Greenville in Greenville County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

John Henry Moss

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 29, 2017

1. John Henry Moss Marker

Inscription.

John Henry Moss. . , President, Western Carolina League (1947-1948) , President, Western Carolinas League (1959-1980) , President, South Atlantic League (1980-2007), John Henry Moss was born in Kings Mountain, North Carolina on November 10, 1918. He played minor league baseball in 1940, then joined the army and served as a bodyguard to Gen. Ira T. Wyche during World War II. Upon returning to Kings Mountain in 1947, he established the Western Carolina League, a semi-pro baseball league in small towns in western North and South Carolina. The league was approved for membership in the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL) in October 1947., Between 1950 and 1958, John moved north and worked as a general manager for minor league teams in the Detroit Tigers’ system. John returned to Kings Mountain in 1959 and was recruited to re-organize the Western Carolinas League, which was approved for membership in the NAPBL on June 29, 1959. The Western Carolinas League assumed the name of the retired South Atlantic League in 1980., Under John’s leadership, the South Atlantic League grew to 16 clubs in 8 states. John helped bring professional baseball to 43 different cities (represented by 114 ownership groups) by stressing the importance of providing quality, wholesome, family-friendly entertainment at an affordable price. Assisting John throughout most of his career was his loving wife, Elaine Beilke Moss. Elaine served as Director of Administration and Finance for the Western Carolinas/South Atlantic League for 45 years, before passing away in 2004., In addition to his league responsibilities, John also served as Mayor of Kings Mountain from 1965-1988, during which time he earned national recognition by securing more than $40 million in federal grants. Newsweek magazine called him the “Mayor with the Midas touch.” He received a slew of baseball awards over the years, including the first-ever lifetime achievement award from Ballpark Digest in 2007., To honor John’s lifetime commitment and dedication of 50 years to the South Atlantic League, the South Atlantic League Board of Directors voted in 2007 to retire the jersey number 50 throughout the South Atlantic League.

President, Western Carolina League (1947-1948)
President, Western Carolinas League (1959-1980)
President, South Atlantic League (1980-2007)

John Henry Moss was born in Kings Mountain, North Carolina on November 10, 1918. He played minor league baseball in 1940, then joined the army and served as a bodyguard to Gen. Ira T. Wyche during World War II. Upon returning to Kings Mountain in 1947, he established the Western Carolina League, a semi-pro baseball league in small towns in western North and South Carolina. The league was approved for membership in the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL) in October 1947.

Between 1950 and 1958, John moved north and worked as a general manager for minor league teams in the Detroit Tigers’ system. John returned to Kings Mountain in 1959 and was recruited to re-organize the Western Carolinas League, which was approved for membership in the NAPBL on June 29, 1959. The Western Carolinas League assumed the name of the retired South Atlantic League in 1980.

Under John’s leadership, the South Atlantic League grew to 16 clubs in 8 states. John helped bring professional baseball to 43 different cities (represented by 114 ownership groups) by stressing the importance of providing quality, wholesome, family-friendly entertainment at an affordable price. Assisting John throughout most of his career was his loving wife, Elaine Beilke Moss. Elaine served as Director of Administration and Finance for the Western Carolinas/South Atlantic League for 45 years, before passing away in 2004.

In addition to his league responsibilities, John also served as Mayor of Kings Mountain from 1965-1988, during which time he earned national recognition by securing more than $40 million in federal grants. Newsweek magazine called him the “Mayor with the Midas touch.”

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He received a slew of baseball awards over the years, including the first-ever lifetime achievement award from Ballpark Digest in 2007.

To honor John’s lifetime commitment and dedication of 50 years to the South Atlantic League, the South Atlantic League Board of Directors voted in 2007 to retire the jersey number 50 throughout the South Atlantic League.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is November 10, 1918.

Location. 34° 50.513′ N, 82° 24.462′ W. Marker is in Greenville, South Carolina, in Greenville County. It is on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 945 South Main Street, Greenville SC 29601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory

Heritage Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, May 29, 2017

2. Heritage Plaza

The historical marker is one of a series of markers that ring Fluor Field.

of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Clay Buchholz (within shouting distance of this marker); Jim Rice (within shouting distance of this marker); Tommy Lasorda (within shouting distance of this marker); Lou Brissie (within shouting distance of this marker); Al Rosen (within shouting distance of this marker); Joe Anders (within shouting distance of this marker); Chino Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Nolan Ryan (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 145 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.