Joe Moock: Short Time 1960's Mets Third Baseman (1967)

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Joseph Geoffrey Moock was born on March 12th, 1944, in Plaquemine, Louisiana.  Joe's father Joseph was a minor league infielder in the 1940's. 

The six foot one, left hand hitter, threw right-handed. 

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

In 1966 Moock hit .284 in the New York Penn League & spent most of the next season there as well. The Mets were desperate for a successful third baseman in those early years & this season was no exception. Although they had veteran Ed Charles, they brought Moock up in September to give him a chance, with maybe some hope for the future.

Mets Career: On September 1st, 1967, Moock debuted wearing uniform #18, striking out in his first career at bat.

 On September 13th in Atlanta, Moock helped Tom Seaver to his 14th win of the year. In the 4th inning he doubled off the Braves Par Jarvis driving in Ron Swoboda to tie the game. The Mets won it 2-1 on Jerry Grote's 9th inning base hit.

Later in the month, Moock would enjoy a four-game hit streak. 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 other bases loaded single in a 5-0 Les Rohr shut out. In the 1st inning he ripped one past pitcher Don Drysdale supposedly knocking the big guy on his butt. It was said that this was Moock's favorite baseball story to tell.  

Moock would play in 13 games batting .225 with two doubles & five RBIs. It was his only MLB season.

Post Mets Career: Moock would be drafted by the Montreal Expos in their inaugural season. He had a fine 1969 Spring Training with them & actually hit the team's first ever HR in an intra-squad game exhibition game. But he was eventually cut from the team as they went North.

He would play in the minors through the 1970 season batting .259 in a five-year minor league career.

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

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