Jerry Moses---1970
Scout Tales..... Jerry Moses
It was 1964 and the year before
Baseball’s first Free Agent Draft.
With few reigns to hold back clubs
from signing players, youngsters
were free to bargain with any club
once their high school or college
season ended. Scouts would smooth
talk the mothers and even bond with
fathers over a drink as they talked
about the boy.
In Yazoo City, MS, a talented catcher
named Jerry Moses was grabbing
attention from the Southern scouts.
His father, Sammy, was a scout for
the California Angels and had
promised to bring his son to Los
Angles for a workout. The elder
Moses had put a $50,000 price tag
on Jerry’s services and if the Angels
weren’t interested, he would allow his
son to sign with another club. Also
high on the young catcher was
legendary scout George Digby of the
Boston Red Sox.
Turns out the Angels had a few high
dollar bonus babies on the West
Coast that they preferred, leaving the
door open for the Red Sox. Digby
swooped in with a contract and the
approved bonus money, before the
other clubs.
While Digby was making out the
contract for $50,000, Jerry asked his
father for $2,000 to buy a boat for
him and his brother Rollo.
“All this money is going to be
invested in your name,” said the
Elder Moses. “I’ll take care of that.
Forget the boat.”
Digby spoke up and decided to make
out a new contract for $52,000--- but
only if Jerry would be allowed to buy
the boat. Moses’ father agreed and
Jerry bought his boat as the
instinctive Digby put a smile on
newest Red Sox signee, while later
having to explain to his bosses the
extra bonus money.
Moses would go on to a 9-year major
league career, primarily with Boston,
which included being named to the
1970 American League All-Star
squad.
We love this '70 card, as it almost
looks like Jerry is saying "Hey, I'm
Jerry and after you take this picture
of me, do you wanna go bass fishing
in my boat." Also notice that it has
him as "Gerry", but all records we
find list him as "Jerry."
(8/30/08)
It was 1964 and the year before
Baseball’s first Free Agent Draft.
With few reigns to hold back clubs
from signing players, youngsters
were free to bargain with any club
once their high school or college
season ended. Scouts would smooth
talk the mothers and even bond with
fathers over a drink as they talked
about the boy.
In Yazoo City, MS, a talented catcher
named Jerry Moses was grabbing
attention from the Southern scouts.
His father, Sammy, was a scout for
the California Angels and had
promised to bring his son to Los
Angles for a workout. The elder
Moses had put a $50,000 price tag
on Jerry’s services and if the Angels
weren’t interested, he would allow his
son to sign with another club. Also
high on the young catcher was
legendary scout George Digby of the
Boston Red Sox.
Turns out the Angels had a few high
dollar bonus babies on the West
Coast that they preferred, leaving the
door open for the Red Sox. Digby
swooped in with a contract and the
approved bonus money, before the
other clubs.
While Digby was making out the
contract for $50,000, Jerry asked his
father for $2,000 to buy a boat for
him and his brother Rollo.
“All this money is going to be
invested in your name,” said the
Elder Moses. “I’ll take care of that.
Forget the boat.”
Digby spoke up and decided to make
out a new contract for $52,000--- but
only if Jerry would be allowed to buy
the boat. Moses’ father agreed and
Jerry bought his boat as the
instinctive Digby put a smile on
newest Red Sox signee, while later
having to explain to his bosses the
extra bonus money.
Moses would go on to a 9-year major
league career, primarily with Boston,
which included being named to the
1970 American League All-Star
squad.
We love this '70 card, as it almost
looks like Jerry is saying "Hey, I'm
Jerry and after you take this picture
of me, do you wanna go bass fishing
in my boat." Also notice that it has
him as "Gerry", but all records we
find list him as "Jerry."
(8/30/08)
