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Sandy Alomar Sr.

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Alomar and the second or maternal family name is Conde.
Sandy Alomar Sr.
Alomar with the New York Mets in 2009
Second baseman
Born: (1943-10-19) October 19, 1943 (age 81)
Salinas, Puerto Rico
Batted: Switch
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 15, 1964, for the Milwaukee Braves
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1978, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Batting average.245
Home runs13
Runs batted in282
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
As player

As coach

Career highlights and awards

Santos Alomar Conde (/ˈæləmɑːr/; Spanish pronunciation: [aloˈmaɾ]; born October 19, 1943), known as Sandy Alomar Sr., is a Puerto Rican former second baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for fourteen seasons. Alomar was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He is the father of former Major League catcher and current Cleveland Guardians coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar.

Early life

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Alomar was born on October 19, 1943, in Salinas, Puerto Rico, the youngest in a family of nine. He attended Luis Munoz Rivera High School in Salinas.[1][2] He had three older brothers that played professional baseball, though not in the major leagues.[3]

Professional baseball career

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Minor leagues

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Braves farm system

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Alomar signed as an amateur free agent with the Milwaukee Braves in 1960.[4] He was assigned to the Class D Davenport Braves in 1961 when he was 17-years old. He played shortstop and had a .278 batting average in 77 games.[5] In 1962, he played for the Class C Boise Braves of the Pioneer League, where he had a .329 batting average while continuing to play shortstop; with three home runs, 83 runs scored and 72 runs batted in (RBI).[6] He was the Pioneer League's most valuable player.[7] His fielding percentage was below .900 both seasons.[5][8]

Alomar was promoted to the Double-A Austin Senators in 1963. He hit .292, with five home runs, with 84 runs, 65 RBI and 15 stolen bases. His fielding percentage improved to .917 at shortstop.[9] The following season he was promoted to the Triple-A Denver Bears of the Pacific Coast League. His fielding percentage at shortstop improved to .944; while batting .263, with 86 runs, 40 RBI, three homes runs and 20 stolen bases in 34 attempts.[10]

He was called up to the Braves in September 1964 and made his major league debut on September 15, playing shortstop. He had a base hit in his first game, and played 19 total games at shortstop for the Braves in 1964.[11][12][13] In 1965, he split the season between the Milwaukee Braves (67 games) and the Triple-A Atlanta Crackers (66 games) and hit below .250 for both teams. He played both shortstop and second base for the Crackers and the Braves.[11][14][15]

Alomar played the majority of the 1966 season with the Triple-A Richmond Braves, batting .243 in over 400 plate appearances, and now playing third base as well as at shortstop and second base.[16] The Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, and Alomar played in 31 games for the Braves at second base and shortstop, batting .091.[11]

Mets farm system

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On February 25, 1967, Alomar became part of an earlier trade between the Braves and Houston Astros that sent Eddie Mathews and Arnold Umbach to Houston for Dave Nicholson and Bob Bruce. Before the 1967 season started, Alomar was traded again to the New York Mets for Derrell Griffith.[4] Alomar played the majority of the 1967 season with the Jacksonville Suns, the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, under manager Bill Virdon, playing principally at shortstop (though he played the other three infield positions as well) and batting only .209.[17][15] He joined the Mets for 15 games, going hitless in 22 at bats.[18] Alomar had thought about quitting U.S. baseball when he was told he was a good fielder but could not hit and was sent to the minor leagues that year; but realized he had a family to provide for and continued to play.[2]

Winter baseball

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Alomar played in the Puerto Rican Winter League during most of his minor and major league career.[7][2]

Major leagues

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Chicago White Sox

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On August 15, 1967, Alomar was traded for the third time that season. The Mets traded Alomar, Ken Boyer and a player to be named later to the American League's (AL) Chicago White Sox for Bill Southworth and a player to be named later (J.C. Martin).[4] White Sox coach Grover Resinger had coached Alomar in the Braves organization, and believed Alomar was a major league player, recommending him to the White Sox.[2] Alomar played in 12 games for the White Sox that year.[19] In discussing being a member of four different teams in that one year (1967), Alomar later said the year was a nightmare for him, and he felt as if he was being treated "like a piece of garbage".[2]

Alomar played his first full major league season with the White Sox in 1968 (during which Resinger and manager Eddie Stanky were fired). He had a .253 batting average in 133 games with 395 plate appearances.[20][2] He played mostly at second base, with a .958 fielding percentage, but tied for the most errors by an American League second baseman with Rod Carew (18). He also played third base and shortstop.[11][21]

California Angels

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Alomar began the 1969 season with the White Sox, playing in 22 games.[22] Alomar's former winter league manager with Ponce in 1968-69, Rocky Bridges, recommended to the Angels that they trade for Alomar.[7][2] On May 14, 1969, he and pitcher Bob Priddy were traded to the California Angels for second baseman Bobby Knoop. Knoop was a well regarded fielder, but was hitting .179 at the time of the trade, and Alomar had limited playing time with the White Sox.[4][23] Angels' manager Lefty Phillips showed confidence in Alomar.[24] Alomar became the Angels full-time second baseman, with a .969 fielding percentage. In nearly 600 plate appearances, he hit .250, with 60 runs, 30 RBI and 18 stolen bases.[25][11]

In 1970 Alomar hit .250, with two home runs, a career-high 82 runs, and a career-high tying 162 games played. He received an All-Star berth, with one at bat and two assists in the game. He also led the American League in plate appearances (735).[11][26][27] He was third in the AL in stolen bases (35).[28] He had a .979 fielding percentage and led all major league second basemen in double plays (119).[11][29]

Alomar played in all 162 games again in 1971, leading the major leagues in plate appearances (739) and at bats (689). He hit a full-season career-high .260, to go along with career highs in home runs (4), RBI (42) and stolen bases (39).[11] He was again third highest in the AL in stolen bases.[30] He had a career-high .989 fielding percentage, second best among AL second basemen.[31][11]

In 1972, Alomar was again the Angels starting second baseman, playing in 155 games.[32] He hit .239 and had over 660 plate appearances for the fourth consecutive year. He had a .979 fielding percentage at second base, and his 154 games at second base were the most by any major league second baseman that year.[11][33]

Alomar played in 648 consecutive games for the Angels from May 16, 1969 through May 20, 1973, and was known to his teammates as the "Iron Pony".[34] One report stated he did not play on July 28, 1972, but the box score from that date shows that although he did not start that game, he did play in the game.[35][36] Alomar played in 110 games at second base and 31 at shortstop in 1973, batting .238. He had less than 500 at bats for the first time since joining the Angels.[11]

New York Yankees

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In 1974, he had been replaced by Denny Doyle at second base for the Angels. After playing in only 46 games, with less than 60 at bats, the Angels sold his contract rights to the New York Yankees in early July 1974.[37][38][4] He became the Yankees starting second baseman, playing in 76 games. He hit .269, with a .977 fielding percentage at second base.[39][11] He continued as the Yankees starting second baseman in 1975, batting .239 with 61 runs.[40] He led AL second basemen in fielding percentage in 1975 (.985).[41]

Alomar became a reserve again in 1976, chiefly at second base behind Willie Randolph, but also playing first base, third base, shortstop and the outfield.[11][42] The Yankees won the AL pennant three games to two over the Kansas City Royals, before losing in four straight games to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1976 World Series.[43][44] The only postseason at bat of Alomar's career came with the Yankees, during Game 4 of the 1976 American League Championship Series.[45] Alomar came in as a pinch-runner for designated hitter Carlos May in Game 5, and was caught stealing by Royals' catcher Buck Martinez.[46] He was standing on-deck in the bottom of the ninth inning when the Yankees' Chris Chambliss hit the championship series-winning home run in Game 5.[47]

Texas Rangers

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After the 1976 season, the Yankees traded Alomar to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Greg Pryor, Brian Doyle and cash.[4] He played two years for the Rangers as a designated hitter, reserve infielder and occasional reserve outfielder. The Rangers released Alomar after the 1978 season.[11][4]

Career

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Throughout 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.[citation needed] Alomar was able to play all infield and outfield positions. Alomar's offense was below-average with a .245 career batting average, 13 home runs and 282 RBI in 1,481 games played.[11] He was, however, a great bunter and gathered a significant number of bunt singles in his career.[citation needed] Alomar was a smart and aggressive base-runner[citation needed] compiling 227 stolen bases in 307 attempts, his 73.941% success rate ranking 304th all-time (through 2024).[48]

Manager and coach

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After retiring, Alomar became a manager both in his homeland and the minor leagues. While working in the Chicago Cubs organization, Alomar also managed the San Juan Senators of the Puerto Rican Winter League, including managing his son Roberto.[49][50] He managed several winter league teams, and was Sandy Jr.'s manager as well as Roberto's.[51] He also managed the Puerto Rican national team.[52] He managed the Rookie League Gulf Coast Cubs from 1995-96. He coached in the majors for the Chicago Cubs (2000-02), Colorado Rockies (2003-04) and San Diego Padres.[53][54][55]

Alomar began coaching in the Padres' minor league system in 1984, and in 1985 Alomar coached both of his sons with the Single-A Charleston Rainbows.[52][56] Alomar was the Padres' third base coach from 1986-90, and coached Sandy Jr. during the son's brief eight games with the Padres in 1988-89, and Roberto who started for the Padres at second base for three years (1988-90).[52][57][58]

After the 2004 season, Alomar was hired by the Mets as a bench coach and was moved to first base coach after the 2005 season. In 2007, he was moved to third base coach. On June 17, 2008, Mets manager Willie Randolph was fired. Mets bench coach Jerry Manuel was made manager, and Alomar was once again made bench coach.[53][59][60] Following the 2009 season, Alomar was let go by the Mets and replaced by Dave Jauss.[61][62]

Family legacy

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Alomar and his wife Maria have three children, including sons Sandy Jr. and Roberto Alomar. As children, the two Alomar boys were raised around baseball in Puerto Rico and the United States. Among other things, they played tapeball with Barry Bonds, son of Alomar's 1978 Rangers' teammate Bobby Bonds, in the Rangers' clubhouse. The Alomar sons eventually followed their father into professional baseball, after growing up in Salinas.[7][63][52][64] During his 20-year major league career, Sandy Jr. was a six-time all-star catcher, who was AL rookie-of-the-year in 1990.[65] Younger brother Roberto became a Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman.[66] He was a 12-time all-star over his 17-year career, a lifetime .300 hitter, and winner of 10 Gold Glove Awards.[67]

See also

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[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sandy Alomar Sr..

References

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  1. ^ "Sandy Alomar Stats, Height, Weight, Research & History | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Wiebusch, John (June 20, 1970). "Sandy proved he had more than a chance". Finger Lakes Times (Geneva, New York). p. 16.
  3. ^ Pepe, Phil (March 19, 1975). "Alomar Glad to Do His Bit For Friend He Seldom Saw". Daily News (New York, New York). p. 230.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Sandy Alomar Trades and Transactions by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "1961 Davenport Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  6. ^ "1962 Boise Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d "An Angel Sheds Unwanted Disguise". Press and Sun-Bulletin (Binghampton, New York). June 21, 1972. p. 18.
  8. ^ "1962 Boise Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  9. ^ "1963 Austin Senators Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  10. ^ "1964 Denver Bears Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Sandy Alomar Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  12. ^ "St. Louis Cardinals vs Milwaukee Braves Box Score: September 15, 1964". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  13. ^ "1964 Milwaukee Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  14. ^ "1965 Atlanta Crackers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Sandy Alomar Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  16. ^ "1966 Richmond Braves Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  17. ^ "1967 Jacksonville Suns Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  18. ^ "1967 New York Mets Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  19. ^ "1967 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  20. ^ "1968 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  21. ^ "1968 American League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  22. ^ "1969 Chicago White Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  23. ^ "Angels Trade Bobby Knoop To Chicago". The Evening Sun (Baltimore, Maryland). May 14, 1969. p. 66.
  24. ^ "Angels Happy – In Defeat". The Register (Santa Ana, California). October 1, 1969. p. 35.
  25. ^ "1969 California Angels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  26. ^ "1970 All-Star Game Box Score, July 14". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  27. ^ "1970 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  28. ^ "1970 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  29. ^ "1970 American League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  30. ^ "1971 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  31. ^ "1971 American League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  32. ^ "1972 California Angels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  33. ^ "1972 American League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  34. ^ "Each team's all-time consecutive games leader". MLB.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  35. ^ "Texas Rangers vs California Angels Box Score: July 28, 1972". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  36. ^ "Names In The News, Sandy Alomar". The Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana). July 29, 1972. p. 13.
  37. ^ Winkles, Bob (January 19, 1974). "Valentine key to Angels' success". Anaheim Bulletin. p. 15.
  38. ^ "1974 California Angels Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  39. ^ "1974 New York Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  40. ^ "1975 New York Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  41. ^ "1975 American League Fielding Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  42. ^ "1976 New York Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  43. ^ "1976 ALCS - New York Yankees over Kansas City Royals (3-2)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  44. ^ "1976 World Series - Cincinnati Reds over New York Yankees (4-0)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  45. ^ "1976 American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 4, Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees: October 13, 1976". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  46. ^ "1976 American League Championship Series (ALCS) Game 5, Kansas City Royals vs New York Yankees: October 14, 1976". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  47. ^ Klein, Moss (October 15, 1976). "Chambliss HR In 9th Wins It". The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey). pp. 43, 48.
  48. ^ "Career Leaders & Records for SB %". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  49. ^ Jensen, Mike (December 8, 1996). "Where time stands still and 'beisbol' still rules". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. C1, C8.
  50. ^ Jensen, Mike (December 8, 1996). "For Alomar, a trip home most welcome". The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. C8.
  51. ^ Hoynes, Paul (December 18, 1994). "Cuba, U.S. help game flourish on the islands". The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio). p. 70.
  52. ^ a b c d Gordon, Jeff (May 10, 1988). "Alomar Family Load Of Talent". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 12.
  53. ^ a b "Sandy Alomar MLB Baseball Statistics | The Baseball Cube". www.thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  54. ^ "1995 GCL Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  55. ^ "1996 GCL Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  56. ^ "1985 Charleston Rainbows Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  57. ^ "Sandy Alomar Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  58. ^ "Roberto Alomar Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  59. ^ Graziano, Dan (June 18, 2008). "Mets Strike Out Again". The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey). p. 41.
  60. ^ Cothran, Jerry (June 18, 2008). "Under Manuel team doesn't look much different". The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey). p. 41.
  61. ^ Rubin, Adam (November 18, 2009). "Wally Out". Daily News (New York, New York). p. 56.
  62. ^ "Jauss set to serve as bench coach". November 20, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  63. ^ Bona, Marc (July 9, 2019). "The Alomars - Sandy Sr., Sandy Jr. and Robbie - talk baseball, memories, family at All-Star Week". cleveland.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  64. ^ "1978 Texas Rangers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  65. ^ "Sandy Alomar Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  66. ^ "Alomar, Roberto | Baseball Hall of Fame". baseballhall.org. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  67. ^ "Roberto Alomar Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
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