Leicester Moody (May 14, 1917 – July 4, 1998) was an American Negro league first baseman in the 1940s.
| Lee Moody | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First baseman | |
| Born: May 14, 1917 East St. Louis, Illinois | |
| Died: July 4, 1998 (aged 81) Ferguson, Missouri | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Negro league baseball debut | |
| 1944, for the Kansas City Monarchs | |
| Last appearance | |
| 1947, for the Birmingham Black Barons | |
| Teams | |
|
Playing career edit
Kansas City Monarchs edit
1944 edit
Lee Moody first broke into the Negro Leagues in 1944 with the Kansas City Monarchs as an outfielder, hitting .267 in 106 league at bats.[1]
1945 edit
When the Monarchs' regular first baseman Buck O'Neil left the team to serve in the United States Navy during World War II, Moody was quickly moved to first base.[2] Moody appeared in 42 league games at his new position, hitting .331 with a .411 slugging percentage.[1] Hitting aside, he attracted attention for his strong defensive play in the infield, teaming up with rookie Jackie Robinson.[2]
1946 edit
Moody began the season in Kansas City, primarily as a backup middle infielder before moving to the Birmingham Black Barons.[3]
1947 edit
The Monarchs brought Moody back again to battle with Chico Renfroe for the starting shortstop job.[4] He made only three appearances in a Monarchs uniform before moving to Birmingham again.[1]
1948-1950 edit
Moody returned to the Monarchs in 1948, joining them on a barnstorming tours[5] but not appearing in any recorded league games.[1] In addition to barnstorming with the Monarchs, he was a member of the Kansas City Stars,[6] a farm club of the Monarchs managed by Cool Papa Bell.[7]
Birmingham Black Barons edit
1946 edit
Moody was acquired by the Black Barons midway through the 1946 season for additional depth in left field.[8] He hit just .182 with Birmingham, though combined with his time on the Monarchs earlier in the season Moody is credited with a total .375 batting average in recorded league play.[1]
1947 edit
Following another brief trial with the Monarchs in early 1947, Moody joined the Black Barons for a second stint. In his last recorded season at the top level of the Negro Leagues, Moody hit .224 as the club's starting first baseman.[9]
California Winter League edit
In 1946 Moody participated in the integrated California Winter League as a member of Chet Brewer's Kansas City Royals.[10]
Minor Leagues edit
Cairo Dodgers edit
In 1950, Moody played for the Class D Cairo Dodgers of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League, hitting .279 in 38 games.[11]
Trois-Rivieres Royals edit
Now 34 years old, Moody moved up to Class C in 1951, hitting .242 in 60 games with the Trois-Rivieres Royals.[11] Moody retired from baseball following the 1951 campaign.
Death and legacy edit
Lee Moody died in Ferguson, Missouri in 1998 at age 81. He was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.[12]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Lee Moody". seamheads.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Riley, James (1994). The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues. Carroll & Graf. ISBN 9780786700653.
- ^ "1946 Kansas City Monarchs - Seamheads Negro Leagues Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ "Bid For Monarch Berths". The Kansas City Star. April 20, 1947. Retrieved May 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Famous Monarch Nine Loses 9-8 to Atwater Packers". Atwater Signal. Atwater, CA. August 13, 1948 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Kansas City Stars Play House of David Tonight". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, IA – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Negro Leagues Baseball eMuseum: Personal Profiles: James "Cool Papa" Bell". nlbemuseum.com. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ "Chicago Giants Show Birmingham Boys in Rickwood Bill". The Birmingham News. August 1, 1946. Retrieved May 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1947 Birmingham Black Barons - Seamheads Negro Leagues Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ McNeil, William (2008). The California Winter League : America's first integrated professional baseball league. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-3881-5. OCLC 429680785.
- ^ a b "Lee Moody Negro & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ "Obituary for Leicester "Lee" Moody". St. Louis Post-Dispatch – via Newspapers.com.
External links edit
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors) and Seamheads
- Lee Moody at Negro League Baseball Players Association