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Joe Moeller was a highly regarded pitcher at Mira Costa High School. Before the draft, players could sign with any club offering a contract. Moeller received offers from multiple teams before choosing Walter O’Malley‘s Dodgers.

At the time, teams faced restrictions on the number of players in their minor league systems. The Dodgers circumvented this limit by having their high school prospects play immediately in the rookie league. These players did not count against the team’s limit. If a rookie league player impressed more than an existing minor leaguer, the Dodgers made room for them.

In 1960, Commissioner Ford Frick addressed the Dodgers’ use of this rule in a letter. He stated that this practice would no longer be allowed.

Frick wrote, “…if these players signed to contracts are free to play on a rookie team, they are likewise free to play on a regular minor league team where they would count in your player limits…”

Among the players Frick specifically mentioned was Joe Moeller, the youngest starting pitcher in Dodgers history.

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Ford Frick’s letter is dated July 26, 1960. At that time, high school and college prospects could sign with the highest bidder. In 1964, the Angels paid $200,000 for Rick Reichardt. Owners soon realized that signing bonuses were becoming too expensive.

At the ’64 Winter Meetings, a proposal to implement a draft was set to be voted on. If teams drafted players instead of competing for them, big bonuses would no longer be necessary. The proposal passed with only the Cardinals voting against it.

Rick Monday was the #1 pick in the inaugural draft in ’65. He signed for $104,000, nearly half of Reichardt’s bonus from the previous year. The $200,000 Reichardt received would not be paid to a draftee until 1979. The draft succeeded as the owners had hoped.

Shown here is the second page of Frick’s letter. The commissioner’s signature appears at the bottom of the page.

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This wire photo shows rookie Joe Moeller smiling as he holds the game ball from his first MLB victory on April 23, 1962. At just 19 years old, Moeller threw a complete game that day.

Throwing a complete game against the 1962 Milwaukee Braves was no small feat. Moeller faced Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews. The Braves also featured All-Stars Joe Adcock, and Del Crandall. These four combined to hit just 1-for-11 against Moeller. The 7,656 fans watched as the young Dodger sensation dominated their favorite team.

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Joe Moeller scattered nine hits in his first MLB win. The 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Braves was keyed by Duke Snider who went 2-for-3 and figured in three of the Dodgers’ five runs.

In this letter gentleman Joe Moeller writes about the contest.

“I was only 19 when the picture of me holding the game ball was taken. It was my first big league win in Milwaukee against the Braves. I went the distance holding Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, and Joe Adcock to one hit in nine at bats. Roy McMillian had their only RBI. For us Duke (Snider) scored twice and drove in one. That was more than enough that day.”

What a thrill it must’ve been for the teenager to conquer the mighty Milwaukee club.

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A 21-year-old Joe Moeller started on May 24, 1964, facing future Hall of Famer Jim Bunning. Philadelphia entered the game with the best record in baseball.

Moeller stayed calm, allowing three hits over six innings. Manager Walt Alston replaced Moeller with Sandy Koufax. Los Angeles left-hander Koufax, who had pitched a complete game just three days earlier, held the Phillies scoreless for the final three innings, earning his seventh career save. Eleven days later, Koufax threw his third no-hitter.

Both pitchers signed the photo commemorating that day.

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Shown here is Joe Moeller’s handwritten recollections of the game he and Sandy Koufax combined to shut out Jim Bunning and the Phillies. Moeller was outstanding that day, scattering three hits over six innings. Sandy Koufax came on in relief and preserved the shutout.

Moeller writes, “It was great to have the greatest pitcher I ever saw relieve me and get the save. Both Bunning and Sandy are in the Hall of Fame, but I got the win that day.”

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Jeff Torborg was Joe Moeller’s teammate for seven of Joe’s eight big league seasons. They were also roommates on the road.

Here Torborg provides his own recollections of the game in which Moeller and Sandy Koufax combined for a shutout. “John Roseboro caught the game. I was in my first big-league season and paying close attention to how he handled the two pitchers. Joe was 20 at the time. He started the game and pitched six strong innings before our skipper Walt Alston lifted him. Sandy came in to relieve him and pitched three innings to complete the shutout and get the save…”

Eleven days later Koufax threw a no-hitter that Moeller writes about in the next image.

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Outstanding content from a man who was there: Joe Moeller was 21 when Sandy Koufax pitched his third no-hitter on June 4, 1964. After the game, Koufax was interviewed about his performance. The Left Arm of God boarded the team bus last and sat next to Moeller.

Moeller writes in vivid detail about Koufax’s disappointment with the game.

“The only things he talked about were the mistakes he made. He mentioned a couple of pitches up in the strike zone…At the time, it amazed me that he focused on the bad pitches, not the excitement of pitching a no-hitter.”

Later, Moeller calls Koufax, “one of the most intelligent, articulate, and humble players I ever met.”

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Joe Moeller was 23 when Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston called him from the bullpen in Game 1 of the 1966 World Series. The Orioles had already scored four runs off Don Drysdale in two innings.

The first two batters Moeller faced were future MVPs: Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell. In his previous at-bat, Robinson had homered off Drysdale. This time, however, it was different.

Robinson fell behind 1-2 before grounding out to third. Powell hit a weak grounder to shortstop Maury Wills for the second out.

Moeller then got Curt Blefary to pop out to Wills, recording his first scoreless inning of the Series.

In the next frame, Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio drove in a run with an infield groundout. Moeller responded by getting Russ Snyder to ground to second to end the inning. His night was done. The 55,941 fans applauded as he left the field.

In two innings, Moeller allowed one run on one hit and one walk.

The image shows two tickets to Game 1 of the ’66 World Series. Joe signed both and wrote, “Baseball Thrill” on the loge-level pass.

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When former Dodger pitcher Joe Moeller browsed the CooperstownExpert.com collection, he found a note from Brooks Robinson. The third baseman wrote, “My most exciting moment in baseball was the 1966 World Series. It was my first, a dream come true. Sincerely, Brooks Robinson.”

Moeller remembered facing Robinson in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium. After some arm twisting, Moeller added to Robinson’s note, “Jim, Brooks may be in the Hall of Fame, but when he faced me in that series, he grounded out to Gilliam. Tell him I said so! Sincerely, Joe Moeller.”

One of the nicest men in baseball, Moeller stayed in the game as an advance scout for the Florida Marlins. This was more than 50 years after his debut as the youngest starting pitcher in Los Angeles Dodger history.

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Joe Moeller was part of the 1966 National League Champion Dodgers. The team lost the World Series to the Orioles and went on a goodwill tour of Japan.

The Dodgers received luggage tags with their uniform numbers. Moeller’s tag from this historic trip is part of the collection.

Moeller posted a career-low 2.52 ERA in 1966, helping the Dodgers win the pennant. He always said pitching in that World Series was his greatest thrill in baseball.

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In a letter dated November 25, 1969, Dodger general manager Al Campanis scolds veteran Joe Moeller during contract talks. Campanis writes, “Enclosed is a clipping which is self-explanatory. 1. It is not courteous to criticize someone through newspapers. 2. It is not ethical to negotiate through newspapers.”

The letter reflects an era when management had more power over players. At the time, the Dodgers were known for tough negotiations.

One of the game’s true gentlemen, Moeller stayed loyal to the only Major League team he had known. He played for the Dodgers through the 1971 season.

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The Major League Baseball Players Association sent out questionnaires like this one to its players to determine the endorsements each man had. Today’s players complement their baseball salary with off field endorsement but that wasn’t always the case.

This document filled out by Joe Moeller on July 21, 1970 shows him with a Spalding Sporting Goods endorsement and nothing more. It was rare for any player other than the stars to have product endorsements.

Directly under his signature, Moeller has penned “LA Dodgers”, the team he player for not only in 1970, but for the entirety of his 8-year big league career.

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Joe Moeller pitched for the Dodgers from 1962-1971. In the collection is his final Major League contract dated February 1, 1971 that calls for a salary of $24,000.

Moeller won 105 games in his 13-year career in professional baseball. All eight of his big league seasons were in Los Angeles for whom he won 26 games.

After the ’71 season, Moeller spent two seasons with the Hawaii Islanders, the Triple-A squad for the Padres.

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In addition to the player’s signature is that of Dodger general manager Al Campanis and National League president Chub Feeney. Campanis served as GM from 1968 through 1987; Fenney was the top NL executive from 1970 through 1986.

Moeller went 2-4 with a 3.80 ERA for the Dodgers in ’71. Walt Alston‘s club won 89 games to finish one game in back of the division-winning Giants

Joe remained in the game as a member of the Dodgers’ speaker’s bureau and later as advance scout for the Montreal Expos and the Florida Marlins.

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Gentleman Joe Moeller pitch professionally for 13 seasons from 1961 through 1973. A veteran of eight big league seasons, Moeller’s final year in the majors was 1971.

Shown here is a ticket to Dodger Stadium for Moeller’s final big league appearance on September 29, 1971. The Astros pummelled the Dodgers 11-0 that day. Moeller pitched the sixth and seventh inning and allowed three runs on four hits.

The final run Moeller allowed was scored by Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan who tripled and came across on Cesar Cedeno’s sac fly. Houston third baseman Marty Martinez fouled out to left field to end the inning as the final big league batter Moeller faced.

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After retiring as a player, Joe Moeller remained involved in baseball. In 2001, Jeff Torborg became manager of the Montreal Expos. He called his former Dodgers teammate, Moeller, asking him to serve as advance scout. In this role, Moeller scouted the Expos’ next opponent, staying one step ahead.

Moeller became the youngest starting pitcher in Los Angeles Dodgers history when he debuted at 19 in 1962. He pitched in the 1966 World Series and had a 13-year professional career. After retiring, Moeller stayed close to the game.

One item in the collection is a letter from Moeller during his time as advance scout for the Florida Marlins. In it, he praises Cal Ripken, Mark McGwire, and Tony Gwynn, an eight-time batting champion.

Moeller writes, “Cal captured the nation’s attention when he broke Lou Gehrig’s streak in 1995. Everyone cheered for him. In 1998, it was Big Mac’s turn with 70 home runs. Tony didn’t have a singular moment like that, but his quiet class with the Padres over 20 years was just as impressive.”

Moeller witnessed some of the game’s greatest players during his six-decade baseball career.

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When Joe Moeller was hired as the Expos advance scout before the 2001 season, he likely could not envision the job lasting so long. Even as Major League Baseball intervened and gave owner Jeffrey Loria the Marlins in exchange for the Expos franchise, Joe was one of the front office men who kept his job. Moeller worked under seven different managers.

In this letter, Moeller writes about Mark McGwire’s pursuit of Roger Maris‘ home run record and of Big Mac’s Hall of Fame prospects.

“When Big Mac and Sammy Sosa chased Roger Maris, it helped baseball heal. Each night when I was scouting the Cardinals, McGwire would come to bat and the crowd would buzz with excitement – and he delivered. 61 was a magical number and Mark hit 70!”

Most at the time did not realize the scope of the Steroid Era.