6/29/1905: ‘Moonlight’ Graham Made Only Appearance in a Big League Game

On June 29, 1905, Archibald "Moonlight" Graham made his one and only appearance in a Major League Baseball game, as referenced in the movie 'Field of Dreams.'

On that day, the New York Giants had a commanding lead (10-0) over the Brooklyn Superbas when 'Moonlight' Graham entered the game in right field for two innings. He was on deck with two outs when the last out was recorded in the top of the ninth inning. He played right field in the bottom half of the ninth, the Giants won 11-1 and he was sent back to the minor leagues. (The movie also said that it was the final game of the season, which it wasn't)

Graham never played another day in the majors. The movie state that he left baseball "because he couldn’t stand another season in the minors." Not true. He played a few more years of minor league ball before moving to Minnesota after developing a chronic cough.

He spent the rest of his life in northern Minnesota as a doctor and he really did have a wife named Alecia. He died in 1965 at age 88 in Chisholm, MN.

See a box score of the game HERE.

Credit: cardmall.com