Joe Moeller

Joe Moeller
Birthdate 02/15/1943
Death Date
Debut Year 1962
Year of Induction
Teams Dodgers, Expos, Marlins
Positions Pitcher, Scout

Joe Moeller was the youngest starting hurler in the pitching-rich history of the LA Dodgers when he took the mound at 19 years, 2 months.

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In the collection:

Ford Frick wrote to Fresco Thompason regarding 17-year old Joe Moeller and other prospects

Ford Frick wrote to Fresco Thompason regarding 17-year old Joe Moeller and other prospects

Joe Moeller was a heralded prospect as a pitcher at Mira Costa high school. In the days before the draft, players were free to sign with any club that offered them a contract. Moeller fielded offers from multiple clubs before agreeing to terms with Walter O’Malley‘s Dodgers. At that time
With no previous system in place, owners instituted the first-year player draft was in 1965

With no previous system in place, owners instituted the first-year player draft was in 1965

Ford Frick’s letter is dated July 26, 1960. At the time high school and college prospects were free to sign with the highest bidder. In 1964 the Angels paid $200,000 for Rick Reichardt. Owners soon realized signing bonuses were costing them too much. At the ’64 Winter Meetings a proposal
 Joe Moeller was just 19 years old when he earned his first big league victory

Joe Moeller was just 19 years old when he earned his first big league victory

In the collection is this wire photo of rookie Joe Moeller smiling as he holds the game ball from his first MLB victory on April 23, 1962. Just 19 years old, Moeller went the distance on this day. It was no small feat to throw a complete game against the ’62 Milwaukee Braves. Moeller faced a p
Duke Snider led the way in Moeller's first MLB win

Duke Snider led the way in Moeller's first MLB win

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
Sandy Koufax earned one of his 9 career saves in relief of Moeller

Sandy Koufax earned one of his 9 career saves in relief of Moeller

A heady 21-year old Joe Moeller got the start on May 24, 1964 squaring off against future Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning. Philadelphia came into the game with the best record in baseball. Moeller was unfazed, scattering three hits over six innings. Manager Walt Alston came out to get Moeller and d
Moeller recounts the thrill of having Koufax relieve him

Moeller recounts the thrill of having Koufax relieve him

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
Road roommate and catcher Jeff Torborg recalls the Moeller/Koufax shutout

Road roommate and catcher Jeff Torborg recalls the Moeller/Koufax shutout

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 f
Joe Moeller remembers teammate Sandy Koufax's 1964 no-hitter 34 years later

Joe Moeller remembers teammate Sandy Koufax's 1964 no-hitter 34 years later

Outstanding content from a man who was there: Joe Moeller was 21-years old when Sandy Koufax pitched the third of his four no-hitters on June 4, 1964. After the game, Koufax was interviewed at length about his gem. The Left Arm of God was the last to board the team bus and took a seat next to Moelle
Gentleman Joe called his 1966 World Series appearance his greatest thrill as a player

Gentleman Joe called his 1966 World Series appearance his greatest thrill as a player

Joe Moeller was just 23 years old when Hall of Fame manager Walter Alston summoned him from the bullpen to relieve Cooperstown’s Don Drysdale in Game 1 of the 1966 World Series. The American League champion Baltimore Orioles already torched Big D for four runs in his two innings of work. Young
Brooks Robinson called the '66 World Series his greatest thrill; Moeller retired him in Game 1

Brooks Robinson called the '66 World Series his greatest thrill; Moeller retired him in Game 1

When former Dodger pitcher Joe Moeller looked through the CooperstownExpert.com collection he stumbled across this note from Brooks Robinson. The third baseman writes, “My most exciting moment in baseball was the 1966 World Series. It was my first, a dream come true. Sincerely, Brooks Robinson
After winning the '66 NL pennant, Moeller and the Dodgers headed to Japan

After winning the '66 NL pennant, Moeller and the Dodgers headed to Japan

Joe Moeller was part of the 1966 National League Champion Dodger team that went on a goodwill tour of Japan after losing the World Series to the Orioles. The Dodgers players were given luggage tags with their uniform numbers displayed prominently. In the collection is the tag issued to Moeller for t
Dodger GM Al Campanis scolds Moeller in contract negotiations after the 1969 season

Dodger GM Al Campanis scolds Moeller in contract negotiations after the 1969 season

In a letter dated November 25, 1969, Dodger general manager Al Campanis scolds veteran Joe Moeller in a round of contract negotiation. Campanis writes, “Enclosed please find a clipping which is self-explanatory. 1. It is not courteous to strike somebody through newspapers. 2. It is not ethical
Joe Moeller played his entire MLB career with the Dodgers

Joe Moeller played his entire MLB career with the Dodgers

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 J
Joe Moeller's final MLB contract was signed on February 1, 1971

Joe Moeller's final MLB contract was signed on February 1, 1971

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 h
Signature page of Joe Moeller's final MLB contract

Signature page of Joe Moeller's final MLB contract

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. W
 Joe Moeller pitched in 166 big league games in parts of eight big league seasons

Joe Moeller pitched in 166 big league games in parts of eight big league seasons

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 pumme
Moeller spent decades as the advance scout for the Expos and Marlins

Moeller spent decades as the advance scout for the Expos and Marlins

After retiring as a player, Joe Moeller continued to work in baseball. When Jeff Torborg got the manager’s job in Montreal in 2001, he called his former Dodger teammate and road roommate Moeller asking if he’d serve as advance scout. In that capacity, Moeller stayed one step ahead of the
Joe Moeller writes about Mark McGwire's pursuit of Roger Maris' home run record

Joe Moeller writes about Mark McGwire's pursuit of Roger Maris' home run record

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

One response to “Joe Moeller”

  1. Robert Sanchez says:

    Enjoyed reading story of Sandy Koufax and Joe Moeller’s shut out of the Phillies

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