The baseball world was left stunned on Friday when three-time World Series champion Terrance Gore passed away at the age of 34 after complications from what was supposed to be a routine surgery.
Gore’s wife, Britney, shared the news on social media, and the Kansas City Royals confirmed his passing on Saturday. He leaves behind his wife and three children.
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Among the many voices across baseball mourning Gore’s loss, former Royals general manager Dayton Moore delivered one of the most powerful tributes to a player he helped bring to the big leagues.
Moore was the architect of the Royals teams that reached the World Series in back-to-back years in 2014 and 2015, and he saw firsthand what Gore brought to the organization.
“We are all heartbroken to hear the devastating news of the passing of Terrance Gore,” Moore said. “He was unstoppable as a base stealer, and he inspired athletes throughout our country to pursue baseball.”
A Unique Career Built on Speed
Gore carved out one of the most unique careers in baseball history.
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Over eight Major League seasons, he appeared in 112 regular-season games while recording just 85 plate appearances and 16 career hits.
His batting average sat at .216 with zero home runs and only one RBI, but those numbers never told the real story.
Gore’s value came entirely from his legs, and once he got on base nobody could stop him.
He stole 43 bases in 52 attempts during the regular season while scoring 33 runs, and he was even more dangerous in October with a 5-for-6 mark on stolen base attempts across 11 playoff games.
Gore’s Time With the Royals
Gore’s story in Kansas City started when the Royals drafted him in the 20th round of the 2011 MLB Draft out of Gulf Coast State College.
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He nearly walked away from the game while in the minors, but Royals special assistant Mike Sweeney and others in the organization talked him into staying, and that decision changed his life forever.
He made his debut in 2014 and quickly became a fan favorite in Kansas City.
The 2015 Royals went 95-67 under manager Ned Yost and won the World Series over the New York Mets in five games, giving Gore his first championship ring.
He appeared in the ALDS and ALCS that postseason, stealing a key base against the Houston Astros as Kansas City marched toward its first title in 30 years.
After his time with the Royals, Gore kept collecting rings.
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He earned his second with the 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers, who went 43-17 in the shortened season, and then picked up his third with the 2021 Atlanta Braves, who finished 88-73 and won their first title since 1995.
After retiring, Gore settled in Panama City, Florida, where he worked as a speed and baseball trainer while coaching his son’s youth baseball team.
His passing at just 34 years old is a reminder of how fragile life can be, and Moore’s words capture what so many across the sport are feeling right now.
Terrance Gore was more than a base stealer in his time in baseball.
He was a champion, a teammate and an inspiration.