- Donnie Moore
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Donnie Moore Pitcher Born: February 13, 1954
Lubbock, TexasDied: July 18, 1989 (aged 35)
Anaheim, CaliforniaBatted: Left Threw: Right MLB debut September 14, 1975 for the Chicago Cubs Last MLB appearance August 7, 1988 for the California Angels Career statistics Win–loss record 43–40 Earned run average 3.67 Strikeouts 416 Saves 89 Teams Career highlights and awards Donnie Ray Moore (February 13, 1954 – July 18, 1989) was an American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs (1975, 1977–79), St. Louis Cardinals (1980), Milwaukee Brewers (1981), Atlanta Braves (1982–84) and California Angels (1985–88).
Contents
Playing career
In a 13-season career, Moore posted a 43–40 record with 89 saves, 416 strikeouts, and a 3.67 ERA in 655 innings. He was selected as an All-Star in 1985.
A native of Lubbock, Texas, Moore is most remembered for the home run he gave up while pitching for the Angels to Dave Henderson in Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series with only one more strike needed to clinch the team's first-ever pennant, allowing the Boston Red Sox to come back and eventually win the game and series.
Moore was battling injury at the time of that game, and was never able to remain injury-free following it. After saving only 9 more games in 41 appearances over the next two seasons, Moore was released by the Angels. He signed with the Kansas City Royals for the 1989 season, but played only in the minor leagues before being released in June of that year, ending his 14-year career in baseball.
Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS
The game took place on October 12, 1986 in Anaheim. The Angels held a 3-1 series lead against the Boston Red Sox. In the game, the Angels held a 5–2 lead going into the 9th. A home run by Boston's Don Baylor made it a 5-4 game.
When Moore came in to shut down the rally, there were 2 outs and a runner on first (Rich Gedman, who had been hit by a pitch). The Angels were 1 strike away from advancing to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Dave Henderson hit a 2-2 pitch off Moore for a home run to give the Red Sox a 6-5 lead. The Angels were able to score a run in the bottom of the ninth, pushing the game into extra innings.
The pitch...To left field and deep, and Downing goes back, AND IT'S GONE! Unbelievable! Astonishing! Anaheim Stadium was one strike away from turning into Fantasyland! The Red Sox lead 6-5! You're looking at one for the ages here. The Red Sox get four runs in the ninth on a pair of two-run homers by Don Baylor and Dave Henderson.—Al Michaels, ABC-TVHere's the pitch...there's a fly ball to left field...Downing is going back...back...back...IT'S GONE! IT IS GONE! Dave Henderson has homered! And the Boston Red Sox have taken the lead!—Red Sox broadcaster Ken Coleman, WPLM-FMMoore remained in the game for the Angels; he was able to stifle a 10th inning Red Sox rally by getting Jim Rice to ground into a double play. Nonetheless, the Red Sox were able to score off Moore in the 11th inning via a sacrifice fly by Henderson. The Angels couldn't score in the bottom of the 11th, and lost the game 7-6.
The defeat still left the Angels with a 3–2 advantage, with two more games to play at Fenway Park. However, the Angels were devastated by Henderson's home run, and lost both games by wide margins, 10–4 and 8–1.
In the public perception, Moore became indelibly associated with the Angels' loss of the pennant, in much the same manner that Bill Buckner became associated with the Red Sox' subsequent loss of the World Series later that year.
For the next 2 years, every time Moore walked onto the field, the Angels fans booed him. They were relentless, and it wore on Moore.
Suicide
On July 18, 1989, during an argument with his wife Tonya, Moore shot her three times, the incident occurring in view of their three children at their Anaheim Hills home.[1][2] Tonya Moore and daughter Demetria, then 17 years of age, fled from the house and Demetria drove her mother to the hospital. Both survived the shooting.
Back inside the house, still in the presence of one of his sons, Moore then committed suicide.[1]
When he was cut by Kansas City, he'd really been depressed about that. I mean, here he is, the high-life career...then all of a sudden, it's gone. He comes back home...and the marriage, the family, is all destroyed. I mean, what else does he have left?[3]
- — Demetria Moore on what drove her father to his final acts of desperation
See also
References
- ^ a b The Obituary for Donnie Moore The Dead Ball Era, Retrieved on January 11, 2008
- ^ Wielenga, Dave (2006-03-30). "Year Zero". Orange County Weekly. http://www.ocweekly.com/features/features/year-zero/24820/?page=2. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ Just a Game? The Tragic Story of Donnie Moore Steve Hofstetter, Retrieved on January 11, 2008
Bell, Christopher, Scapegoats: Baseballers whose Careers Are Marked by One Fateful Play (c) 2002 McFarland and Company.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- Retrosheet Boxscore: 1986 ALCS Game Five
- Sporting News' Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments: Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS
Categories:- 1954 births
- 1989 deaths
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Atlanta Braves players
- California Angels players
- Chicago Cubs players
- Milwaukee Brewers players
- St. Louis Cardinals players
- American League All-Stars
- Baseball players from Texas
- African American baseball players
- Baseball players who committed suicide
- People from Lubbock, Texas
- Suicides by firearm in California
- Murder–suicides
- Gulf Coast Cubs players
- Key West Conchs players
- Midland Cubs players
- Wichita Aeros players
- Springfield Redbirds players
- Richmond Braves players
- Palm Springs Angels players
- Omaha Royals players
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