Jerry Moses, Red Sox All-Star Catcher, Dead At 71

BOSTON, MA — Jerry Moses, the catcher who was called up to bullpen duty during Boston's "Impossible Dream" before becoming an All-Star, has died. He was 71.

The Red Sox did not say what the cause of death was, only that Moses had been in failing health for some time.

Moses made his major league debut in 1965, when at 18 he became the youngest Red Sox player to hit a pinch-hit home run. He was called up during the 1967 "Impossible Dream" run to the World Series, but you won't find Moses in the box scores - he served as the bullpen catcher.

Moses started behind the plate on Opening Day in 1970, the year he went on to earn an All-Star nod. Injuries shortened his season, and he was traded to California. Moses bounced around five more teams before retiring at the age of 29.

After his playing days, Moses was active in the Jimmy Fund and a kids' baseball camp. One of the kids who attended was current Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy.

"I was blessed to get to know Jerry later," Kennedy said, "through his many charitable efforts and in his frequent visits to Fenway Park, a place for which he had such obvious fondness. "

Moses played 155 games for the Red Sox over four seasons, hitting .278 with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs.

"I loved every minute that I played for Boston," Moses said. "The Red Sox experience after ’67 particularly was wonderful because that’s when the crowds started to come. For guys like me just coming to the big leagues, it was a wonderful time to be a Red Sox."

BOSTON - APRIL 10: George Thomas #24, Gary Waslewski #19, Dave Morehead #17, Jerry Moses #10 and Billy Conigliaro #40 of the 1967 Boston Red Sox walk off the field before the 2007 Red Sox were to take on the Seattle Mariners on opening day at Fenway Park on April 10, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)