Melvin Mora: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Venezuelan baseball player (born 1972)}}

He was bad when he was a kid. His father taught him a lesson to be a good sport and stop playing around with his , well you know what. Also was caught eating Bambu coaco ( look it up)

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{family name hatnote|Mora|Diaz|lang=Spanish}}

{{Infobox MLB player|

{{Infobox baseball biography

bgcolor1=#000000|

| name = Melvin Mora

bgcolor2=#F87217|

| image = M Mora - Orioles v Twins 2008-09-13.jpg

textcolor1=white|

| caption = Mora with the Baltimore Orioles

textcolor2=white|

| position = [[Third baseman]]

name=Melvin Mora|

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=y|1972|2|2}}

image=Melvin_Mora1.jpg|

| birth_place = [[Yaracuý State]], [[Venezuela]]

width=300|

| bats = Right

position=Third base|

| throws = Right

team=Baltimore Orioles|

|debutleague = MLB

number=6|

| debutdate = May 30

bats=Right|

| debutyear = 1999

throws=Right|

| debutteam = New York Mets

birthdate={{birth date and age|1972|2|2}}|

|finalleague = MLB

debutdate=May 30|

| finaldate = June 29

debutyear=1999|

| finalyear = 2011

debutteam=New York Mets|

| finalteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

statyear=April 21, 2007|

|statleague = MLB

stat1label=[[Batting average|Avg]]|

| stat1label = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]

stat1value=.278|

| stat1value = .277

stat2label=[[Hit (baseball)|Hits]]|

| stat2label = [[Home run]]s

stat2value=1010|

| stat2value = 171

stat3label=[[Run (baseball)|Runs scored]]|

| stat3label = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]

stat3value=571|

| stat3value = 754

teams=<nowiki></nowiki>

| teams =

*[[New York Mets]] ([[1999 in baseball|1999]]-[[2000 in baseball|2000]])

* [[BaltimoreNew OriolesYork Mets]] ([[2000 in baseball{{mlby|1999}}–{{mlby|2000]]-present}})

* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|2000}}–{{mlby|2009}})

* [[Colorado Rockies]] ({{mlby|2010}})

* [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] ({{mlby|2011}})

| awards =

* 2× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2003]], [[2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2005]])

* [[Silver Slugger Award]] (2004)

* [[Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame]]

|hofcolor = #ffd700

|hoflink = Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

|hoftype = Venezuelan

|hofdate = [[Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum#2022|2022]]

|hofvote = 75%

|hofmethod = Contemporary Committee

}}

'''Melvin Mora''' (born [[February 2]], [[1972]] in [[Yaracuy State|Agua Negra, Yaracuy State]], [[Venezuela]]), affectionately nicknamed ''Melmo'' or ''Melvy'', is a [[Major League Baseball]] [[Third Baseman]] for the [[Baltimore Orioles]]. He bats and throws right-handed.

'''Melvin Mora Diaz''' (born February 2, 1972) is a [[Venezuelan-American]] former professional [[baseball]] [[infielder]]. He played for the [[New York Mets]], [[Baltimore Orioles]], [[Colorado Rockies]] and [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB).

From his debut in [[1999]] to 2003, Melvin Mora was known as a [[utility player]], playing all three outfield positions, shortstop, and second base. In 2004, Morathe wasOrioles designatedmade theMora their everyday third baseman, a position he hasoccupied playedthrough regularly since2009.

==Career==

Mora was signed out of Venezuela in [[1991 in sports|1991]]. After spending seven years in the [[Houston Astros|Astros]] [[Minor League Baseball|minors]] system and couple months in Chinese (Taiwan) Professional Baseball League (CPBL)×, he signed as a [[free agent]] with the [[New York Mets|Mets]] in [[1998 in sports|1998]] and made his major league debut in the [[1999 in sports|1999]] season. With his ability to play all three [[outfield]] positions, [[shortstop]], [[second base]] and [[third base|third]], Mora was considered a valuable man to have around.

===New York Mets===

He was infamously traded by the Mets to Baltimore in midseason 2000 with two minor league players and Mike Kinkade for shortstop [[Mike Bordick]].

Mora was signed out of Venezuela as an amateur free agent in 1991. After spending seven years in the [[Houston Astros|Astros]] [[farm system]] and few months in the [[Chinese Professional Baseball League]] with the [[Mercuries Tigers]], he signed as a [[free agent]] with the [[New York Mets|Mets]] in [[1998 Major League Baseball season|1998]] and made his major league debut in the [[1999 Major League Baseball season|1999 season]]. Mora made himself more valuable by being able to play all three [[outfield]] positions, [[shortstop]], [[second base]] and [[third base|third]].

[[File:Melvin Mora (1999) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Mora with the [[New York Mets]] in 1999]]

Melvin Mora continued to be used as a utility player in Baltimore, always showing promise and hints of ability to play regularly at any position, but never playing at a superb level that could justify giving him the playing time opportunity to do so consistently. Things changed when an injury-depleted Orioles team used Mora almost exclusively in left field, and Mora responded with the best stretch of his career. He reached base in 32 straight games while using a 23-game hitting streak to temporarily become the [[American League]] batting leader. Finally excelling as a hitter, Mora was chosen for his first [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] selection. Mora's season was cut short due to injuries (a bruised wrist and a partially torn ligament in his left knee), but

In 1999, he scored the winning run of the final game of the year for the Mets on a wild pitch by the Pirates' [[Brad Clontz]], which propelled the [[1999 New York Mets season|Mets]] to a one-game playoff with [[1999 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati]], which they won.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 3, 1999 |title=Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets Box Score, October 3, 1999 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN199910030.shtml |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 1999 |title=New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, October 4, 1999 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN199910040.shtml |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

finished with a .317 batting average, 15 home runs, and a .418 [[On base percentage|on-base percentage]] in 96 games.

Mora became a cult hero in New York as he starred in the 1999 National League Championship Series, batting a clutch .429 with an OPS of 1.143, and throwing runners out at home plate and third base from his right field position.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Curry |first1=Jack |date=June 19, 2003 |title=BASEBALL; Mora Hits the Right Spots |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/19/sports/baseball-mora-hits-the-right-spots.html |access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref>

Mora's 2003 season proved that he could be a consistent hitter at the Major League level. In 2004, Mora became the Orioles' regular third baseman and enjoyed his most productive season in the majors. Mora hit a career-high .340, finishing second in the [[American League|AL]] batting race to [[Ichiro Suzuki]]'s .372 mark; led the league hitters in on base percentage (.419); ranked 5th in [[slugging average]] (.562) and [[On-base plus slugging|OPS]] (.981); 6th in [[Run (baseball)|runs]] (111), [[Double (baseball)|doubles]] (41) and [[times on base]] (264); 8th in [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] (187), and 9th in [[total bases]] (264). His 27 home runs and 104 RBI were also career-highs, while leading his team in batting average, runs, on base percentage, slugging average and OPS. At third base, he improved and became more consistent as the season wore on.

In 2000, shortstop [[Rey Ordoñez]] broke his arm, ending Ordoñez's season. Mora was moved to shortstop, where he struggled defensively.

In 2005, Mora once again hit 27 home runs, although his batting average and on base percentage dropped.

===Baltimore Orioles===

In a seven-year career through 2005, Mora is a .281 hitter with a .363 on-base percentage, 103 home runs and 400 RBI in 860 games.

====2000&ndash;03====

==World Baseball Classic==

The Mets traded Mora to Baltimore on July 28, 2000, with two minor league players and [[Mike Kinkade]] for veteran shortstop [[Mike Bordick]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Melvin Mora |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmoram002.htm |access-date=June 23, 2009 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Giobbi |first=Alex |date=July 19, 2012 |title=New York Mets: The Franchise's 5 Worst Midseason Trades in History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1264802-new-york-mets-the-franchises-5-worst-midseason-trades-in-history |access-date=August 29, 2021 |website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> Used as a utility player in Baltimore, things changed in 2003, when an injury-depleted Orioles team began using Mora almost exclusively in left field, and Mora responded with the best stretch of his career. He reached base in 32 straight games while using a 23-game hitting streak to temporarily become the [[American League]] batting leader.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melvin Mora 2003 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=morame01&t=b&year=2003 |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> Finally excelling as a hitter, Mora was chosen for his first [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] selection. Mora's season was cut short due to injuries (a bruised wrist and a partially torn ligament in his left knee), but finished with a .317 batting average, 15 home runs, and a .418 [[on-base percentage]] in 96 games.<ref name=":0" />

====2004====

Melvin Mora agreed to represent his native country, [[Venezuela]], in the 2006 [[World Baseball Classic]], joining fellow Venezuelan major Leaguers [[Bobby Abreu]], [[Edgardo Alfonzo]], [[Miguel Cairo]], [[Omar Vizquel]], [[Carlos Guillen]], [[Johan Santana]], [[Freddy Garcia]], [[Carlos Silva]], [[Carlos Zambrano]], [[Victor Zambrano]], and [[Francisco Rodriguez]]. He later pulled out after being denied the third-base position in favor of [[Miguel Cabrera]].

Mora's 2003 season proved that he could be a consistent hitter at the major league level. In 2004, Mora became the Orioles' regular third baseman and enjoyed his most productive season in the majors. Mora hit a career-high .340, finishing second in the [[American League|AL]] batting race to [[Ichiro Suzuki]]'s .372 mark; led the league in on-base percentage (.419); ranked fifth in [[slugging average]] (.562) and [[On-base plus slugging|OPS]] (.981); sixth in [[Run (baseball)|runs]] (111), [[Double (baseball)|doubles]] (41) and [[times on base]] (264); eighth in [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] (187), and ninth in [[total bases]] (264).<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 American League Batting Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2004-batting-leaders.shtml |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> His 27 home runs and 104 RBI were also career-highs, while leading his team in batting average, runs, on-base percentage, slugging average and OPS.<ref name=":0" /> At third base, he improved and became more consistent as the season wore on. Mora finished 18th in [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|American League MVP]] voting and won a [[Silver Slugger Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2004.shtml |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

====2005&ndash;07====

[[File:Melvin Mora Baltimore Orioles.jpg|thumb|Mora with the Baltimore Orioles in 2006]]

In 2005, Mora once again hit 27 home runs, although his [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] and on-base percentage dropped.<ref name=":0" /> On May 19, 2006, Mora agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal that included a no-trade clause because Mora did not want to move his family to another city.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 19, 2006 |title=Mora signs three-year, $25M extension with Orioles |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2451156 |access-date=June 23, 2009 |website=[[ESPN]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

In 2006, Mora's home run total dropped to 16, and again dropped in 2007 to 14. Mora also saw his batting average fall to .274 for both seasons.<ref name=":0" />

====2008====

Mora was named American League Player of the Month for August 2008. Mora batted .418 (41-for-98) with eight home runs and had an MLB-leading 32 RBIs in 24 games. He posted a .765 slugging percentage and a .455 on-base percentage, with 17 extra-base hits, including eight doubles. Mora had a 13 multi-hit games in August 2008 and maintained an eight-game hitting streak from August 1–10.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Fordin |first=Spencer |date=September 4, 2008 |title=Mora named Player of the Month |url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080904&content_id=3418869&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121223905/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080904&content_id=3418869&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal |archive-date=January 21, 2012 |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=[[Baltimore Orioles]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> On August 17 at [[Comerica Park|Detroit]], Mora went 5-for-6 with two doubles, two home runs, four runs scored and 6 RBI during a 16&ndash;8 Orioles win.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zaccardi |first=Nick |date=August 17, 2008 |title=Orioles overwhelm Tigers in finale |url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080817&content_id=3323454&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819190601/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080817&content_id=3323454&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal |archive-date=August 19, 2008 |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=[[Baltimore Orioles]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> Overall, Mora had five games in August in which he collected four-or-more RBIs.<ref name=":1" /> Mora injured his [[hamstring]] on August 29, 2008, missing the final games of his impressive month.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fordin |first=Spencer |date=August 30, 2008 |title=Mora expects to miss at least a week |url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080830&content_id=3390943&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903093630/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080830&content_id=3390943&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal |archive-date=September 3, 2008 |access-date=May 17, 2022 |website=[[Baltimore Orioles]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref>

====2009====

On September 18, 2009, [[Brooks Robinson]] made a rare appearance at Camden Yards to honor Mora for moving into second all-time in games played at third base by an Oriole (behind only the Hall of Famer Brooks, himself).<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2009 |title=Red Sox win sixth straight vs. O's, take command of wild-card race |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/290918101 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518190828/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/290918101 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |access-date=May 18, 2022 |website=[[ESPN]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref> He presented Mora with the third base from the game he moved into second.

In 2009, he led all major league starting third basemen in [[range factor]], at 3.14.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 Regular Season MLB Baseball 3B Fielding Statistics - Major League Baseball - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/fielding/_/year/2009/position/3b/sort/rangeFactor/order/true |access-date=October 6, 2009 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

Mora's option was declined by the Orioles on October 29, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 29, 2009 |title=No option: Orioles' Mora eligible for free agency |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4606409 |access-date=May 18, 2022 |website=[[ESPN]] |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Colorado Rockies===

On February 5, 2010, the [[Colorado Rockies]] signed Mora to a one-year, $1.275 million contract.<ref>{{cite web |last=Harding |first=Thomas |date=January 31, 2010 |title=Rockies agree to one year deal with Mora |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100131&content_id=8001834&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203055542/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100131&content_id=8001834&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=February 3, 2010 |access-date=February 1, 2010 |website=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2010 |title=Rockies agree to terms with Mora |url=http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20100205&content_id=8031096&vkey=pr_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212072205/http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20100205&content_id=8031096&vkey=pr_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col |archive-date=February 12, 2010 |access-date=February 5, 2010 |website=[[Colorado Rockies]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> He played in 113 games for the NL West third place Rockies (83-79) and batted .285 with seven home runs and 45 RBI.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Melvin Mora Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morame01.shtml |access-date= |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 Colorado Rockies Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/COL/2010.shtml |access-date= |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Arizona Diamondbacks===

Mora signed a one-year $2.35 million contract with the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] on December 6, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Steve |date=December 6, 2010 |title=Mora signs one-year deal with Arizona |url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101206&content_id=16262984&vkey=news_ari&c_id=ari |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211134656/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101206&content_id=16262984&vkey=news_ari&c_id=ari |archive-date=December 11, 2010 |access-date=December 11, 2010 |website=[[Arizona Diamondbacks]]}}</ref> He was expected to replace [[Mark Reynolds (baseball)|Mark Reynolds]] as the starting third baseman.<ref name="bmbloommlbcom">{{cite web |last=Bloom |first=Barry M. |date=June 29, 2011 |title=D-Backs release veteran Mora |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110629&content_id=21184412&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107040221/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110629&content_id=21184412&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=August 9, 2011 |work=[[MLB.com]] |publisher=[[MLB Advanced Media]]}}</ref> Mora missed a few days of [[spring training]] as a precautionary measure despite not having any serious injuries after his automobile was struck from behind by another vehicle on [[Arizona State Route 101]] on March 7, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bollinger |first=Rhett |date=March 7, 2011 |title=D-backs keeping Mora out after car accident |url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110307&content_id=16852554&notebook_id=16852556&vkey=notebook_ari&c_id=ari |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110308065301/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110307&content_id=16852554&notebook_id=16852556&vkey=notebook_ari&c_id=ari |archive-date=March 8, 2011 |access-date=March 8, 2011 |website=[[Arizona Diamondbacks]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref> He was in the starting lineup on [[Opening Day]], scoring a run while going hitless in five at-bats in a 7&ndash;6 victory over the Rockies at [[Coors Field]] on April 1.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 1, 2011 |title=Arizona Diamondbacks at Colorado Rockies Box Score, April 1, 2011 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL201104010.shtml |access-date=May 18, 2022 |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |language=en}}</ref> His playing time eventually was limited due to the emergence of [[Ryan Roberts (baseball)|Ryan Roberts]]. After a 6&ndash;2 loss to the [[Cleveland Indians]] at [[Chase Field]] on June 29 in which he struck out as a [[pinch hitter]] for [[Zach Duke]] with one [[out (baseball)|out]] and a runner on first base in the fifth [[inning]], he was given his unconditional release effective the following day. He batted .228 with no [[home run]]s and 16 RBI in 42 games with the Diamondbacks.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="bmbloommlbcom"/> He allegedly officially announced his retirement as an active player on December 29, 2011, though in mid-January, Mora corrected that claim by saying he still wished to play in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Star |first=Jon |date=December 29, 2011 |title=Longtime Oriole Mora retires after 13 seasons |url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111229&content_id=26244988&vkey=news_bal&c_id=bal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109091158/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111229&content_id=26244988&vkey=news_bal&c_id=bal |archive-date=January 9, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2012 |website=[[Baltimore Orioles]] |publisher=[[MLB.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Connolly |first=Dan |date=January 11, 2012 |title=Mora says he isn't retired from major league baseball |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-xpm-2012-01-11-bal-orioles-melvin-mora-says-he-isnt-retired-from-major-league-baseball-20120111-story.html |access-date=January 11, 2012 |website=[[Baltimore Sun]] |language=en}}</ref>

===World Baseball Classic===

Mora agreed to represent his native country, [[Venezuela]], in the [[2006 World Baseball Classic]], but pulled out after being denied the third base position in favor of [[Miguel Cabrera]].

==Highlights==

*Twice2× All-Star (2003, 2005)

*2× American League [[MLB Player of the Month|Player of the Month]] (May 2004, August 2008)

*First player to hit a home run off the top of the foul pole at Camden Yards

==PersonalCareer triviastatistics==

In 1,556 games over 13 seasons, Mora posted a .277 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (1,503-for-5,422) with 794 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 283 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], 19 [[triple (baseball)|triples]], 171 [[home runs]], 754 [[Run batted in|RBI]], 93 [[stolen bases]], 520 [[bases on balls]], a .350 [[on-base percentage]] and a .431 [[slugging percentage]].<ref name=":0" /> He finished his career with a .966 [[fielding percentage]] playing at all infield positions except catcher and at all three outfield positions. In nine postseason games, he hit .400 (6-for-15) with four runs, a home run and 2 RBI.<ref name=":0" />

==Personal life==

* When he was seven years old, his father was violently murdered in Venezuela by men who mistook him for somebody else.

When he was seven years old, his father was murdered in front of him in Venezuela in a case of mistaken identity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Armstrong |first1=Jim |date=March 22, 2010 |title=Rockies' Mora a five-tool player off the field |work=[[The Denver Post]] |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2010/03/22/rockies-mora-a-five-tool-player-off-the-field/ |access-date=July 18, 2021}}</ref>

On July 28, 2001, Mora's wife Gisel gave birth to [[multiple births|quintuplets]] at [[Johns Hopkins Hospital]] in [[Baltimore, Maryland]]. They also have an older daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Klingaman |first=Mike |date=June 21, 2009 |title=MORA'S ABUNDANCE OF FATHERLY JOY |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2009-06-21-0906200124-story.html |access-date=June 21, 2009 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |language=en}}</ref> The family resides in [[Fallston, Maryland]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Connolly |first=Dan |date=January 5, 2010 |title=Three teams showing interest in Mora, his agent says |page=3 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2010-01-05-1001040073-story.html |access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>

*On [[July 28]], [[2001]], Mora and wife Gisel gave birth to [[quintuplets]] at [[Johns Hopkins Hospital]] in [[Baltimore, Maryland]]. The babies, three girls and two boys, were named Jada Priscilla, Rebekah Alesha, Genesis Raquel, Christian Emmanuel, and Matthew David.

In the Orioles media guide, Mora stated his most embarrassing moment as a player came in his rookie year in 1999 when, knowing little English, he thought his manager [[Bobby Valentine]] had told him to go to left field when he was actually being told to go to second base.{{source needed|date=August 2021}}

Mora was naturalized as a [[Citizenship of the United States|United States citizen]] in Baltimore on May 10, 2017. He holds U.S.-Venezuela dual citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Encina |first=Eduardo A. |date=May 10, 2017 |title=Orioles Hall of Famer Melvin Mora on becoming U.S. citizen: 'I finally did it' |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-orioles-hall-of-famer-melvin-mora-becomes-u-s-citizen-in-baltimore-20170510-story.html |access-date=May 10, 2017 |website=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball|List of players from Venezuela in ''MLB'']]

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Baseballstats|mlb=206551|espn=4078|br=m/morame01|fangraphs=157|brm=mora--001mel}}

* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6239 ESPN] - profile and daily updates

*[https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/M/Pmoram002.htm Retrosheet]

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/morame01.shtml Baseball Reference] - career statistics and analysis

*[http://www.cpbl.com.tw/players/person.html?player_id=T088&teamno=T01 CPBL]

* [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/orioles/2004-06-17-cover-mora_x.htm USA Today] Orioles' Mora a Nº 1 dad

:

* [http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/dome/0209/picture_this.cfm Johns Hopkins Hospital Dome] - Mora Quintuples

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{{s-ach}}

{{succession box | before = [[Carlos Beltrán]] | title = [[Player of the Month|American League Player of the Month]]| years = [[May]], [[2004]] | after = [[Iván Rodríguez]]}}

{{succession box | before = [[Carlos Beltrán]]<br>[[Miguel Cabrera]] | title = [[MLB Player of the Month|American League Player of the Month]]| years = May 2004<br>August 2008 | after = [[Iván Rodríguez]]<br>[[Shin-Soo Choo]]}}

{{end box}}

{{s-end}}

{{AL 3B Silver Slugger Award}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mora, Melvin}}

{{Venezuela roster 2009 World Baseball Classic}}

{{Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame}}

{{Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mora, Melvin}}

[[Category:1972 births]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:American League All-Stars]]

[[Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players]]

[[Category:Asheville Tourists players]]

[[Category:Baltimore Orioles players]]

[[Category:LivingBowie peopleBaysox players]]

[[Category:MajorColorado leagueRockies third basemenplayers]]

[[Category:Gulf Coast Astros players]]

[[Category:Gulf Coast Orioles players]]

[[Category:Jackson Generals (Texas League) players]]

[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Venezuela]]

[[Category:20th-century Venezuelan sportsmen]]

[[Category:Major League Baseball third basemen]]

[[Category:Mercuries Tigers players]]

[[Category:Navegantes del Magallanes players]]

[[Category:New Orleans Zephyrs players]]

[[Category:New York Mets players]]

[[Category:VenezuelanNorfolk baseballTides players]]

[[Category:Osceola Astros players]]

[[Category:People from Fallston, Maryland]]

[[es:Melvin Mora]]

[[Category:Sportspeople from Yaracuy]]

[[ja:メルビン・モーラ]]

[[Category:Silver Slugger Award winners]]

[[Category:St. Lucie Mets players]]

[[Category:Tucson Toros players]]

[[Category:Venezuelan emigrants to the United States]]

[[Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Taiwan]]

[[Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States]]

[[Category:World Baseball Classic players of Venezuela]]

[[Category:2009 World Baseball Classic players]]

[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]