Goodnight, Moon

Archibald “Moonlight” Graham (Illustration by Tom Forget)

Onetime and short-time outfielder Archibald Graham dies 60 years ago today at the age of 87 in Chisholm, Minn.

Graham – better known by his nickname "Moonlight" – is immortalized first in W.P. Kinsella's 1980 novel Shoeless Joe Jackson Comes to Iowa and then again by actor Burt Lancaster in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams.

Dr. Graham

Graham appears in only one major league game – and never comes to bat – for the New York Giants on June 29, 1905 at Brooklyn's Washington Park.

Graham, 27 at the time, enters the game to play right field in the bottom of the eighth inning, replacing George Browne and is on-deck in the top of the ninth.

Alas, he never has a chance to hit as Claude Elliott flies out to end the inning.

Graham then returns to the field for another half-inning as the Giants complete their 11-1 victory over Brooklyn before a Thursday afternoon crowd of 2,000.

Graham plays another three seasons in the minor leagues for Memphis and Scranton before retiring from the game, moving to Chisholm and becoming a beloved pediatrician there.

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