Former All-Star infielder Sandy Alomar Sr. has passed away, per an announcement from the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League. He was 81 years old and would have turned 82 this coming weekend.
The father of big leaguers Roberto Alomar and Sandy Alomar Jr., Sandy Sr. enjoyed a 15-year playing career of his own. From 1964-78, he suited up for the Angels, Yankees, White Sox, Expos, Rangers and Mets. The elder Alomar made the 1970 All-Star team as a member of the Angels during a season in which he batted .251/.302/.293 and played in all 162 games while providing quality defense and 35 stolen bases.
In all, Alomar hit .245/.290/.288 in 5160 major league plate appearances across his decade and a half as a big league player. He played primarily second base but also logged more than 1200 innings at shortstop and made a handful of appearances at the hot corner. Alomar was known for his glove and speed more than his bat; he totaled just 13 career home runs, 126 doubles and 19 triples but piled up 227 career stolen bases. He’s one of just 300 players to ever steal at least 225 bags in his career.
Beyond his career as a player, Alomar logged parts of 16 season as a coach in the major leagues, spending time with the Padres (third base coach), Cubs (first base coach), Rockies (third base coach) and Mets (bench coach, first base coach). He also managed in the minor league ranks for both the Cubs and the Mets and spent several seasons coaching and managing teams at home in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
Our condolences go out to each of the organizations Alomar impacted, as well as the Alomar family and friends, and the countless fans he accrued over a baseball career that spanned more than 50 years.
Condolences to family and friends. I remember him as a 2B’man back in the 70s.
RIP Sandy. You were a great ballplayer and a great father to two other ballplayers. A Yankee for two years too. .
🙏 RIP
RIP Sandy.
Not a bad family stat line at all. In 18,383 career at bats, The Alomar gang hit .272/.323/.379, with 5128 hits, 335 HR, 2004 RBI, 2586 R, 726 SB, to go with 19 all-star games, 11 gold gloves, a ROY, 4 Silver Sluggers, 2 World Series rings, 1 HOF selection, and both Sandy Jr. and Robbie won AS Game MVP honors. Great baseball family. Cheers to Sr. RIP.
Cool, thanks for that.
Now do the Boones!!! 😉
Naylors next please if you got more free time.
RIP, Sandy Sr. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rest in Paradise Sandy.
Baseball is played year round in heaven. R.I.P
I remember his 22 game hitting streak that ended on a bunt that just went foul.
I also loved his routine after every pitch.
RIP, a player from a different era, could do a lot of small things that contribute to the team. Fun fact–the ‘Most Similar: career score on BA for him was Horace Clarke–and they played together on the 1974 Yankees.
A career in baseball, and then see your sons play–must have given him a great deal of satisfaction
Wow, a name I haven’t heard for a while. I’m pretty sure I have his rookie year baseball card.
RIP
Sandy’s best season was 1971 with 5.2WAR and only 4 HRs (his highest output) yet was not an all-star that season, but was the year prior.
Condolences to the Alomar family. R.I.P. Sandy Sr.
RIP S.A. Sr…thanks for your contribution to the game!!!
RIP to Sandy Senior. I didn’t get to watch him play but I certainly got to see his sons play.
Sad to hear this. His 1970 card was one of the first I ever got. RIP sir.
Rest in peace, Sandy Senior.
RIP.
Patriarch and legend of the game.
Was on deck when Chambliss hit his walkoff HR vs KC in 1976!
The Alomar family is legend and Sandy Sr was the patriarch of it. So many memories of Sandy as a coach and his sons playing. Mr Alomar was a class act and his place in baseball lore has been cemented for all time.
RIP Sandy…..
I remember him as a player and coach. RIP Sandy Sr. Condolences to his family and friends.
RIP Sandy, a class act. Mahalo