Description
Pat Moran
Born: February 7, 1876 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Died: March 7, 1924 (aged 48) in Orlando, Florida
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Position: Catcher and Third Baseman
Played For:
As player
Boston Beaneaters (1901–1905)
Chicago Cubs (1906–1909)
Philadelphia Phillies (1910–1914)
As manager
Philadelphia Phillies (1915–1918)
Cincinnati Reds (1919–1923)
Biography:
Patrick Joseph Moran was born on February 7, 1876, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He began playing baseball at a young age and took to the catcher’s position almost immediately. While still quite young, Moran began working for the American Woolen Company in one of the local textile mills for $3 per week. When not working Moran played on local baseball teams with teammates several years older. Moran later joined a well-organized and successful amateur team, Fitchburg A.C., where he first received more than local attention. Owing to his stellar play behind the plate, Moran was soon recruited to play for a semi-professional club in Orange, Massachusetts.
Moran’s strong play next attracted the attention of Organized Baseball, and he moved to the Lyons club in the New York State League for the 1897 season. He spent two years at Lyons before they sold him to Montreal of the Eastern League, where he spent two additional seasons before joining the National League’s Boston Beaneaters in 1901. Despite never exceeding a batting average of .288 in his four minor league seasons and attaining just average fielding percentages (although he was known for having a strong arm), during his final campaign some touted him as the top catcher in the Eastern League. To acquire Moran Boston paid $1,000 and further agreed that if Boston decided to “loan” pitcher Togie Pittinger to a minor league team, Montreal would receive first crack at him.
Back in an era when a manager’s responsibilities often included both the duties of a modern skipper plus those of today’s general manager, Pat Moran excelled at each role. In a span of six years Moran took over two mediocre franchises with little history of winning, rebuilt and reassembled their players, and managed each to a pennant. Unfortunately, his place in the pantheon of great managers never solidified due to his unexpected and premature death at age 48.
More info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Moran
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moranpa01.shtml
