Omar Renán Moreno Quintero (born October 24, 1952) is a Panamanian former

center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the c ...

who played from 1975 through 1986 in Major League Baseball. He was best known for his years with the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

, and was the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter on their

1979 World Series The 1979 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1979 season. The 76th edition of the World Series was a best-of-seven playoff played between the National League (NL) champion Pittsburgh Pirates (98–64) and ...

champion team.

Career

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 In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a runner advances to a base to which they are not entitled and the official scorer rules that the advance should be credited to the action of the runner. The umpires determine whether the runner is safe or ...

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 Ronald LeFlore (born June 16, 1948) is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder. He played six seasons with the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Montreal Expos. He retired with the Chicago White Sox in 1982. He stole 455 ...

edged him out by stealing 97 bases. After the 1982 season, Moreno signed as a free agent with the

Houston Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

. He was traded midway through the 1983 season to the New York Yankees in exchange for Jerry Mumphrey. After the Yankees released him in August 1985, he signed with the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

for the last month of the season, and finished his career with the Atlanta Braves 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 The Ariel Award ( es, Premio Ariel) is an award that recognizes the best of Mexican cinema. Given annually, since 1946, by the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences (AMACC), the award recognizes artistical and technical excel ...

in 1985.IMDB.com: El Hombre de la Mandolina, Award Nominations
/ref> He appeared in an uncredited role on the show '' Space Ghost: Coast To Coast'' along with fellow major leaguer

Mookie Wilson William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson (born February 9, 1956) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and coach remembered as the Met who hit the ground ball that rolled through Bill Buckner's legs in the bottom of the 10th inning of ga ...

in an episode called "Chinatown".

References

External links

Venezuelan Baseball League
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moreno, Omar 1952 births Living people Águilas Cibaeñas players Panamanian expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Atlanta Braves players Bradenton Explorers players Charleston Charlies players Daytona Beach Explorers players Gastonia Pirates players Gulf Coast Pirates players Gulf Coast Tourists players Houston Astros players Kansas City Royals players Major League Baseball center fielders Major League Baseball players from Panama National League stolen base champions Navegantes del Magallanes players Panamanian expatriate baseball players in Venezuela New York Yankees players Niagara Falls Pirates players Panamanian expatriate baseball players in the United States People from Barú District, Chiriquí Pittsburgh Pirates players Salem Pirates players Thetford Mines Pirates players Tiburones de La Guaira players

Career

Personal

See also

References

External links