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 The Asheville Tourists announced recently that Saturday, June 7, 2008, will be one of the most special dates of the 2008 season when the team as well as the City of Asheville celebrates “John Henry Moss Day” in honor of the long-time president of the South Atlantic League.
Moss formed what is now known as the South Atlantic League in 1958 after organizing the Western Carolina League in 1947 and operating it for two years. He served as the circuit’s only president for 50 years prior to becoming the league’s President Emeritus on January 1, 2008. In celebration of Moss’ dedicated and trailblazing services to minor league baseball in general and the SAL in particular, new league president Eric Krupa has coordinated a John Moss “2008 Celebration Tour” over the course of the upcoming campaign. The Tourists have dedicated all events surrounding the June 7 game against the Greenville Drive in honor of Moss, who also served 24 years as mayor of Kings Mountain, North Carolina. During pre-game presentations, the Tourists will unveil a bronze statuette of Moss and present the President Emeritus with an Asheville uniform, which will signify the retiring of the number 50 in recognition of his years of service as president of the SAL. There will also be a proclamation from Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy recognizing June 7, 2008, as “John Henry Moss Day” in the Land of the Sky. The Tourists players will wear retro jerseys from the late 1950s, which will be auctioned following the game. The retro jerseys will be part of a “Turn Back the Clock” promotion to the year 1958, which will include hot dogs and Pepsi products for 50 cents each. “Asheville has been one of the most successful and stable franchises throughout much of the South Atlantic League’s history,” said Moss, who will visit all 16 South Atlantic League cities in 2008, beginning with a visit to Rome, Georgia, on April 18-19. “As a native of the western part of North Carolina, I always enjoy my visits to Asheville, and I look forward to returning to McCormick Field again in June.” Bronze plaques recognizing Moss’ contributions will be installed in each stadium throughout the league, including McCormick Field. Krupa has also altered the SAL logo, changing the color to gold for the 2008 season, in honor of Moss’ services. “This is a momentous moment in the history of the South Atlantic League and we want to make certain we honor John Moss in every appropriate way,” said Mike Bauer, executive director of Palace Baseball. “There won’t be a more important date on the Tourists’ schedule this year than June 7, and we’re looking forward to hosting what will prove to be one of the more memorable nights in the long and storied history of our franchise.” (Images provided by Asheville Parks and Recreation.)
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