February 13, 1954 Relief pitcher Donnie Moore was born on this day in 1954 in Lubbock, Texas, and was the cousin of MLB player Hubie Brooks. Moore attended Paris Junior College and Ranger College before he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the January secondary phase of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft.
His best season was in 1985 when he had 31 saves, 103 IP in relief, & 1.92 ERA, making his only All-Star team and finishing 7th in the AL Cy Young Award voting and 6th in the AL MVP voting.
Unfortunately, he’s best known (when pitching for the California Angels) for surrendering a home run to Dave Henderson of the Boston Red Sox in Game 5 of the 1986 ALCS with 2 outs in the 9th inning (the win would have sent the Angels to the World Series).
Tragically, Donnie took his own life in 1989 at the age of 35.
