Omar Moreno
Encyclopedia
Omar Renan Moreno Quintero (born October 24, 1952, Puerto Armuelles, Panama
) was a Major League Baseball
outfielder
from 1975 to 1986. He was best known for his years with the Pittsburgh Pirates
, and was the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter on their 1979 World Series
-winning team.
Moreno made his first appearance with the Pirates in September 1975, and became the team's starting center fielder in 1977. He had great speed and led the National League
in stolen base
s in 1978 and 1979. In 1980, he set the Pirates' single-season record for stolen bases with 96. Although he had no stolen bases in the 1979 World Series, he hit .333 in the leadoff spot during the Series.
Moreno played every game of the 1979 and 1980 seasons and led the National League in at bats both years.
His 96 stolen bases in 1980 are the most by any player not to lead the majors in steals on the season. Ron LeFlore
edged him out by stealing 97 bases. Moreno set a not-so-impressive record that year by making an out 560 times that year, which is a major-league record.
After the 1982 season, Moreno signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros
. He was traded midway through that year to the New York Yankees
, for whom he played until they released him in August 1985. He signed with the Kansas City Royals
for the last month of the 1985 season, and finished his career with the Atlanta Braves
in 1986.
He considered a whistle used by his wife Sandra to be his most valuable heirloom from his playing days. The whistle made a very loud noise and was a common sound during the 1979 World Series broadcasts.
Moreno made a cameo appearance in the Mexican movie El Hombre de la Mandolina, which was nominated for a Silver Ariel in 1985. He appeared in an uncredited role on the show Space Ghost: Coast To Coast along with fellow major leaguer Mookie Wilson
in an episode called "Chinatown".
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
) was a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
from 1975 to 1986. He was best known for his years with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, and was the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter on their 1979 World Series
1979 World Series
The 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates against the American League's Baltimore Orioles , with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games...
-winning team.
Moreno made his first appearance with the Pirates in September 1975, and became the team's starting center fielder in 1977. He had great speed and led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s in 1978 and 1979. In 1980, he set the Pirates' single-season record for stolen bases with 96. Although he had no stolen bases in the 1979 World Series, he hit .333 in the leadoff spot during the Series.
Moreno played every game of the 1979 and 1980 seasons and led the National League in at bats both years.
His 96 stolen bases in 1980 are the most by any player not to lead the majors in steals on the season. Ron LeFlore
Ron LeFlore
Ronald LeFlore is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Montreal Expos, retiring as a Chicago White Sox in . He stole 455 bases in his career, and was an American League All-Star selection in 1976...
edged him out by stealing 97 bases. Moreno set a not-so-impressive record that year by making an out 560 times that year, which is a major-league record.
After the 1982 season, Moreno signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He was traded midway through that year to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, for whom he played until they released him in August 1985. He signed with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
for the last month of the 1985 season, and finished his career with the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in 1986.
Personal
Moreno has returned to Panama since his retirement. He and his wife Sandra have run the Omar Moreno Foundation, a youth baseball charity for underprivileged kids in Panama. Moreno assumed the title of Secretary of Sports, a position created by then-President-elect Ricardo Martinelli in May 2009.He considered a whistle used by his wife Sandra to be his most valuable heirloom from his playing days. The whistle made a very loud noise and was a common sound during the 1979 World Series broadcasts.
Moreno made a cameo appearance in the Mexican movie El Hombre de la Mandolina, which was nominated for a Silver Ariel in 1985. He appeared in an uncredited role on the show Space Ghost: Coast To Coast along with fellow major leaguer Mookie Wilson
Mookie Wilson
William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder and current coach for the New York Mets. He played 12 years in baseball for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays . He was a switch hitter primarily known for his impressive speed and positive attitude...
in an episode called "Chinatown".
See also
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases