Judge Orders Odom Released From Jail : Former Oakland A’s Pitcher Poses No Risk, Psychiatrist Says

Former major league pitcher John (Blue Moon) Odom was ordered released from Orange County Jail Tuesday by a judge citing a psychiatric evaluation that concluded Odom was not dangerous.

Odom, 40, had been in jail since early last Wednesday after he had held his wife hostage at gunpoint for an hour and then staved off a police SWAT team for six more hours at his Fountain Valley apartment. He claimed he was despondent over losing his job six months ago, and his failure to find work.

Judge Michael Beecher of the West Municipal Court in Westminster ordered Odom to return today for arraignment of five misdemeanor assault charges stemming from the incident. A pretrial hearing has been tentatively set for Jan. 16.

Over the weekend, Odom had been evaluated by Sea Wright Anderson, a Santa Ana psychiatrist. Beecher met privately in his chambers with Odom’s wife and Assistant Dist. Atty. Arnie Westra before delivering his decision.

“He (Anderson) feels it would be safe to release you. And your wife wants you home, so I don’t see any problem,” the judge told Odom.

The psychiatric evaluation recommended counseling for the former Oakland A’s player who pitched in three World Series, 1972-74.

Odom was released from jail at 9 p.m. and he said he was happy to be going home.

“I feel better than I have in a long time. I’m just glad it’s over. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to get even better. But right now, I feel great,” Odom said.

Gayle Odom said that she and her husband will seek counseling and employment once they return from Odom’s hometown in Macon, Ga., where they plan to spend the holidays.

“I am totally ecstatic,” she said. “I am so happy just to have him home with me again. And John will get the help he needs when we get back from Georgia.”

Since his arrest, Gayle Odom said, she has received numerous offers of help. Former major league pitchers Dock Ellis and Jim (Mudcat) Grant, who work in counseling centers in Los Angeles, have offered aid.

Several companies have expressed an interest in talking to Odom, his wife said, and Jack Baldwin, general manager of Pathfinder Computer in Costa Mesa, said he plans to contact Odom’s lawyer to convey a job offer.

Ron Renish, the director of Santa Ana-based Labor Assistance Program, also has offered counseling.

“Anybody that has a problem, we try to guide them into an area of (job) referral network,” Renish said. “Whatever he needs, he’s got it.”