CLEVELAND, Ohio — Sandy Alomar Sr., the father of Guardians first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and Hall of Fame second baseman Roberto Alomar has passed away at age 81 in his native Puerto Rico.
As reported on the Puerto Rican website “El Nuevo Dia,” Alomar died Monday. His passing was confirmed to reporter Sara Del Valle Hernández by historian and family friend Jossie Alvarado, as well as by the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation.
A speedy and versatile infielder, Alomar played in the major leagues from 1964 to 1978, earned an American League All-Star selection in 1970, and was part of the New York Yankees team that reached the 1976 World Series. But his greatest contribution to baseball, and particularly to baseball in Cleveland, might be the development of his two highly successful sons.
Following his playing career, Alomar’s sons went on to have standout careers. Sandy Alomar Jr., who played 11 years for the Indians, became a six-time All-Star over 20 seasons. Roberto Alomar, who played three seasons alongside his brother in Cleveland, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.
Born in Salinas, Puerto Rico, on Oct. 19, 1943, Alomar Sr. was signed as a 16-year-old amateur free agent by the Milwaukee Braves in 1960. Three of his brothers also played professionally.
He debuted with the Braves in 1964 before eventually going on to play for the Astros, Mets, and Chicago White Sox. Alomar was traded to the Angels in 1969, a move that finally provided stability. In 1970, he played a full 162-game schedule, hit .251, and stole 35 bases, earning a spot on the AL All-Star team. The next year was his personal best, as he hit .260 with career highs in hits (179), RBIs (42), and stolen bases (39). His durability earned him the nickname “The Iron Pony” after playing in 648 consecutive games from 1969 until a broken leg ended the streak in September 1973.
After retiring as a player, Alomar transitioned to coaching and managing. He worked with the Puerto Rican national team and held coaching positions with several MLB organizations, including the Padres, Cubs, Rockies, and Mets. He was a major league coach for the Padres in 1988 when both of his sons debuted in the majors.
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