Ex-A’s Pitcher Odom Ordered to Have Psychiatric Analysis

A Westminster municipal judge Friday ordered a 72-hour psychiatric analysis for John (Blue Moon) Odom, who has been in the Orange County Jail for three days on charges of assault stemming from an incident in which he held his wife hostage.

Judge Michael J. Beecher also ordered Odom, 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 that was reduced to five misdemeanor assault charges. Bail has been set at $10,000.

On Tuesday night, Odom, apparently despondent for failure to land a job after six months of trying, had an emotional breakdown. 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 threw tear gas to get him to come out. There was no further incident.

Gayle Odom, who was present at Friday’s court appearance, said she was happy 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 also said that she has been receiving an outpouring of concern and offers of help from former baseball players and friends, including Dock Ellis, who works in a counseling center in Los Angeles, Hall of Famer Warren Spahn and former big-league pitcher Jim (Mudcat) Grant.