‘Blue Moon’ Odom Wins Temporary Stay at Clinic

Former major league pitcher John (Blue Moon) Odom, who was to start a 90-day jail sentence Monday for selling cocaine, will be allowed instead to remain at an in-patient alcohol abuse clinic at least until Oct. 17, a judge ruled Friday.

Odom, 41, was convicted by a jury on July 31 of two felony counts of selling small amounts of cocaine to a co-worker at a since-closed Xerox plant in May of 1985. Orange County Superior Court Judge David H. Brickner sentenced Odom to 90 days in Orange County Jail but gave him until Monday to report.

After the sentencing on Sept. 5, the former Oakland A’s pitcher, who played in three World Series, 1972-74, admitted he was dependent on alcohol and checked himself into the Roque Center in Garden Grove for an eight-day detoxification treatment. After that, he enrolled in a 150-day alcohol abuse treatment program there.

On Friday, Odom’s attorney, Stephan DeSales, was to have asked the judge to modify Odom’s sentence to allow him to continue the treatment. But the hearing was postponed until Oct. 17 because the prosecutor, Deputy Dist. Atty. Gregg L. Prickett couldn’t attend.

Brickner allowed Odom to remain at the alcohol treatment center at least until the Oct. 17 hearing.

Tom Mulvey, Odom’s alcohol counselor who accompanied him to court on Friday, said he would make sure that Odom completes the program if his sentence is modified. DeSales noted that Odom would continue to be supervised by the county Probation Department and could be jailed immediately if he discontinued treatments.

Odom, looking calmer and thinner than in previous court appearances, said he has not had a drink since he entered the Roque Center 25 days ago.

“I need this program. It is really helping me,” he said.