It was the natural thing. After being the bat boy for the Clearwater, FL Bombers from 1947-55, the logical thing for Tommy Moore to do was eventually play for the team. In 1959 he did and, in fact, led the team in batting with a .333 average and would play 11 of his 13-year fast pitch career with the Bombers. He either shared or led the team in hitting six times and three times he batted .400 or higher.In 1972, he batted a record .440 and also batted .407 in 1969 and .427 in 1971. He had a .329 lifetime average with 826 hits in 2,509 at-bats with 670 runs scored, 90 doubles, 63 triples and 33 homers. Nine times Moore earned All-America honors at four different positions including second base, utility, shortstop and the outfield. He was a second team choice in 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1970 and a first-teamer in 1965, 1966, 1972-74. He had a .277 batting average in national championship play (52-for-188) and a .227 average in 24 games in six Men’s Fast Pitch All-Star Series. Moore also was named All-Regional four times and batted .384 in 30 games (33-for-86). He was a member of three national champions (1960, 1962 and 1973) and three runners-up (1959, 1965 and 1972).Moore was feared by opposing pitchers because they knew he could beat them so many ways. Punch and run, extra bat hit, stolen base, extra base on a single, a walk and his natural ability and speed, coupled with his determination, made him one of the toughest outs in softball. Moore was born May 17, 1940.
