Longtime Brewers catcher and outfielder Charlie Moore passed away on Saturday at age 72, as per a media release from the team. Moore spent 14 of his 15 Major League seasons in a Milwaukee uniform, spending only his 15th and final season with the Blue Jays in 1987.
Beginning his big league career in 1973, Moore spent his first few seasons backing up Darrell Porter at the catcher position while also getting a good chunk of playing time as a corner outfielder. Porter was traded to the Royals after the 1976 campaign, which opened up more time behind the plate for Moore over the next five seasons. The Brewers than moved Moore into more or less an everyday right field role from 1982-84 before he returned to regular catching duty in his final three seasons.
It was something of an unusual career arc for a catcher, yet Moore was a good athlete who held his own defensively as a right fielder. Reggie Jackson learned this the hard way during Game 5 of the 1982 ALCS, when Moore threw out Jackson at third base when the superstar was trying to go from first to third on a Fred Lynn single. Jackson’s Angels held a 3-2 lead at that point in the do-or-die Game 5, and Moore’s big play was a key moment as Milwaukee went on to a 4-3 victory.
The 1982 squad is still the only Brewers team to reach the World Series, falling just short to the Cardinals in a seven-game Fall Classic. Moore was a huge part of Milwaukee’s playoff run, hitting .385/.429/.462 over 44 plate appearances during that postseason.
Moore finished his career with 36 homers and a .261/.319/.355 slash line over 4483 PA and 1334 career games. He also had 51 career stolen bases, with two of them coming on October 1, 1980 when Moore also hit for the cycle. That huge all-around day made Moore the first player in modern baseball history to both hit for a cycle and steal two bases in the same game. In another historical note for Moore, the last of Henry Aaron’s MLB record 2297 RBIs was recorded when Aaaon singled to drive in Moore from third base on the final day of the 1976 season.
We at MLB Trade Rumors send our condolences to Moore’s family, friends, and many fans.
I remember Charlie well from those Brewers teams. Too young these days. RIP. Condolences to his family and friends.
Me too. RIP Charlie. Was very reliable.
Charlie throwing out Reggie in Game 5 1982 ALCS
youtube.com/watch?v=w4sUPspVhig
One of Harvey’s Wallbangers.
Grew up with him. He is one year older than me. God Bless you Charlie!
Charlie is the subject of one of my fondest memories. I had him as my starting catcher (over Marc Hill) in an APBA mail league in 1977. He hit a robust .188 for me that season. But my team still went to the championships. Game 7, Charlie hits a bottom-of-the-ninth grand slam off Al Hrabosky for a come-from behind 9-7 victory.
Every team needs a “Charlie Moore” player. One of Harvey Wallbangers’ unheralded contributors.