationships with players and families. Sometimes, he’d show up at Red Sox alumni events and fantasy camps.

He enjoyed catching up with old teammates and sharing stories with fans. Representing the teams he played for meant a lot to him.

Charity and Community Involvement

Moret put in time supporting underprivileged youth through baseball. He believed the sport taught important lessons about teamwork and sticking with it.

He focused on providing gear and coaching to kids who might not otherwise get a shot at organized baseball. Moret worked with local schools to promote fitness and healthy competition.

He often visited classrooms to talk about the importance of education alongside athletics. His message? School comes first, even if you love sports.

He also supported Puerto Rican cultural groups in his area. Moret helped organize events that celebrated his heritage and brought people together.

His efforts really helped connect different generations in the Puerto Rican American community.

Awards, Honors, and Net Worth

Roger Moret’s baseball career brought him recognition, especially with the World Series championship he won with the Boston Red Sox in 1975. His finances reflected what relief pitchers typically earned during the 1970s.

Major Recognitions

Roger Moret made his mark as part of the 1975 Boston Red Sox team that clinched the American League pennant. He played a key role during their unforgettable World Series run against the Cincinnati Reds.

Fans and teammates respected the left-handed pitcher for his work in the Red Sox bullpen during crucial games. He stepped up in high-pressure situations and helped Boston reach the World Series for the first time since 1967.

Moret showed his versatility by pitching as both a starter and a reliever. He found ways to adapt to different roles with several teams throughout his career.

During the mid-1970s, he left a lasting impression on the Red Sox organization. Fans still remember his clutch performances in those big moments.

Estimated Net Worth

Roger Moret retired with a net worth that matched what you’d expect from MLB salaries in the 1970s. Back then, players just didn’t make the kind of money you see today, and most brought home modest salaries.

He probably earned somewhere between $200,000 and $400,000 during his career. Relief pitchers, like Moret, usually made less than the stars or the guys who played every day.

Most players in the ’70s had to look for work after baseball. The pay just wasn’t enough to set you up for life.

By today’s standards, his net worth would seem pretty modest. Without free agency and with less TV money coming in, players from Moret’s era just didn’t have the same earning power.