Volume 8 Article 12 Issue 4 Summer 7-15-1989 Mike Moore: Eakly's Mr. Baseball Mona Jean Suter Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/westview Recommended Citation Suter, Mona Jean (1989) "Mike Moore: Eakly's Mr. Baseball," Westview: Vol. 8 : Iss. 4 , Article 12. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/westview/vol8/iss4/12 This Nonfiction is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Westview by an authorized administrator of SWOSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PEOPLE Mr. and Mrs. Mike Moore and daughters. Photograph courtesy of the Moore family. MIKE MOORE: EAKLY’S MR. BASEBALL -----By Mona Jean Suter Oakland A who remembers Eakly Eakly, America, population ap­ proximately 500, a farming com­ from a small town could not become ember having to change catchers. munity in Caddo County, Oklahoma, a big-league pitcher. Mike Moore Mike’s first catchers on the Pee Wee boasts of its cotton, its peanuts, and proved them wrong. team were John Buie and Yancy its athletes, in particular its athlete Moore, who grew up on an eighty- Snow. Snow, who still lives and Mike Moore. Around Eakly, 29- acre peanut and cotton farm, actually works in the Eakly area, remembers year-old Michael Wayne Moore, began his trek to stardom as an well how good a cold pop felt after thoughtof as Mr. Baseball, recently eight-year-old Eakly Pee Wee pitch­ the game, not just to this throat but signed a three-year-no-trade contract er. Because of the speed of his fast also to his stinging hand. He also with the Oakland Athletics after ball, his only pitch then, only a few recalls other bruises ala Mike Moore. pitching six years for the Seattle people could be persuaded to be the Once his eye caught a Moore pitch Mariners. He is every aspiring catcher for Mike. Instead of changing that ricocheted off the batter’s plate young athlete’s dream come true pitchers, Eakly’s Pee Wee coaches, when the catcher’s mask was not in and a hero to many who have watched Melvin Scott and Lester Clear, who its proper place. Melvin Scott remem­ him grow up. Many said that a kid still live in the community, rem­ bers too but says of Mike, “He had 26 W e s t v ie w . S u m m er 1989 the best control of any little kid I senior year. Of course, his six-foot, sees Scales. In fact, they usually try ever saw.” four-inch height as a senior didn’t to get in some coyote hunting, a Sports became a part of Mike hurt here either. sport they both enjoy, in the Eakly Moore’s life long before Pee Wee Hoot, a nickname that his mother, area. ball, though. His mom’s family, the Oleta, gave him for no reason that Moore also awards Larry Cochell, John Rolands, were avid ball players. she can come up with, continued his Oral Roberts University baseball The Rolands had nine children, and way through public school and the coach, and Jim Brewer, who was those children even when grown had Midgets, Preps, minors, and Amer­ the pitching coach at ORU, much frequent family get-togethers. ican Legion summer ball, making a credit for his success. Though Mike Usually their main form of enter­ name for himself and his fast ball as was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals tainment was a baseball game among he went, earning such honors as directly out of high school and was themselves in which both big and State All Star. also pursued heavily by Oklahoma little people participated. Even at He gives many people credit tor State University, Oklahoma Univer­ three and four years of age, Mike, his success, including his sister sity, and the University of Arkansas, along with his brothers and sisters, Frances, whopatiently (usually) he chose to attend ORU. His decision uncles and aunts, cousins and hauled him to practices, and his was based on several factors: the parents, ‘‘mixed it up.” When Mike parents, who faithfully followed ORU facilities and a five-year scholar­ was just four, one of his uncles, J.D. him to all those games. His parents ship offered him, his mother’s strong Roland, whom many considered a still make regular trips from Weather­ desire for his college education and natural first baseman, commented ford, where they have retired, to see the maturity and growth she felt to Vernie Moore, Mike’s dad, that he his pro games. He also gives much college could provide him, and word believed Mike had unusual potential. credit to his junior-high coach, Jim sent to him from Johnny Bench, his Vernie Glen, Mike’s brother who Buie, currently the superintendent childhood hero, to attend college is thirteen years older than Mike of schools in Eakly, and to his high- before going pro. and who now lives in Alaska, was schoolcoach, Mike Southall, now Moore agrees that ORU did mature probably the first to introduce Mike superintendent at Washita Heights. him. While he was there, Jim Brewer to baseball. Vernie Glen and James, Moore says of Buie, who by the way made changes in Mike’s pitching another brother of Mike’s who is is his cousin, that Buie was instru­ delivery. Up until this time, he had five years older and a truck driver, mental in getting him started in the thrown much like a catcher. Brewer both played a great deal of catch right direction; he credits Southall felt, and Mike came to agree, that a with Mike, pitched him zillions of with giving him a broader perspec­ change in delivery would help keep balls so he could learn to bat, and tive about baseball. him from injury and could extend knocked him uncountable flies and Another mainstay on Mike Moore’s his career. “Brewer,” according to skinners so he could learn to field. roster for success is his best buddy, Moore, ‘‘had fun with and truly James, himself a good pitcher during Daryl Scales, his main public-school enjoyed baseball,” an attitude that his high-school days, encouraged and summer-league catcher and was an inspiration to his players. Mike, though Mike was not difficult longtime friend. Mike says that he Moore says that Larry Cochell was to encourage. In fact, Mike was and Scales were “naturals together instrumental in getting much expo­ constantly “messing” with a baseball and seemed to think alike and there­ sure for his ORU players. He says, and watching baseball. He consisten­ fore worked well together.” After “Cochell knew the politics and the tly hounded others to “play baseball games in high school or summer right people to contact in order to with me.” He often watched his ball, these two could be found at the aid players toward professional brother Vernie Glen play against ball park or in their yards practicing, careers.” Johnny Bench, a Bingerite who trying to discover what hadn't While at ORU, Moore also played became a big-league catcher for the worked at the previous game and College Summer Pro ball in Liberal, Cincinnati Reds right out of high what had gone wrong. On one occa­ Kansas, an experience he says that school and who recently has been sion, Moore’s mother, Oleta, was built his confidence. There he was named to the Baseball Hall of Fame watching Mike bat while Scales named the Most Valuable Player Eakly and Binger, Bench’s high- tossed him the ball. She suggested both his freshman and sophomore school team, are arch rivals even that Mike was standing too close to years in the National Baseball Cong­ today as they were during Mike’s the plate. After adjusting, Mike ress. During college, Mike, named school days. Mike also watched found that she was exactly right. He an All American, played on the USA baseball on television, and one day was always willing to follow advice team to Cuba. Team members were when listening to and watching Pee Scales says that he likes to think chosen for this honor because of Wee Reese and Dizzy Dean on Sunday that he pushed Mike to work harder, their statistics and abilities. afternoon baseball on television, but he says that Mike always worked During his three years at ORU, Moore, who was two or three at the hard at playing baseball. Moore and Mike met and later married Joyce time, announced that playing base­ Daryl Scales are true friends. Moore Hart, a Costa Mesa California girl ball was what he intended doing for took Scales, as well as Joyce, his who also attended ORU. Married in a living. True to his goal, baseball wife-to-be, and his mom with him 1983, Mike and Joyce are the proud bacame his life even though he when he went to Seattle to sign his parents of twin two-year-old daugh­ became a rather proficient basketball contract with the Mariners. Their ters Jessica Dawn and Amanda player too, being named to the First friendship remains constant; when Rae Moore and his family live in State All-Tournament Team his Mike returns to Oklahoma, he always Ahwautukee. Arizona, a Phoenix W e s t v ie w S l m v i e r I 9 8 9 2 7 suburb near where he trains. His youngest sister, Margaret, also lives there and is one of his most f avid fans as are her three sons.