Donnie Moore: Difference between revisions

Donnie Moore
Donnie Moore
	Pitcher
	Born: February 13, 1954; Lubbock, Texas, U.S.
	Died: July 18, 1989 (aged 35); Anaheim, California, U.S.
	Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
	September 14, 1975, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
	August 7, 1988, for the California Angels
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	43–40
Earned run average	3.67
Strikeouts	416
Saves	89
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Chicago Cubs (1975, 1977–1979); St. Louis Cardinals (1980); Milwaukee Brewers (1981); Atlanta Braves (1982–1984); California Angels (1985–1988);
Career highlights and awards
	All-Star (1985);

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Donnie Ray Moore (February 13, 1954 – July 18, 1989) was an American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for the Chicago Cubs (1975, 1977–1979), St. Louis Cardinals (1980), Milwaukee Brewers (1981), Atlanta Braves (1982–1984) and California Angels (1985–1988). Moore is best remembered for the home run he gave up to Dave Henderson while pitching for the California Angels in Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series. With only one more strike needed to clinch the team's first-ever pennant, he allowed the Boston Red Sox to come back and eventually win the game. Boston then won Games 6 and 7 to take the series. Shortly after his professional career ended, he shot his wife three times in a dispute and then died by suicide.

Early life

Moore was born on February 13, 1954, in Lubbock, Texas, and was the cousin of MLB player Hubie Brooks.^[1] Moore attended Paris Junior College and Ranger College before he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the January secondary phase of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft.^[2]

Playing career

In a 13-season career, Moore posted a 43–40 record with 89 saves, 416 strikeouts, and a 3.67 earned run average in 655 innings. Moore also compiled a .281 batting average with 11 runs batted in. He was selected as an All-Star in 1985 after developing a splitter with a slider and a breaking ball.

Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series

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 ninth inning. A home run by Boston's Don Baylor made it a 5–4 game.

When Moore came in to pitch, there were two outs and Rich Gedman, who had been hit by a pitch, was on first base. The Angels were one 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.

Moore remained in the game for the Angels; he was able to stifle a tenth 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 did not score in the bottom of the 11th, and lost the game 7–6. The defeat left the Angels with a 3–2 series advantage with two more games to play at Fenway Park. However, the Angels lost both games, by scores of 10–4 and 8–1.

After Game 5, Moore admitted that he made a bad pitch to Henderson. "I was throwing fastballs and Henderson was fouling them off, so I went with the split-finger, thought maybe I'd catch him off guard, but it was right in his swing."^[3]

Later career

Moore was battling a shoulder injury at the time of the 1986 American League Championship Series and was never able to remain injury-free afterward. After saving nine 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.

Shooting and suicide

On July 18, 1989, Moore had an argument with his wife Tonya and shot her three times with a .45 pistol.^[4] The incident occurred at their Anaheim Hills home, with their three children in the house at the time.^[4] Tonya Moore and daughter Demetria, then 17 years of age, fled from the house and Demetria drove her mother to the hospital. Tonya survived the shooting.^[4] Back inside the house, still in the presence of at least one of his sons, Moore then put the gun to his head and committed suicide. He was 35.^[4]

References

^ Plaschke, Bill (April 4, 1990). "When Grief Hit, So Did He". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
^ "1st Round of the 1973 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
^ Ostler, Scott (October 13, 1986) "Moore Didn't Have Anywhere Near Enough" The Los Angeles Times, page 20
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Bailey, Eric; Eng, Lily (July 19, 1989). "Donnie Moore Dies in Apparent Suicide". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 2, 2016.

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Retrosheet Boxscore: 1986 American League Championship Series Game Five
Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments (#24)
Donnie Ray Moore at Find a Grave

[1] Plaschke, Bill (April 4, 1990). "When Grief Hit, So Did He". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 2, 2016.

[2] "1st Round of the 1973 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2016.

[3] Ostler, Scott (October 13, 1986) "Moore Didn't Have Anywhere Near Enough" The Los Angeles Times, page 20

[obit-4] Bailey, Eric; Eng, Lily (July 19, 1989). "Donnie Moore Dies in Apparent Suicide". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 2, 2016.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

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+{{short description|American baseball player (1954–1989)}}
 {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}
 {{Infobox baseball biography
@@ Line 7: / Line 8: @@
 |throws=Right
 |birth_date=February 13, 1954
-|birth_place=[[Lubbock, Texas]]
+|birth_place=[[Lubbock, Texas]], U.S.
 |death_date={{death date and age|1989|7|18|1954|2|13}}
-|death_place=[[Anaheim, California]]
+|death_place=[[Anaheim, California]], U.S.
 |debutleague = MLB
 |debutdate=September 14
@@ Line 36: / Line 37: @@
 * [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1985]])
 }}
-'''Donnie Ray Moore''' (February 13, 1954 – July 18, 1989) was an American [[relief pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) who played for the [[Chicago Cubs]] (1975, 1977–79), [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1980), [[Milwaukee Brewers]] (1981), [[Atlanta Braves]] (1982–84) and [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]] (1985–88). He is best known for giving up an important [[home run]] to [[Boston Red Sox]] outfielder [[Dave Henderson]] in the [[1986 American League Championship Series]]. He committed [[suicide]] shortly after his professional career ended.
+'''Donnie Ray Moore''' (February 13, 1954 – July 18, 1989) was an American [[relief pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) who played for the [[Chicago Cubs]] (1975, 1977–1979), [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1980), [[Milwaukee Brewers]] (1981), [[Atlanta Braves]] (1982–1984) and [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]] (1985–1988). Moore is best remembered for the [[home run]] he gave up to [[Dave Henderson]] while pitching for the California Angels in Game 5 of the [[1986 American League Championship Series]]. With only one more strike needed to clinch the team's first-ever pennant, he allowed the [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] to come back and eventually win the game. Boston then won Games 6 and 7 to take the series. Shortly after his professional career ended, he shot his wife three times in a dispute and then died by [[suicide]].
 ==Early life==
-Moore was born on February 13, 1954, in [[Lubbock, Texas]], and was the cousin of MLB player [[Hubie Brooks]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Plaschke|title=When Grief Hit, So Did He|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1990-04-04/sports/sp-570_1_hubie-brooks|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]''|date=April 4, 1990|accessdate=November 2, 2016}}</ref> Moore attended [[Paris Junior College]] and [[Ranger College]] before he was selected by the [[Chicago Cubs]] in the first round of the [[Major League Baseball draft#The draft|January secondary phase]] of the [[1973 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1st Round of the 1973 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=year_round&year_ID=1973&draft_round=1&draft_type=jansec|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|accessdate=November 2, 2016}}</ref>
+Moore was born on February 13, 1954, in [[Lubbock, Texas]], and was the cousin of MLB player [[Hubie Brooks]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Plaschke|title=When Grief Hit, So Did He|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-04-sp-570-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=April 4, 1990|access-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref> Moore attended [[Paris Junior College]] and [[Ranger College]] before he was selected by the [[Chicago Cubs]] in the first round of the [[Major League Baseball draft#The draft|January secondary phase]] of the [[1973 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1st Round of the 1973 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=year_round&year_ID=1973&draft_round=1&draft_type=jansec|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref>
 == Playing career ==
-In a 13-season career, Moore posted a 43–40 record with 89 [[save (sport)|saves]], 416 [[strikeout]]s, and a 3.67 [[earned run average|ERA]] in 655 [[innings pitched|innings]]. Moore also compiled a .281 batting average with 11 RBIs. He was selected as an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] in [[1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1985]] after developing a splitter with a slider and a breaking ball.
+In a 13-season career, Moore posted a 43–40 record with 89 [[save (sport)|saves]], 416 [[strikeout]]s, and a 3.67 [[earned run average]] in 655 [[innings pitched|innings]]. Moore also compiled a .281 batting average with 11 runs batted in. He was selected as an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] in [[1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1985]] after developing a splitter with a slider and a breaking ball.
+=== Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series ===
-Moore is most remembered for the [[home run]] he gave up to [[Dave Henderson]] while pitching for the California Angels in Game 5 of the [[1986 American League Championship Series]]. With only one more strike needed to clinch the team's first-ever pennant, he allowed the [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] to come back and eventually win the game and series.
-=== Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS ===
 The game took place on October 12, 1986 in [[Angel Stadium of Anaheim|Anaheim]]. The [[1986 California Angels season|Angels]] held a 3–1 series lead against the [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]. In the game, the Angels held a 5–2 lead going into the ninth inning. A home run by Boston's [[Don Baylor]] made it a 5–4 game.
-When Moore came in to pitch, there were two outs and a runner on first ([[Rich Gedman]], who had been [[hit by pitch|hit by a pitch]]). The Angels were one strike away from advancing to the [[1986 World Series|World Series]] for the first time in franchise history. [[Dave Henderson]] hit a [[count (baseball)|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]].
+When Moore came in to pitch, there were two outs and [[Rich Gedman]], who had been [[hit by pitch|hit by a pitch]], was on first base. The Angels were one strike away from advancing to the [[1986 World Series|World Series]] for the first time in franchise history. [[Dave Henderson]] hit a [[count (baseball)|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]].
 Moore remained in the game for the Angels; he was able to stifle a tenth 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 did not score in the bottom of the 11th, and lost the game 7–6. The defeat left the Angels with a 3–2 series advantage with two more games to play at [[Fenway Park]]. However, the Angels lost both games, by scores of 10–4 and 8–1.
-After game 5, Moore admitted that he made a bad pitch to Henderson.  "I was throwing fastballs and Henderson was fouling them off, so I went with the split-finger, thought maybe I'd catch him off guard, but it was right in his swing."<ref>Ostler, Scott (October 13, 1986) "Moore Didn't Have Anywhere Near Enough" ''The Los Angeles Times'', page 20</ref>
+After Game 5, Moore admitted that he made a bad pitch to Henderson.  "I was throwing fastballs and Henderson was fouling them off, so I went with the split-finger, thought maybe I'd catch him off guard, but it was right in his swing."<ref>Ostler, Scott (October 13, 1986) "Moore Didn't Have Anywhere Near Enough" ''The Los Angeles Times'', page 20</ref>
 === Later career ===
-Moore was battling injury at the time of the 1986 ALCS and was never able to remain injury-free following it. After saving nine more games in 41 appearances over the next two seasons, Moore was released by the Angels. He signed with the [[1989 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] for the 1989 season, but played only in the [[Minor league baseball|minor leagues]] before being released in June of that year, ending his 14-year career in baseball.
+Moore was battling a shoulder injury at the time of the 1986 American League Championship Series and was never able to remain injury-free afterward. After saving nine more games in 41 appearances over the next two seasons, Moore was released by the Angels. He signed with the [[1989 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]] for the 1989 season, but played only in the [[Minor League Baseball|minor leagues]] before being released in June of that year, ending his 14-year career in baseball.
-== Suicide ==
+== Shooting and suicide ==
-On July 18, 1989, Moore had an argument with his wife Tonya and shot her three times with a .45 pistol.<ref name="obit"/> The incident occurred at their [[Anaheim Hills, Anaheim, California|Anaheim Hills]] home, with their three children in the house at the time.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|first1=Eric|last1=Bailey|first2=Lily|last2=Eng|title=Donnie Moore Dies in Apparent Suicide|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1989-07-19/sports/sp-3888_1_donnie-moore|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]''|date=July 19, 1989|accessdate=November 2, 2016}}</ref> Tonya Moore and daughter Demetria, then 17 years of age, fled from the house and Demetria drove her mother to the hospital. Tonya survived the shooting.<ref name="obit"/> Back inside the house, still in the presence of at least one of his sons, Moore then put the gun to his head and committed suicide. He was 35.<ref name="obit"/>
+On July 18, 1989, Moore had an argument with his wife Tonya and shot her three times with a .45 pistol.<ref name="obit"/> The incident occurred at their [[Anaheim Hills, Anaheim, California|Anaheim Hills]] home, with their three children in the house at the time.<ref name=obit>{{cite news|first1=Eric|last1=Bailey|first2=Lily|last2=Eng|title=Donnie Moore Dies in Apparent Suicide|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-19-sp-3888-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 19, 1989|access-date=November 2, 2016}}</ref> Tonya Moore and daughter Demetria, then 17 years of age, fled from the house and Demetria drove her mother to the hospital. Tonya survived the shooting.<ref name="obit"/> Back inside the house, still in the presence of at least one of his sons, Moore then put the gun to his head and committed suicide. He was 35.<ref name="obit"/>
 == References ==
@@ Line 70: / Line 69: @@
 == External links ==
-{{Baseballstats|mlb=119292|br=m/mooredo01|brm=moore-008don}}
+{{Baseballstats|mlb=119292|espn=605|br=m/mooredo01|brm=moore-008don}}
-* [http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B10120CAL1986.htm Retrosheet Boxscore: 1986 ALCS Game Five]
+* [http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B10120CAL1986.htm Retrosheet Boxscore: 1986 American League Championship Series Game Five]
 * [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/likodak.shtml Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments] (#24)
 * {{Find a Grave|95735428|Donnie Ray Moore}}
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 [[Category:1989 deaths]]
 [[Category:African-American baseball players]]
+[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela]]
 [[Category:American League All-Stars]]
 [[Category:Atlanta Braves players]]
-[[Category:Baseball players from Texas]]
+[[Category:Baseball players from Lubbock County, Texas]]
-[[Category:Baseball players who committed suicide]]
 [[Category:California Angels players]]
 [[Category:Chicago Cubs players]]
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 [[Category:Key West Conchs players]]
 [[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
-[[Category:Male suicides]]
 [[Category:Midland Cubs players]]
 [[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
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 [[Category:Palm Springs Angels players]]
 [[Category:Paris Dragons baseball players]]
+[[Category:People from Anaheim Hills, California]]
+[[Category:Baseball players from Orange County, California]]
 [[Category:Ranger Rangers baseball players]]
 [[Category:Richmond Braves players]]
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 [[Category:Tiburones de La Guaira players]]
 [[Category:Wichita Aeros players]]
-[[Category:People from Anaheim Hills, California]]
+[[Category:1989 suicides]]
+[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]