Bill Moisan
Ballplayers Wounded in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | July 30, 1925 Bradford, MA |
| Date and Place of Death: | April 9, 2010 Brentwood, NH |
| Baseball Experience: | Major League |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | Private First-Class |
| Military Unit: | Company G, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division US Army |
| Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
William J. “Bill” Moisan, Jr., was born in Bradford, Massachusetts on
July 30, 1925. He grew up in Newton, New Hampshire, graduated from
Sanborn Seminary in Kingston, New Hampshire, and entered military
service with the Army on December 9, 1943.
Moisan was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then Fort Bragg,
North Carolina, before going overseas with Company G of the 398th
Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division. Moisan served in France in
1944, and was part of the Allied advance into Germany in early 1945,
earning the Silver Star at Jagstfeld, Germany in April. His citation
read:
"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of
Congress July 9, 1918, takes Pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to
Private First Class William J. Moisan, Jr., United States Army, for
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while
serving with Company G, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry
Division, in action at Jagstfeld, Germany, during World War II. Private
First Class Moisan's gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty,
without regard for his own safety, were in keeping with the highest
traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself,
his unit, and the United States Army."
He also received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for wounds received in
combat.
Moisan was later captured by the Germans and as a Prisoner of War
endured a 32-day forced march across Germany into Austria. Moisan
suffered frozen feet and his weight dropped from 185 pounds to just 95
pounds.
When he was discharged in December 1945, his feet were so tender that he
was unable to cope with the infield work required around first base, his
normal position, but still wanted to pursue a career in professional
baseball and tried his hand at pitching. An army buddy and minor league
ballplayer, Clarence "Soddy" Groat, suggested he tryout for the Lockport
Cubs of the Class D PONY League. The bespectacled right-hander was
assigned by Lockport after a couple of good outings in intra-squad
games. "He has a beautiful change of pace and a nice breaking curve,"
said Lockport manager, Jimmy Moody, following a pre-season intra-squad
game in April 1946. "Another thing I like about
him is his very deceptive movement just before he throws."
Moisan threw well for the Lockport team. In 27 outings he was 8-10 with
a 3.31 ERA. On July 29, 1946, Moisan learned that he had been sold by
Lockport to the Chicago Cubs. In his last appearance for Lockport that
evening before leaving to report to Shelby in the Class B Tri-State
League, he came in in relief and pitched 7 and two-thirds innings in an
11-inning game against the Hornell Pirates, allowing just one run and
winning the game with a towering triple to deep-right center brought the
crowd to its feet.
Moisan was 7-2 with the Shelby Cubs for the remainder of 1946, and
pitched for the Macon Peaches of the Class A South Atlantic League in
1947, posting an 11-15 record. In 1948, he threw a handful of games for
the Pacific Coast League's Los Angeles Angels and also pitched for the
Nashville Vols of the Class A1 Southern Association and the Des Moines
Bruins of the Class A Western League.
He spent 1950 with the Springfield Cubs of the Class AAA International
League, where he was 12-9, and returned to the Loas Angeles Angels in
1951. Following a 10-8 season with the Angels in 1951, a 16-12 record in
1952, and a 10-11 record in 1953, Moisan, primarily a knuckleball
pitcher, joined the Chicago Cubs and made his major league debut on
September 25, 1953, against the Cardinals. Aged 28, he made three
appearances for the Cubs that year, which would prove to be the full
extent of his major league career.
Moisan was back with the Los Angeles Angels in 1954, and ended his
career in 1955 with the Charleston Senators of the Class AAA Amrican
Association and the Shreveport Sports of the Class AA Texas League.
He remained involved with baseball, coaching teams near his home in New
Hampshire for a number of years, and worked as a manager at the
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire, retiring in 1985.
Bill Moisan died April 9, 2010, at Rockingham County Nursing Home in
Brentwood, New Hampshire. He was 86 years old and is buried at Willow
Grove Cemetery, Newton, New Hampshire.
Date Added December 24, 2017
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