JOHN HENRY MOSS

Born in 1918, John Henry Moss grew up in Park Yarn mill village, which was built by his grandfather. He served a year on the Kings Mountain City Council before briefly playing minor league baseball in 1942, after which he served a stint in the Army.

In 1948 he became the youngest league president in the history of baseball. After serving a year, he became the general manager of the Rock Hill Tri-State League and then went with the Detroit Tigers of the American League as general manager.

He returned to Kings Mountain in 1959 and was elected mayor in 1965, serving for twenty-four years. Moss was able to procure millions of dollars in federal grants for projects such as Moss Lake, as well as for redevelopment and restoration of the town.

After his return to Kings Mountain, Moss reorganized the Western Carolinas Baseball League, which eventually became the South Atlantic League. Moss served as its president for fifty years, during which time the League grew to sixteen clubs in eight states.

In the interview Moss mentions his book titled John Henry Moss: Baseball’s Magical Man, which was being published within a few days.

About ten and a half months after this interview Moss died on July 1, 2009.