Somber Night for Hall of Fame : New Members Grich, Jackson Remember Donnie Moore

Bobby Grich won’t remember Donnie Moore as the pitcher who gave up the home run to Boston’s Dave Henderson in Game 5 of the 1986 American League Championship Series.

Nor will he remember Moore as the man who died Tuesday after shooting his wife and then turning the gun on himself.

“I’ll remember Donnie as a relief pitcher who could really challenge hitters,” said Grich, a former Angel second baseman. “He would always wear his hat a little cock-eyed and glare at the hitters. He would say ‘Here it comes, it’s you against me.’ ”

On the night when he was inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame, only a day after Moore’s death, Grich recalled the two seasons he played beside Moore.

Grich learned of Moore’s death Wednesday morning. He said the news “really puts a damper” on the induction ceremonies.

“I’m not in near as good a mood as I hoped to be,” he said.

Also inducted during ceremonies at the Disneyland Hotel Wednesday night were ex-Angel slugger Reggie Jackson, former Ram right guard Dennis Harrah and the late John Ward, longtime cross-country and track and field coach at Santa Ana College, now Rancho Santiago.

Jackson, who hit 563 home runs and appeared in 12 All-Star games in his 21-year major league career, briefly touched on Moore’s death during his acceptance speech.

“There are times like this that are very special . . . when we think of the tragedies that have touched our lives,” Jackson said. “We must reach out to each other and say a few thank yous, and say, ‘I love you.’ That’s what makes the rivers flow, the blood run warm and puts a smile on your face.”

Grich, who played 10 seasons with the Angels before retiring after the series against Boston in 1986, said Moore had little to smile about after the 1986 championship series. He gave up a two-run homer to Henderson that erased a 5-4 Angel lead in Game 5.

That pitch changed the complexion of the series, which Boston went on to win after trailing three games to one.

“I’m sure he never forgot that,” Grich said. “It was eating his heart out. It was a monkey on his back that he couldn’t get off.

“He was hurt real bad. You could tell it in the next two games in Boston. It was like a knife in his heart.”

Grich said he didn’t blame Moore for the loss. He understood. He has made mistakes in important games, too.

“I dropped a (foul) pop fly (hit) by Sal Bando in the 1973 playoffs in Oakland,” he said. “The next pitch he hit for a home run. I dropped another pop fly hit by (Baltimore’s) Doug DeCinces in the 1979 playoffs.

“I remember it like it happened yesterday. You just have to carry on.”

Moore’s suicide and murder attempt came about a month after the 35-year-old pitcher was released by the Omaha Royals, the triple-A franchise for the Kansas City Royals.

“I think a lot of (the problems) had to do with his career ending and him having no other career to get involved with,” Grich said.

Grich described Moore as a “quiet person with few close friends.”

“He didn’t have anyone to share the burden (of the homer) with,” Grich said. “He didn’t have those bosom pals. Maybe if he had gone back home (Lubbock, Tex.) instead of staying in Anaheim, things would have been different.”

Grich said Moore was haunted by memories of the home run every time he returned to Orange County.

“It was extremely difficult for him,” Grich said. “You have to remember that there are more important things than baseball. You can’t allow something like that to control his life.

“He let the home run have too big of an effect on his life.”