Tommy Moore – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Tommy Joe Moore’s baseball story really feels like a classic minor league grind, all the way to the big leagues, before he retired from professional baseball in 1977.

Born in Lynwood, California, on July 7, 1948, Moore actually started as an outfielder. But after a nasty beaning that left him with dentures—and honestly, a real fear of standing at the plate—he switched to pitching.

Moore played parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1972 and 1977. He put up a 2-4 record with a 5.40 ERA across 42 games, suiting up for the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners.

His journey from the sandlots of Southern California to the majors shows just how much grit it takes to make it in pro baseball, especially when you hit some tough bumps along the way.

Let’s take a look at Moore’s early days at John Glenn High in Norwalk, his time grinding through the Mets’ farm system, and his trades between teams. His story really gives you a window into what fringe major league players went through in the 1970s, and the kind of resilience you needed to hang on in pro ball.

Early Life and Education

Tommy Joe Moore was born July 7, 1948, in Lynwood, California. His family was working-class and had a pretty interesting mix of backgrounds.

He showed off his athletic side early at John Glenn High School in Norwalk. Moore was one of those kids who seemed good at everything, playing multiple sports before a short stint at Cerritos College in 1966-1967.

Family Background

Tommy’s family had deep American immigrant roots. His dad, George Arthur “Doc” Moore, worked as a welder.

The Moore side originally came from Cornwall, England, then settled in Tennessee and Texas. His mom, Frances (née Luksich), brought Croatian and Austrian heritage.

Her dad was Croatian, her mom was Austrian, and the family had lived in New Mexico and Colorado before they moved to California.

The Moores ended up in Norwalk, about 10 miles east of Lynwood. Frances stayed home to raise Tommy and his three brothers—George, Travis, and Jerry.

Tommy grew up surrounded by hard work and tight family ties. That kind of upbringing shaped how he approached baseball and probably how he got along with teammates later on.

John Glenn High School Years

At John Glenn High in Norwalk, Moore stood out as a multi-sport athlete. He was so good, he captained three teams senior year.

Moore’s high school sports leadership:

• Baseball team captain
• Football team captain
• Basketball team captain

The 1973 New York Mets yearbook even called his high school career “remarkable.” That’s not something you hear every day.

All those sports helped him build the arm strength and fire scouts look for. His versatility was obvious.

The Minnesota Twins drafted Moore in the 28th round of the June 1966 draft while he was still in high school. He didn’t sign, choosing to stick with school for a bit.

Cerritos College Experience

After high school, Moore enrolled at Cerritos College in Norwalk, staying close to home. His time there was short, just several months during the 1966-1967 year.

He played baseball as a freshman and hit .305. That’s a solid number for a college kid.

His performance grabbed the attention of Mets scout Nelson Burbrink. Burbrink had a nose for talent—he found Tom Seaver, after all.

The Mets picked Moore in the 10th round of the secondary phase of the January 1967 draft. That came after just one semester at Cerritos, which is pretty wild.

He signed with the Mets in May 1967, leaving college baseball behind after batting .305. That decision kicked off his long trek through the minors and, eventually, the majors.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Tommy Moore pitched in the big leagues for four teams between 1972 and 1977. He finished with a 2-4 record and a 5.40 ERA.

He debuted with the New York Mets and wrapped up with the Seattle Mariners.

MLB Debut and Final Season

Moore made his MLB debut on September 15, 1972, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. He came in after Gary Gentry got knocked around for six runs in two-plus innings.

He struck out Rick Monday in his first big league appearance. Not a bad way to start.

Moore pitched well in that debut, even helping finish a double play when Gary Santo was caught stealing after his strikeout.

His last MLB season came in 1977 with the new Seattle Mariners. He appeared in 14 games that year, going 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA.

He retired from pro baseball at 29, in 1977. He didn’t have enough service time to get into the Major League Baseball pension plan, since his career ended before the 1980 rule change.

Teams Played For

Moore suited up for four MLB teams: the New York Mets (1972-1973), St. Louis Cardinals (1975), Texas Rangers (1975), and Seattle Mariners (1977).

He spent the most time with the Mets, who drafted him in 1967. He worked his way through their minor league system.

On October 13, 1974, the Mets traded Moore and Ray Sadecki to the Cardinals for Joe Torre. Moore appeared in ten relief games for the Cardinals in 1975.

Later that year, Moore landed with the Texas Rangers. He finished his MLB career with the Seattle Mariners in 1977, playing for the brand-new team.

Career Highlights and Milestones

Moore’s career numbers: 2-4 record, 5.40 ERA, and 40 strikeouts over 42 games in four seasons. He mostly worked as a reliever.

His best stretch came in 1977 with Seattle, where he posted his only winning record at 2-1. That was the high point of his short MLB run.

Moore also played pro ball outside the majors. In 1989, he pitched for the Bradenton Explorers in the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

He actually started his pro career as an outfielder before switching to pitching. People knew him for his strong curveball, but he struggled with control issues all the way through.

New York Mets Tenure

Tommy Moore started his journey with the New York Mets after scout Nelson Burbrink picked him in the 10th round of the January 1967 draft.

The Mets turned Moore from an outfielder into a pitcher after that beaning incident made hitting a nightmare, leading to his MLB debut in September 1972.

Draft and Signing with the Mets

The Minnesota Twins picked Moore in the 28th round of the June 1966 draft, but he didn’t sign. He went to Cerritos College in Norwalk instead.

After just a few months at Cerritos, the Mets drafted Moore in the 10th round of the secondary phase of the January 1967 draft. Nelson Burbrink, who discovered Tom Seaver, made the call.

Moore signed with the Mets in May 1967 after hitting .305 as a freshman. He started his pro career in June 1967 with Marion, Virginia, in the Appalachian League.

He showed promise as an outfielder in rookie ball, hitting .290 with 3 home runs and 28 RBIs in 59 games. He also swiped 11 bases and led the league with 14 assists.

Minor League Development

Moore spent his first three seasons as an outfielder in the Mets system. He played for Visalia in the California League in 1968 and 1969.

His second year saw a jump: .285 average, 16 home runs, and 23 steals.

Then, in 1969, a beanball knocked out his teeth and changed everything. Moore got gun-shy at the plate, so Whitey Herzog, the Mets’ player development director, switched him to pitcher in June 1970.

“I always had a lot of faith in Whitey, he’s a guy who knows talent and has a knack of bringing out the best in young players,” Moore said later.

The switch worked. Moore went back to Class A Pompano Beach in 1970, going 3-8 with a 3.62 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 82 innings. He started developing his signature curve.

He moved up to Memphis in the Texas League for 1971. There, he led the league with 160 strikeouts in 191 innings, finishing 11-10 with a 3.20 ERA. He even tossed four shutouts and a seven-inning no-hitter against Arkansas.

Major League Performances

Moore made his MLB debut on September 15, 1972, at Wrigley Field. He came in after Gary Gentry and struck out Rick Monday to start things off.

The Mets had high hopes for Moore in 1973. Manager Yogi Berra said, “I like Moore. He’s got a good curve and he’s a bulldog.”

The Mets called him up from Tidewater on May 10, 1973. After sitting unused for 12 days, he threw two scoreless relief outings before getting a start on May 28 at Candlestick Park.

That start went sideways. Bobby Bonds hit a leadoff homer on Moore’s first pitch, and the Giants chased him in the second inning.

Moore played one last game as a Met on June 3, 1973, as a pinch-runner. The team sent him back to Tidewater, and he didn’t return for the pennant race that September.

On October 13, 1974, the Mets traded Moore and Ray Sadecki to the Cardinals for Joe Torre. That ended his seven-year run with the Mets.

St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers Years

Tommy Moore’s career took a big turn in October 1974 when the Mets traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joe Torre.

He spent 1975 with both the Cardinals and Texas Rangers, making his last push to establish himself in the majors.

Trade to the St. Louis Cardinals

On October 13, 1974, the Mets sent Ray Sadecki and Moore to the Cardinals for Joe Torre. The Mets had wanted Torre for years, so this was a big deal for them.

Cardinals beat writer Neal Russo said Moore was still seen as a good prospect, even with his struggles. But Moore was out of options, so the Cardinals had to keep him on their roster or risk losing him to waivers.

That offseason, Moore chopped firewood in Texas with his brother and a friend. He pitched one game in Venezuela for Tiburones de La Guaira, tossing a scoreless inning and earning a save.

Pitching Role with the Cardinals

Moore looked good in spring training with the Cardinals in 1975. The team gave him chances to compete for a spot in the rotation.

He showed flashes of ability, but his control issues kept popping up. Those problems had followed him from Triple-A Tidewater to the majors.

The Cardinals mostly used Moore in relief while he was with them. His time in St. Louis didn’t last long, as the team made roster moves to try to get better.

Transition to the Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers picked up Moore from the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1975 season. For Moore, this move felt like another shot to finally carve out a place in the majors with his third team.

The Rangers really needed more pitching depth, and Moore’s sharp curveball plus his earlier minor league success caught their attention. Since he could pitch in relief, he gave the bullpen a bit more flexibility.

Moore arrived in Texas at a time when he still struggled with control problems that kept holding him back. The Rangers figured maybe a new environment would help him tap into his real potential.

Rangers Minor and Major League Appearances

With the Rangers, Moore bounced between the big league club and their minor league teams. He didn’t get many games in the majors, as he kept working on his command and trying to find some consistency.

He spent time in the farm system, tweaking his pitching mechanics and hoping to get better results. That curveball of his still stood out, but he knew he had to get his control under wraps if he wanted to stick around.

The Rangers kept giving him chances to show what he could do, but his issues with walks and shaky outings made it tough for him to claim a bigger role. His stint with Texas basically signaled the winding down of his major league journey, though he did pop up later with the Seattle Mariners in 1977.

Seattle Mariners and Retirement

The Seattle Mariners bought Tommy Moore’s contract from the Rangers in October 1976, putting him on the expansion team‘s first roster. Moore’s time with the Mariners ended up being both a cool milestone and the last chapter of his major league story in 1977.

Joining the Seattle Mariners

The Mariners grabbed Moore as one of their early roster picks while gearing up for their first season. They purchased his contract from Texas in October 1976.

Moore became a small part of baseball history with the new American League team. The Mariners joined MLB as one of two expansion teams for the 1977 season.

Before heading to Seattle, Moore played winter ball in Venezuela in 1976. He returned to La Guaira for their playoff run and threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen during the postseason.

Notable Games with the Mariners

On April 8, 1977, Moore made a bit of baseball history during the Mariners’ debut season. He was the first Seattle Mariner to wear number 20 in a regular season game when he took the mound that day.

The 1977 Mariners had a rough go as a brand-new team. They ended up with 64 wins and 98 losses, landing in sixth place in the American League West.

Seattle’s pitchers had a tough season. The Mariners gave up 855 runs, which led the entire American League that year.

Moore worked as a reliever for Seattle during 1977. His role came during a year when the whole pitching staff struggled.

Final MLB Season and Retirement

The 1977 season in Seattle turned out to be Tommy Moore’s last in the majors. He wrapped up his MLB career after parts of four seasons, from 1972 to 1977.

Moore finished with 2 wins, 4 losses, and a 5.40 ERA. He tallied 40 strikeouts over those four seasons.

He played for four different teams in the big leagues: the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners.

Moore stepped away from pro baseball after the 1977 season at age 29. His career ran from his 1972 debut with the Mets to his last outings with the Mariners.

Legacy, Personal Life, and Later Years

Tommy Joe Moore left behind stories of a lively personality and strong character that stuck with teammates long after he hung up his glove. His personal life had its ups and downs with multiple marriages and a close family, while his later years stayed pretty private until his death in 2017.

Impact on Teams and Teammates

Moore made a mark on those around him with his vibrant personality and candid nature. His teammate Mike Floyd once said, “We gravitated together because we were both so cocky.” That confidence really shaped Moore’s style on and off the field.

Friend Lou Cafiero described Moore as direct: “He had strong opinions and was very candid, not afraid to say ‘F*** ’em’ if it was called for.” Moore also loved giving teammates wild nicknames, just to get a laugh.

Even though his MLB career was short, Moore’s great overhand curveball stuck in teammate Benny Ayala’s mind years later. Floyd thought Moore “would have been a great candidate for a cut fastball instead of that big curveball he had trouble controlling.”

He brought that playfulness home, too. Niece Niki Moore Hatzenbuehler remembered how he’d pull out his dentures and make goofy faces, even doing it “at my dad’s funeral just to get me to smile.”

Life After Baseball

Tommy Moore went through four marriages in his lifetime. His first wife, Tina, had two kids with him, Joie and Tommy Jr. His second wife Pam was the mother of his sons Brandon and Adam.

He had a brief third marriage to Gayle, which didn’t bring any children. Moore’s last marriage was to Sharon, who was actually his first wife’s sister and someone he’d known since high school.

Moore’s family story reflected America’s patchwork roots. His dad, George Arthur “Doc” Moore, worked as a welder and came from Cornish roots before settling in Tennessee and Texas. His mom Frances came from Croatian and Austrian immigrant families who ended up in New Mexico and Colorado.

After he left baseball in 1977, Moore kept a low profile. He lived in California, where he’d grown up in Norwalk and gone to John Glenn High School.

Recognition and Remembering Tommy Moore

Tommy Joe Moore passed away on November 16, 2017, at 69, in Pioneertown, California.

He got cremated instead of having a traditional burial.

Moore played parts of four seasons in the majors, from 1972 to 1977.

He finished with a 2-4 record and a 5.40 ERA in 42 major league games, working mostly as a reliever.

He suited up for four MLB teams: the New York Mets (1972-1973), St. Louis Cardinals (1975), Texas Rangers (1975), and Seattle Mariners (1977).

His first big league game happened on September 15, 1972, against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Moore’s major league numbers might not jump off the page, but he did some impressive things in the minors, like tossing several no-hitters and racking up strikeouts.

Whitey Herzog made the call to switch Moore from outfielder to pitcher, which really showed off his flexibility as an athlete.

Moore’s journey feels familiar to a lot of fringe major leaguers—guys who got a taste of the big leagues and still managed to leave a real mark on their friends and teammates.