Blue Moon Odom

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John "Blue Moon" Odom autograph on a 1975 Topps baseball card - 1975 Series, #69

John "Blue Moon" Odom (born May 29, 1945, in Macon, Georgia) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. For most of his 13-year career, he played for the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics and Atlanta Braves.

Odom was called up to the A's in late 1964 and made his first appearance in a start against the New York Yankees on September 5 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. Blue Moon gave up a three-run homer in the first inning to Mickey Mantle and surrendered three more runs in the second, but wound up with a no-decision. Odom went on to play in two All-Star games (1968 and 1969), and won three consecutive World Series rings with the Oakland dynasty of 1972-1974.

In his best season, 1968, Odom won 16 games and compiled a 2.45 earned run average.

An excellent athlete, Odeom was used quite often as a pinch-runner. He also wielded a strong bat (for a pitcher), hitting 12 home runs with a batting average of .195 for his career.

Pitching for the Chicago White Sox in 1976 (July 28), Odom combined with reliever Francisco Barrios to pitch a no-hitter against his former team, the Oakland A's. Odom pitched the first five innings, Barrios the last four. It was to be Odom's last big-league victory.

He finished with 84 career wins against 85 losses, and an ERA of 3.70.

[edit] Trivia

Odom led the Northwest League in games started (29) and innings pitched (198) while playing for the Lewiston Broncs in 1965.
He tied for the American League lead (with Frank Bertaina) in wild pitches with 17 in 1968.