| Donnie Moore | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: February 13, 1954 Lubbock, Texas, U.S. | |
| Died: July 18, 1989(1989-07-18) (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 atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Donnie Ray Moore (February 13, 1954 – July 18, 1989) was an Americanrelief pitcher inMajor League Baseball (MLB) who played for theChicago Cubs (1975, 1977–1979),St. Louis Cardinals (1980),Milwaukee Brewers (1981),Atlanta Braves (1982–1984) andCalifornia Angels (1985–1988). Moore is best remembered for thehome run he gave up toDave Henderson while pitching for the California Angels in Game 5 of the1986 American League Championship Series. With only one more strike needed to clinch the team's first-ever pennant, he allowed theBoston 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 committedsuicide.
Moore was born on February 13, 1954, inLubbock, Texas, and was the cousin of MLB playerHubie Brooks.[1] Moore attendedParis Junior College andRanger College before he was selected by theChicago Cubs in the first round of theJanuary secondary phase of the1973 Major League Baseball draft.[2]
In a 13-season career, Moore posted a 43–40 record with 89saves, 416strikeouts, and a 3.67earned run average in 655innings. Moore also compiled a .281 batting average with 11 runs batted in. He was selected as anAll-Star in1985 after developing a splitter with a slider and a breaking ball.
The game took place on October 12, 1986 inAnaheim. TheAngels held a 3–1 series lead against theBoston Red Sox. In the game, the Angels held a 5–2 lead going into the ninth inning. A home run by Boston'sDon Baylor made it a 5–4 game.
When Moore came in to pitch, there were two outs andRich Gedman, who had beenhit by a pitch, was on first base. The Angels were one strike away from advancing to theWorld Series for the first time in franchise history.Dave Henderson hit a2–2 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 intoextra innings.
Moore remained in the game for the Angels; he was able to stifle a tenth inning Red Sox rally by gettingJim Rice to ground into adouble play. Nonetheless, the Red Sox were able to score off Moore in the 11th inning via asacrifice 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 atFenway 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]
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 theKansas City Royals for the 1989 season, but played only in theminor leagues before being released in June of that year, ending his 14-year career in baseball.
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 theirAnaheim 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]