Dodgers Star Banks on His Education

Photograph by Rothschild / KTTV Aug. 19, 1961: Jerry Doggett, left, Wally Moon and Vin Scully.

Photo by Joe Kennedy / L.A. Times July 26, 1960: Wally Moon playing Texas Hold 'Em? No, it's just an innocent game of solitaire. Wally Moon's home run made the difference in the Dodgers' 9-6 victory over the Phillies. Moon became known for the home run during his years in Los Angeles. He was acquired to give the lineup some left-handed power and moving the fences in part of the Coliseum was seen as a boost for Moon and Duke Snider. But he became famous in L.A. for his "Moon shots' over the left-field screen. He also had a reputation as a scholar of sorts. The Times' Jeane Hoffman profiled Moon a couple days after the home run, stressing his educational background. Moon held a master's degree in administrative education from Texas A&M. Probably wasn't a lot of players with master's degrees in 1959--wonder how many there are today. "I look upon an education as an end to itself; it's a sort of insurance policy against the day when I don't get to round third as often or see that curve coming," Moon said. "Baseball life doesn't last long. Then I can go back to teaching and not have to worry about where my next decimal point is coming from!" Moon hit .302 for the Dodgers in 1959, with 19 home runs and 11 triples. --Keith Thursby