Sandy Alomar, Sr.

Infobox MLB retired

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name=Sandy Alomar, Sr.
position=Infielder
bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1943|10|19
debutdate=September 15
debutyear=1964
debutteam=Milwaukee Braves
finaldate=September 30
finalyear=1978
finalteam=Texas Rangers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.245
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1168
stat3label=SB
stat3value=227
teams=
*Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1964–1966)
*New York Mets (by|1967)
*Chicago White Sox (by|1967–by|1969)
*California/Anaheim Angels (by|1969–by|1974)
*New York Yankees (by|1974–by|1976)
*Texas Rangers (by|1977–by|1978)
highlights=
*All-star in 1970
*Holds Los Angeles Angels single season record for At Bats (689 in 1971)

Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Sr., or in the Spanish naming system Santos Alomar Conde (born October 19, 1943 in Salinas, Puerto Rico), is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves (1964-66); New York Mets (1967), Chicago White Sox (1967-69), California Angels (1969-74), New York Yankees (1974-76) and Texas Rangers (1977-78). Alomar was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He is the father of Major League catcher Sandy Jr. and former big league second baseman Roberto.

Through his career, Alomar was a valuable defensive player. His range and defensive positions were excellent but he was prone to poor throws after making fantastic stops. Alomar was able to play all infield and outfield positions. He led league second basemen in fielding percentage in 1975. Alomar's offense was below-average with a .245 career batting average, 13 home runs and 282 RBI in 1,481 games played. He was, however, a great bunter and gathered a significant number of bunt singles in his career.

Alomar enjoyed his best season in by|1970 with career highs in batting average (.260), home runs (4), runs (82), hits (179) and games played (162), and received an All-Star berth. Alomar was a smart and aggressive base-runner compiling 227 stolen bases including a career high 42 in 1971.

A durable player, Alomar was the Angels' everyday second baseman for five years. He twice played a full 162-game season and played in 648 consecutive games between 1969 and 1973.

Alomar had only one postseason at-bat in his career (with the Yankees in the by|1976 American League Championship Series).

After retiring, Alomar became a manager both in his homeland and minor leagues, and coached in the majors for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres. While in San Diego, Alomar coached his two sons, Sandy Jr. and Roberto [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/family/fam6.shtml] .

After the by|2004 season, Alomar was hired by the Mets as a bench coach and was moved to first base coach after the by|2005 season. In 2007, he was moved to third base coach. On June 17, 2008 he was once again made bench coach of the Mets by former bench coach and recently promoted manager Jerry Manuel.

Trivia

*Alomar was Nolan Ryan's second baseman in the first two of the Hall of Fame pitcher's seven no-hitters, both of which were pitched in by|1973. In by|1991 his son Roberto had the distinction of making the final out in Ryan's seventh no-hitter.
*Alomar also turned a double play on a Felipe Alou ground ball for the final outs of Clyde Wright's no-hitter in by|1970. Like Alomar, Wright (Jaret) and Alou (Moises) also had sons who would play in the Major Leagues. In another coincidence, Alomar's elder son Sandy Jr., Jaret Wright and Moisés Alou all participated in the 1997 World Series: Alomar Jr. was Wright's catcher with the Cleveland Indians, and Alou was a starting outfielder for the victorious Florida Marlins.
*Alomar was instrumental in the establishment of the production company Rocco's Jobbers. He was the senior member of the company's creative committee, and provided undisclosed financial contributions to the company's working capital.

Bibliography

*"How to Play the Infield", Grosset & Dunlap, 1972. ISBN 0-448-01166-2. (Co-Author)

ee also

* List of players from Puerto Rico in Major League Baseball
* List of second generation MLB players

External links

* [http://www.thebaseballpage.com/past/att/angels/default.htm Angels All-Time Team]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/A/Alomar_Sandy.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://tokyonewsline.com/sportsline/sandy_alomar.html Tokyo Newsline interview]