John Henry Moss, a staple of South Atlantic League baseball, died Wednesday in his hometown of Kings Mountain, N.C. He was 90.

The longtime commissioner of the SAL, who stepped down in 2007 after 50 years of service in the league, was honored last season when all 16 teams in the league retired the No. 50 during Moss' farewell tour.

Moss made an appearance at Lake Olmstead Stadium on a special "John Henry Moss Night" last season. His retired number was put on a sign on the left field wall where it still stands today and a plaque was placed near the entrance to the stadium.

Moss addressed the GreenJackets fans that night and recalled the time during the late 1980s when he fought to bring minor league baseball back to Augusta in the form of the Augusta Pirates.

"It wasn't easy," Moss said last year. "In my effort to bring all original cities of the South Atlantic League of 1903 into present day South Atlantic League, I worked with city and county officials, also Col. Bill Heaton. It required many meetings and presentations to officials to establish the (Augusta) franchise."

GreenJackets general manager Nick Brown said the team probably wouldn't exist without Moss' efforts.

"You'd be hard-pressed to find another individual who worked harder to bring baseball back to Augusta," Brown said. "It's a sad day for all of baseball. The man dedicated his life to the sport."

The GreenJackets players and coaching staff will join the rest of the league by remembering Moss with JHM patches worn on their uniforms the rest of the season.

Fans also honored Moss with a moment of silence before Wednesday night's GreenJackets game against the Lexington Legends.