Nomination copyWrite By Mark House
Historically and statistically, Mike Moore is one of the greatest Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers ever born and raised in the great state of Oklahoma. Many will testify that he is personally one of the greatest people ever to be born and raised in the great state of Oklahoma. For such reasons, I respectfully nominate Mike Moore for a most deserved 2019 induction into Oklahoma's prestigious Sports Hall Of Fame. I reqeust this honor on behalf of Moore's family; the Eakly Eagles; the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles; the Seattle Mariners; the Oakland Athletics; the Detroit Tigers; the Lookeba-Sickles Panthers and fans of Oklahoma baseball in general.
Historically and statistically, Mike Moore is one of the greatest Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers ever born and raised in the great state of Oklahoma. Many will testify that he is personally one of the greatest people ever to be born and raised in the great state of Oklahoma. For such reasons, I respectfully nominate Mike Moore for a most deserved 2019 induction into Oklahoma's prestigious Sports Hall Of Fame. I reqeust this honor on behalf of Moore's family; the Eakly Eagles; the Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles; the Seattle Mariners; the Oakland Athletics; the Detroit Tigers; the Lookeba-Sickles Panthers and fans of Oklahoma baseball in general.
A look at the Moore brothers, Mike (left), Glenn (center) and James (right) from their rural baseball roots of Caddo County's Eakly, Oklahoma.
What a great baseball story originating from the dusty ole peanut fields of Oklahoma's Caddo County and ending up on a red dirt mound in sunny California with sweet victory in World Championship Series play for the Oakland A's. From a proudly worn little league uniform with an iron-on E for Eakly to the MLB with a more glorified and perfectly stitched A's cap for Oakland. It only happens for a chosen few. A chosen few with such a high level of natural talent and the highest level of work ethic to match.
What a great baseball story originating from the dusty ole peanut fields of Oklahoma's Caddo County and ending up on a red dirt mound in sunny California with sweet victory in World Championship Series play for the Oakland A's. From a proudly worn little league uniform with an iron-on E for Eakly to the MLB with a more glorified and perfectly stitched A's cap for Oakland. It only happens for a chosen few. A chosen few with such a high level of natural talent and the highest level of work ethic to match.
From Eakly to Oakland, Mike Moore represents Oklahoma as a World Series Champion and a Major League Baseball All-Star. The year of 2019 will mark the 30th Anniversary of Moore winning two World Series games for Oakland against the San Francisco Giants.
Mike Moore, over his 14 year professional career, has earned the right to be considered one of Oklahoma's greatest red dirt, red blood, born and raised, Major League Baseball pitchers of all time. Solid statistical evidence stands behind this claim of such greatness. The most significant statistics relative to career MLB victories (161), MLB strikeouts (1,667) and average MLB strikeouts per season (119) place Mike at the top of Oklahoma's list with fellow Oklahoma standout Allie Reynolds and Major League Baseball hall of famers Warren Spahn and Carl Hubbell.
Only one Oklahoman, Mike Moore, has ever been drafted #1 since the inception of the Major League Baseball draft in 1965. From over fifty years of MLB player drafts, only Mike Moore from Eakly, Oklahoma, has represented the Sooner State as the #1 overall selection.
Mike Moore, over his 14 year professional career, has earned the right to be considered one of Oklahoma's greatest red dirt, red blood, born and raised, Major League Baseball pitchers of all time. Solid statistical evidence stands behind this claim of such greatness. The most significant statistics relative to career MLB victories (161), MLB strikeouts (1,667) and average MLB strikeouts per season (119) place Mike at the top of Oklahoma's list with fellow Oklahoma standout Allie Reynolds and Major League Baseball hall of famers Warren Spahn and Carl Hubbell.
Only one Oklahoman, Mike Moore, has ever been drafted #1 since the inception of the Major League Baseball draft in 1965. From over fifty years of MLB player drafts, only Mike Moore from Eakly, Oklahoma, has represented the Sooner State as the #1 overall selection.
Only six Oklahoma born players have broken the 1,000 career strikeout plateau. 1989 MLB All-Star Mike Moore's top-of-the-list 1,667 averaged per season calculates to 119. Allie Reynolds' 1,423 averaged per season adds up to 108.5. On average, no one else comes close to these two great pitchers born and raised in our great state. Moore's average of 119 per season is higher than that of the great Carl Hubbell (104.8) and even rivals that of the greatest Warren Spahn at 123.
Mike Moore was a standout student athlete for Eakly High School. With a 24-2 senior season record and an unbelievable .05 earned run average (E.R.A.), Moore earned his final high school victory while being selected MVP in Oklahoma's 29th Annual All-State Baseball Classic in 1978.
Despite being drafted in the third round out of Eakly High School in 1978 by the St. Louis Cardinals, Moore chose to attend college and pitch for Oral Roberts University. Also bypassing a basketball scholarship offer from the University of Oklahoma, he earned First Team Sporting News All-American baseball status in 1981 while at ORU. Moore then became the first Oklahoman and the first right handed pitcher ever to be drafted by the MLB #1 OVERALL by the Seattle Mariners in 1981.
Mike Moore was a standout student athlete for Eakly High School. With a 24-2 senior season record and an unbelievable .05 earned run average (E.R.A.), Moore earned his final high school victory while being selected MVP in Oklahoma's 29th Annual All-State Baseball Classic in 1978.
Despite being drafted in the third round out of Eakly High School in 1978 by the St. Louis Cardinals, Moore chose to attend college and pitch for Oral Roberts University. Also bypassing a basketball scholarship offer from the University of Oklahoma, he earned First Team Sporting News All-American baseball status in 1981 while at ORU. Moore then became the first Oklahoman and the first right handed pitcher ever to be drafted by the MLB #1 OVERALL by the Seattle Mariners in 1981.
San Francisco Manager Roger Craig compliments Mike Moore on his pitching performance in Major League Baseball's 1989 World Series Championship.
Former Oklahoma high school umpire Jim Ruff claims Moore "at the high school level, was too good for everybody else. Most everybody was scared to death of him because of his speed."
Daily Oklahoman columnist, the late Bob Hersom, recognized Moore as an "Eakly High School and Oral Roberts University (ORU) pitching ace."
1981 ORU Pitching Coach Jim Brewer said "I've seen a lot of pitchers in the last 25 years and I think Mike Moore is probably one of the strongest."
During the 1989 World Series, former Oakland A's Pitching Coach Dave Duncan shared that "Mike hasn't just been sitting back and trying to let his God-given ability take over, he's worked hard to improve in all the different areas to become a great pitcher."
Daily Oklahoman columnist, baseball historian and sports talk radio personality Berry Tramel shares "Moore's 161 MLB wins should be a 'SLAM DUNK' in regard to Oklahoma Sports Hall Of Fame induction."
Baseball Almanac indicates Mike Moore was twenty-two (22) years old when he broke into the majors with the Seattle Mariners on April 11, 1982. Pinnacle highlights of Moore's 161 WIN fourteen year MLB career include 1989 MLB All-Star status and pitching in two World Series Championships for the Oakland A's in both 1989 and 1990. Moore won game two and game four in the '89 "Quake Series" sweep vs. the S.F. Giants as the A's became World Champs.
Former Oklahoma high school umpire Jim Ruff claims Moore "at the high school level, was too good for everybody else. Most everybody was scared to death of him because of his speed."
Daily Oklahoman columnist, the late Bob Hersom, recognized Moore as an "Eakly High School and Oral Roberts University (ORU) pitching ace."
1981 ORU Pitching Coach Jim Brewer said "I've seen a lot of pitchers in the last 25 years and I think Mike Moore is probably one of the strongest."
During the 1989 World Series, former Oakland A's Pitching Coach Dave Duncan shared that "Mike hasn't just been sitting back and trying to let his God-given ability take over, he's worked hard to improve in all the different areas to become a great pitcher."
Daily Oklahoman columnist, baseball historian and sports talk radio personality Berry Tramel shares "Moore's 161 MLB wins should be a 'SLAM DUNK' in regard to Oklahoma Sports Hall Of Fame induction."
Baseball Almanac indicates Mike Moore was twenty-two (22) years old when he broke into the majors with the Seattle Mariners on April 11, 1982. Pinnacle highlights of Moore's 161 WIN fourteen year MLB career include 1989 MLB All-Star status and pitching in two World Series Championships for the Oakland A's in both 1989 and 1990. Moore won game two and game four in the '89 "Quake Series" sweep vs. the S.F. Giants as the A's became World Champs.
Mike Moore has returned to his Oklahoma roots and now spends time giving back to the game in this state where he was born and raised. As a volunteer coach for Oklahoma High School's Class B powerhouse Lookeba-Sickles Panthers, he currently shares the benefit of his professional experience and knowledge with the latest generation of Oklahoma's student athletes. Another great reason Mike Moore deserves a 2019 honorary induction into Oklahoma's Sports Hall Of Fame.
Author's Note: Mike Moore was nominated in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and, now for the upcoming 30th World Series Anniversary year of 2019 for Oklahoma Sports Hall Of Fame induction. Acknowledging there are numerous candidates considered "well deserving," it is the hope of this author that Mike Moore will be honorably recognized for his baseball contributions at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. It is my personal belief that Moore's accomplishments and representation of Oklahoma within the wide world of sports are more than deserving of such distinct Hall Of Fame status.
Author's Note: Mike Moore was nominated in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and, now for the upcoming 30th World Series Anniversary year of 2019 for Oklahoma Sports Hall Of Fame induction. Acknowledging there are numerous candidates considered "well deserving," it is the hope of this author that Mike Moore will be honorably recognized for his baseball contributions at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. It is my personal belief that Moore's accomplishments and representation of Oklahoma within the wide world of sports are more than deserving of such distinct Hall Of Fame status.
