Books and articles about Omar Moreno

Moreno, the fleet leadoff man of the 1979 World Champion Pirates, was an offensive and defensive threat when at the top of his game. The great speed that allowed him to rob opponents of extra-base hits was also his greatest offensive weapon. When hitting instructor Harry Walker convinced Moreno to chop the ball in 1979, he hit a career-high .282. All too often, though, the strikeout-prone, rarely walking Panamanian swung for the fences. He led the NL in steals in 1978 and '79, and set a Pittsburgh record with 96 steals in 1980, but scored just 87 runs, 23 fewer than 1979. He also led in triples in 1980 and in at-bats in '79 and '80. He left Pittsburgh after 1982 as a free agent and thereafter bounced around the majors. He finished his career with 487 steals, 14th on the career list at the time. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 29, 1977: Phil Niekro picks up his 10th win of the year, beating the Pirates 5–3 for the Braves. But he has to strike out four Bucs in the 6th inning to do it. He struck out Dave Parker and Bill Robinson, but after Al Oliver doubled, Rennie Stennett whiffed and reached 1st when the ball eluded the catcher. Omar Moreno then made the 4th K in the inning. » July 8, 1978: Omar Moreno's first-inning single is the Pirates' only hit as the Cardinals Silvio Martinez hurls a 4–0 shutout. » July 24, 1979: In Pittsburgh, a 4th-inning call results in a 34-minute rhubarb during the Pirates-Reds game. With Buc runners on 1st and 3rd, a 3–1 pitch to Omar Moreno is called a ball, but Johnny Bench throws to 2B ahead of the runner from 1B, Lee Lacy, who is attempting to steal. Lacy is called out by Dick Stello even though Moreno has just received a walk (therefore entitling Lacy to 2B), and walks off the bag. He is then tagged out by Dave Concepcion, precipitating the argument. The subsequent protest is rejected by National League president Feeney, and the Pirates 6–5 loss is upheld. » October 3, 1979: The Pirates win in the 10th inning 3–2 as Omar Moreno and Dave Parker smack singles that snap a 2–2 tie. » October 16, 1979: John Candelaria and Kent Tekulve combine on a 4–0 shutout as the Pirates send the World Series to its 7th game. Omar Moreno notches three singles. » August 20, 1980: Pittsburgh's Omar Moreno steals his 70th base of the season, becoming the first player this century with three consecutive 70-steal seasons. The fleet outfielder swiped 71 in 1978, 77 in 1979, and will finish 1980 with a career-high 96. Pittsburgh loses to Houston, 5–1. » May 14, 1982: With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th, Pittsburgh's Lee Lacy greets Reds reliever Tom Hume with a grand slam home run. But in the celebration. Lacy passes teammate Omar Moreno between 1B and 2B. Lacy gets only a single and three ribbies, but the Bucs pull out a victory, 8–7. » July 5, 1982: Pittsburgh's first two hitters, Omar Moreno and Johnny Ray, hit homers of Houston's Joe Niekro. Niekro settles down and wins, 6–4. » September 8, 1983: Yankees OF Steve Kemp will miss the rest of the season with a fractured cheekbone after being struck in the face by an Omar Moreno line drive during batting practice in Milwaukee. Kemp hit just .242 with 12 home run and 49 RBI in the first year of his 5-year, $5.45 million contract. New York wins today, 6–5.