AUBURN | It was a small gift but one that’s meant the world to Brody Moore.
And the senior shortstop made sure he was wearing the special hat Wednesday afternoon before Auburn departed for the 2022 College World Series in Omaha, Neb..
“This was actually my grandads,” said Moore. “He gave it to me before he died. I wear it to every road trip we go on.”
Tony Moore passed away last October. He was the father of Brandon Moore, an All-SEC shortstop at Auburn from 1991-94, and grandfather of Brody, who has started 128 games for AU over the last four seasons.
“He was everything to me,” said Moore. “He taught me everything I know. He’s gone now but I know he’ll be watching.”
Family is what led Moore to Auburn and it’s a legacy he was determined to carry forward. He had to wait three years but finally got the No. 4 jersey this season. It’s the one that his father wore at Auburn including the 1994 CWS.
“Rankin (Woley) finally got out of here so I finally got to wear No. 4. Just really special,” Moore said. “I knew when I came here out of high school, that’s the number I wanted to be just to carry on that legacy. To be able to carry on that legacy and have our last game in Omaha this year is really special.”
As a key team leader, Moore has passed on many of those lessons to his AU teammates. He’s helped the Tigers develop their underdog, gritty identity this season.
Whether it’s out-scoring three Regional opponents 51-18 or scratching out four run on just three hits in the Super Regional-clinching game, AU continues to find different ways to win.
The Tigers have 21 comeback wins this season including the first game of the Super Regional against No. 3 Oregon State when the Beavers scored four runs in the first inning.
Moore is setting the tone for AU’s sixth-ever CWS series appearance.
“We’re not done yet. That’s our theme,” he said. “The job’s not finished and we’re going up there to prove something.”
Auburn will practice at Charles Schwab Field Omaha Thursday afternoon. The Tiger play Ole Miss Saturday at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
