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BLUE RAIDER HALL OF FAME
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    • Danny Moore

    Inducted: 2009
    Sports: Baseball

    In the mid-1970's, MTSU's baseball team rolled to great success and centerfielder Danny Moore was the "face" of the team. As the team's lead-off hitter, he was a master of setting the table for head coach John Stanford's deep roster of big-time hitters.

    Moore batted .351 in his years with the Blue Raiders while utilizing an unconventional split-grip. Not only did the scrappy lefty have the drag bunt down to a science, but he still stands as one of the program's all-time best in triples.

    In the memorable 1976 season, Moore was named to the All-OVC first team as the Blue Raiders rolled to a record of 35-17, overall, and won the Ohio Valley Conference with a record of 10-2. That year, Moore then led MTSU to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament under Stanford's leadership.

    Moore was once again selected to the All-OVC squad as a senior in 1977 and was honored with the retirement of his No. 2 Blue Raider jersey soon thereafter.

    Class of 2012

    Mike Caldwell
    Football

    Diane Cummings Turnham
    Athletic Administration

    Harry Gupton
    Basketball, Baseball

    Tawanya Mucker Wilson
    Basketball

    Jayhawk Owens
    Baseball

    History of the Hall of Fame

    In the early spring of 1975, a pair of long-time supporters of Middle Tennessee State University's athletic program decided that the University should honor its greatest athletes. Homer Pittard, alumni director, and Gene Sloan, public relations director, came up with the idea and asked sports information director Jim Freeman to join them in setting up an athletic hall of fame.

    After getting approval for the Hall of Fame from President M. G. Scarlett, the trio began laying the groundwork to select the first inductees. Others, including Bob Womack and Joe Nunley, were also involved.

    "We decided not to have categories but to put all candidates in one group," said Freeman. "We also decided against inducting a large group to start with and felt that three per year was the ideal number. That way, everyone got a good share of the spotlight."

    The nominating and voting for the first several years was done by members of the old "T" Club, now reorganized and called the Varsity Club. Nominations were solicited, and the the list of candidates was mailed to the voters. They selected Horace Jones, Charles "Bubber" Murphy and Teddy Morris as the initial inductees in 1976.

    The Blue Raider Hall of Fame was originally housed in the old Blue Raider Room under the west side of the football stadium. It had to be torn down when then stadium was expanded in 1998. After several years without a home, the Hall of Fame moved into the new Rose and Emmett Kennon Sports Hall of Fame building in 2004.