SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced that former player and general manager Johnny Moore has been elected the Earthquakes Hall of Fame. Moore, a member of the inaugural Quakes team in 1974, will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame at the club’s 40th Anniversary Game on Saturday, May 10 at Buck Shaw Stadium.
“Johnny has made huge contributions to this club both on and off the field,” said Earthquakes president Dave Kaval. “It seems only fitting that Johnny is inducted during the club’s 40th Anniversary Game. He has been with the club since its founding years in 1974 and we’re honored to have him join our Hall of Fame.”
Moore’s career in professional soccer in the Bay Area stretches back to 1969 when he made two appearances for the Oakland Clippers. Five years later, he became the first player signed by the expansion San Jose Earthquakes in the North American Soccer League (NASL). He was also appointed assistant general manager in that first season. From 1974-76, he served as a player/assistant general manager, scoring eight goals and notching 14 assists in those three seasons. After three years as the assistant general manager, he became the vice president and general manager in 1977. As general manager, he helped the team set a league record for the most sellouts in a season, while still contributing on the field. He became the only person in professional sports to serve as general manager and play for the team at the same time.
“I am honored and extremely proud to be recognized by the club that has played a huge part in my life,” said Moore. “I thank the club and all of the players that I had the pleasure to play with, guys who made this club so special. I would also like to thank the Earthquake fans who supported the club though thick and thin over a 40 year period and have been kind enough to always make me feel part of them. Hearing the news of my selection was one of the happiest days of my life.”
At the conclusion of the 1977 season, Moore followed owner Milan Mandaric to the Oakland Stompers, for whom he played his final season in the NASL in 1978. He then went on to play three seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) for the Detroit Lightning, San Francisco Fog, Kansas City Comets and Phoenix Inferno, while twice being named an MISL all-star.
In the MLS era of the Earthquakes, Moore spent two successful seasons as the general manager. Under Moore, the Quakes earned playoff berths in two consecutive seasons, capped off by the 2003 MLS Cup Championship.
Moore also enjoyed a successful international career, as he was a member of the United States Men’s National Team from 1971–1976. He earned 12 caps and made 18 total appearances for the U.S., including four appearances in World Cup Qualifying for the 1974 World Cup.
The resident of San Jose has been involved with soccer in Northern California since the 1960s and he began a 30-year career in coaching in 1969. He was one of the original coaches for youth soccer in Pleasanton, Calif. For his contributions to soccer in the United States and Northern California, Moore was inducted into the United States Soccer Hall of Fame and the California Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997, along with being inducted into the California Youth Soccer Hall of Fame in 1995.
Moore is the eighth person inducted into the Earthquakes Hall of Fame.
About the Earthquakes Hall of Fame
The San Jose Earthquakes Hall of Fame was created in 2005 and currently has sevn members, John Doyle, Ronald Cerritos, Troy Dayak, Milan Mandaric (Builder), Paul Child, Gabbo Gavric and Peter Bridgwater (Builder). Members of the Hall of Fame are selected by a Hall of Fame Committee that consists of former players, administrators and members of the media. To be eligible for the Earthquakes Hall of Fame, a person must have contributed significantly to the success of the club on or off the field. People can be inducted in two categories: player or builder. The players inducted must have played a minimum of two years for the team and made a major impact on the field of play. Players inducted must also be people of the highest moral integrity. Their service to the community can also be factored into their election to the Hall. Builders can be coaches, owners or administrators and they must have contributed significantly to the growth of the club on or off the field. They also must be people of the highest moral integrity.
