John Odom---1974
Players in the past used to have great
nicknames. Walt “No Neck” Williams,
“Dirty Al” Gallagher and one of my
favorites... John “Blue Moon” Odom.
The nick-name was given to Odom by a
grade school friend who thought his
face looked like the moon, and the
future Oakland hurler could indeed
light up like the moon with his beaming
smile.
Of course, he had a lot to smile about
during his career. Blue Moon was a two-
time American League All-Star, posted
15 or more wins in three seasons and
helped Oakland capture three
consecutive World Championships
beginning in 1972.
Though Odom was the No. 3 man in
the A’s rotation, behind Catfish Hunter
(yes, another great nickname) and Ken
Holtzman, the hard throwing right-
hander shone brightly in ten post-
season outings, going 6-0, with a
1.07 ERA.
A suburb athlete, Odom was also called
upon to pinch-run 105 times during his
career and was the last American
League pitcher to steal a base.
Throwing caution to the wind, Odom
wore number 13 during his entire
career. Yet he could do that, because
he was Blue Moon.
One can only imagine
the endorsement deal
he could have today.
Beer and oranges.
“Hi, I’m Blue Moon Odom and I don’t
follow those ‘Man Laws.’ I always fruit
MY beer. And if you have a problem
with that, just step into the batters box...
that is, if YOU are man enough.”
nicknames. Walt “No Neck” Williams,
“Dirty Al” Gallagher and one of my
favorites... John “Blue Moon” Odom.
The nick-name was given to Odom by a
grade school friend who thought his
face looked like the moon, and the
future Oakland hurler could indeed
light up like the moon with his beaming
smile.
Of course, he had a lot to smile about
during his career. Blue Moon was a two-
time American League All-Star, posted
15 or more wins in three seasons and
helped Oakland capture three
consecutive World Championships
beginning in 1972.
Though Odom was the No. 3 man in
the A’s rotation, behind Catfish Hunter
(yes, another great nickname) and Ken
Holtzman, the hard throwing right-
hander shone brightly in ten post-
season outings, going 6-0, with a
1.07 ERA.
A suburb athlete, Odom was also called
upon to pinch-run 105 times during his
career and was the last American
League pitcher to steal a base.
Throwing caution to the wind, Odom
wore number 13 during his entire
career. Yet he could do that, because
he was Blue Moon.
One can only imagine
the endorsement deal
he could have today.
Beer and oranges.
“Hi, I’m Blue Moon Odom and I don’t
follow those ‘Man Laws.’ I always fruit
MY beer. And if you have a problem
with that, just step into the batters box...
that is, if YOU are man enough.”
