Born to Mary O'Connell Moriarty and Daniel Joseph Moriarty on February 11, 1931, Dan Moriarty spent his early years in Eureka Valley until the family moved to the Sunset's Parkside District where they lived for the next 45 years. After attending St. Cecilia's Grammar School, Moriarty continued on to St. Ignatius High School and later the University of San Francisco. Moriarty proudly played for both SI and USF's baseball teams. His talents as a catcher later earned him induction into the North Beach-Marina Sports Hall of Fame. After graduating from USF, he served as 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Germany. Following the army, he joined the San Francisco Police Department where he retired as a Lieutenant after 32 years of service. Acquiring a teaching credential, Moriarty also taught for the SF Unified School District (SFChronicle).
First opponent on the varsity slate is the alumni. This contest will be played on the USF diamond at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 15. The first college tilt is scheduled for February 28 against Stanford on the Indians' sunken diamond. Veteran horsehiders who will rejoin the squad this year include outfielders Bob Castagnetto and Joe Arenivar; infielders Loren Scola and John Olcese; catchers Dan Moriarty and Dick Bechelli; and pitchers Jack Gallagher and Andy Conway.
Behind the plate will be Dan Moriarty, six foot three inch, 195 pound senior, who will be hounded by professional baseball scouts when he graduates in June. A three year veteran, Moriarty has a great throwing arm to second base. Christensen expects Moriarty's hitting to improve over his 1952 performance. Dick Bechelli, fiery mitt man from Galileo, will back up Moriarty. When the baseball team reported for the opening day of practice, Thursday, January 22. instead of balls and bats, they were given hammers, nails, planes, levels, post-hole diggers and overalls. "Men," Christensen stated, "we need a right field fence for this baseball diamond and we're going to build it." With zealous determination the 35 ballplayers sailed into the job. Four supervisors were appointed: Dan Moriarty, chief engineer; Jack Gallagher, construction crew chief; Dick Bechelli, fence-post-hole digger, and Ed Olmo, chief of the creosoting department. The lumber was graciously donated by an alumnus while the nails and the fence-post diggers were donated by Andy Conway, Sr., a San Mateo contractor (TheFoghorn).
