Longtime infielder and coach Sandy Alomar Sr., who is the father of fellow baseball stars Sandy Alomar Jr. and Roberto Alomar, died on Monday, Major League Baseball announced. He was 81.
Alomar spent 15 seasons playing in the league from 1964-1978, most notably with the California Angels. The shortstop and second baseman picked up his only All-Star nod there in 1970 while holding a .251 batting average. Alomar also spent time with the Milwaukee Braves, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers and New York Yankees.
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Alomar was on the Yankees in 1976 when they made it to the World Series, though they were swept by the Cincinnati Reds that season.
He finished his playing career with a .245 batting average with 1,168 hits and 227 stolen bases. He retired after the 1978 campaign and quickly got into coaching. He spent time leading the Puerto Rican national team, and then returned to work as a minor league manager throughout MLB — including with the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies and Mets.
Alomar was working with the Padres in 1988 when both of his sons made their major league debuts with the franchise. Roberto was the team’s starting second baseman that season, and Sandy Jr. made one plate appearance that year.
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Sandy Jr. ended up spending 20 seasons in the league before he retired in 2007. Roberto played for 17 seasons before retiring in 2004. He picked up 12 All-Star nods, won the World Series twice and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
“The baseball world suffered a great loss today with the passing of Sandy Alomar Sr., whose impact spanned more than five decades as a player, manager, coach and beloved ambassador for the game in his native Puerto Rico,” MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said in a statement. “We remember Sandy for his achievements on the field, his lifelong commitment to the game and a proud family legacy that was represented with distinction by his sons Sandy Jr. and Roberto.
“The MLBPA and the community of players extend our sympathies to the Alomar family, Sandy’s legion of friends throughout baseball and to all of his fans and admirers in Puerto Rico who are grieving his loss.”
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