Judge Orders Psychiatric Tests for Jailed Ex-Pitcher

A Municipal Court judge on Friday ordered a 72-hour psychiatric evaluation of John (Blue Moon) Odom, who has been in the Orange County Jail for three days, ever since his arrest after holding his wife hostage in their apartment.

Judge Michael J. Beecher also ordered Odom, 40, a former major league pitcher with the Oakland A’s, to appear before him again on Tuesday.

Originally, Odom had been charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon, but charges were reduced to misdemeanor assault. Bail has been set at $10,000.

On Tuesday night, Odom, apparently despondent over his failure to land a job after six months, had an emotional breakdown, he said. He held his wife, Gayle, hostage at gunpoint for an hour and then holed up in his Fountain Valley apartment for another six hours before a police SWAT team used tear gas to force him out. There was no further incident.

Gayle Odom, who was at Friday’s court session, said she was happy that her husband will be evaluated over the weekend. She also said she had found a lawyer to represent Odom at the next court appearance.

“This way he can be checked out. We’re both seeking the help he needs,” she said.

Gayle Odom also said she has received offers of help from former baseball players and friends.

Former Major League pitcher Dock Ellis, who works in a counseling center in Los Angeles, and Hall-of-Fame pitcher Warren Spahn both offered to help, she said, while former pitcher Jim (Mudcat) Grant had been by to see her Friday.

“Calls are coming in from all over the country. Everybody is concerned about John. I’m very thankful for all this,” she said. “I know John will get the help he needs.”

Odom, who retired in 1976 after a decade in the Major Leagues, and his wife have both said the former pitcher had been deeply depressed after he was fired by Xerox last May and couldn’t find work. He had worked at the firm’s Irvine computer plant for six years before he was arrested on May 24 for allegedly selling one gram of cocaine to another worker. Odom claims the other worker framed him.

He also has said that he had sent out more than 100 resumes in the past six months.