Short Time Mets Third Baseman: Joe Moock (1967)

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Joseph Geoffrey Moock was born on March 12th 1944 in Plaquemine, Louisiana.  The six foot one, left hand hitter, threw right handed. His father Joseph, was a minor league infielder in the forties. 

Moock attended LSU at baton Rouge, getting drafted by the New York Mets in the third round of the 1965 amateur draft.

In 1966 he hit .284 in the New York Penn League & spent most of 1967 in the minors as well. The Mets as they were desperate for a third baseman to back up Ed Charles & brought him up in September.

Moock debuted on September 1st, 1967 wearing uniform #18, striking out in his first career at bat. In his second start at third base on September 13th, he helped Tom Seaver to his 14th win of the year. Moock doubled off the Braves; Par Jarvis in Atlanta, in the 4th inning, driving in Ron Swoboda to tie the game. The Mets won it 2-1 on Jerry Grote's 9th inning base hit.

Moock would enjoy a four game hit streak that month in late September. On September 29th, he drove in two runs with a bases loaded single off  the Dodgers; Bill Singer in a 5-1 Mets win in L.A. The next day he drove in two more runs, with a bases loaded single off Don Drysdale in the 1st inning. The Mets won this game 5-0 on a Les Rohr shut out. Moock would play in 13 games batting .225 with two doubles & five RBIs, but never make the major leagues again.

He would be a member of the Montreal Expos organization in their inaugural season. He had a fine Spring Training with the '69 Expos & hit the teams first ever HR in an intra squad game. He was eventually cut from the team as they went North.

He would play in the minors through 1970 batting .300 in a five year career.

Retirement: After his playing days he coached baseball at a private school in Louisiana.

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