1976 Topps #327 - Dave Moates

• Dave Moates had a very short (1974-1976) major league career. He was drafted by the Washington Senators in 1969. Moates played in the minors for several years and put up good offensive numbers most of the time. He batted over .300 for AAA Spokane in both 1973 and 1974. Dave's biggest asset was his ability to steal bases. He stole 20 or more bases in most of his minor league seasons and stole 42 in '74.

• At the end of the 1974 season Moates made one pinch running appearance for the Rangers. Dave started the 1975 season with Spokane and was brought up to the Rangers in mid-July. He batted .274 in 175 at bats for Texas in 1975.

• Dave stuck with the Rangers in 1976. He appeared in 85 games and batted .241 in 137 at bats. Moates was put in as a pinch runner in 28 of those games.

• In 1977 Dave started the season in AAA again (this time it was Tucson). He was purchased by the New York Yankees on May 23 and played the rest of the 1977 season for the Yankees' AAA Syracuse club. For both clubs he batted .308 with 40 stolen bases and 93 runs scored. Dave didn't make it back to the majors and he retired after the 1977 season.

• Moates teaches PE and coaches baseball for Lakewood Ranch High School in Florida (at least he coached until last year). He had two sons (Robbie and Jeff) who played baseball for State College of Florida. Robbie is an assistant baseball coach for LRHS.
  
• Liked to face: Mike Torrez (4 for 6)
• Hated to face: Jim Palmer (1 for 12)