Moonlight Graham

Archibald Wright "Moonlight" Graham (November 9, 1876 ? August 25, 1965) was an American professional baseball player who appeared as an outfielder in a single major league game for the New York Giants on June 29, 1905. His story was popularized by the 1989 film Field of Dreams, starring Kevin Costner, and featuring Burt Lancaster and Frank Whaley as older and younger incarnations of Graham.

Related Topics:
November 9 - 1876 - August 25 - 1965 - American - Baseball - Outfielder - New York Giants - June 29 - 1905 - 1989 - Field of Dreams - Kevin Costner - Burt Lancaster - Frank Whaley

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Graham was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He played in the minor leagues for three years before joining the Giants on May 23, 1905. On June 29, the Giants were the visiting team against the Dodgers, then known as the Superbas. For the bottom of the eighth inning, Graham was sent in to play right field, replacing George Browne. In the top of the ninth inning, Graham was on deck (scheduled to be the next batter) when the Giants made their third out. He played the bottom of the ninth in right field but never came to bat, and that game turned out to be his only appearance in a major-league game.

Related Topics:
Fayetteville, North Carolina - Minor leagues - May 23 - Dodgers - Inning - Right field

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After playing in the minor leagues through the 1907 season, Graham completed his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1908. He obtained his license the following year and began practicing medicine in Chisholm, Minnesota.

Related Topics:
1907 - University of Maryland - 1908 - Chisholm, Minnesota

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"Doc" Graham, as he became known after his career as a ballplayer, served the people of Chisholm for fifty years. From 1915 to 1959, Graham was the doctor for the Chisholm schools.

Related Topics:
1915 - 1959

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Graham died at age 88 in Chisholm in 1965. He is buried in Rochester, Minnesota.

Related Topics:
1965 - Rochester, Minnesota

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His brother, Frank Porter Graham, was president of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was later a U. S. Senator.

Related Topics:
Frank Porter Graham - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - U. S. Senator

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In 1975, author W. P. Kinsella happened to notice Graham's entry in the Baseball Encyclopedia. He made note of this unusual career, and then incorporated Graham as a character in his 1982 novel Shoeless Joe, on which the Field of Dreams movie was based.

Related Topics:
1975 - W. P. Kinsella - 1982 - Shoeless Joe

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The Graham Scholarship Fund, established in Graham's honor, provides financial assistance to two Chisholm High School graduating seniors each year. The award is given to one boy and one girl, and is $500.00 to each recipient.

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