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Player
in the Spotlight: Roberto Alomar - goodbye to a tough competitor.
by Daniel Paulling
April 1, 2005
Height 6-0
Weight 190
B/T S/R
Pos 2B
DOB 2.5.1968
|
Year
|
Team
|
Avg
|
G
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
K
|
OBP
|
SLG
|
OPS
|
| 1988 |
SD |
.266
|
143
|
545
|
84
|
145
|
24
|
6
|
9
|
41
|
47
|
83
|
.328
|
.382
|
.709
|
| 1989 |
SD |
.295
|
158
|
623
|
82
|
184
|
27
|
1
|
7
|
56
|
53
|
76
|
.347
|
.376
|
.723
|
| 1990 |
SD |
.287
|
147
|
586
|
80
|
168
|
27
|
5
|
6
|
60
|
48
|
72
|
.340
|
.381
|
.721
|
| 1991 |
TOR |
.295
|
161
|
637
|
88
|
188
|
41
|
11
|
9
|
69
|
57
|
86
|
.354
|
.436
|
.791
|
| 1992 |
TOR |
.310
|
152
|
571
|
105
|
177
|
27
|
8
|
8
|
76
|
87
|
52
|
.405
|
.427
|
.832
|
| 1993 |
TOR |
.326
|
153
|
589
|
109
|
192
|
35
|
6
|
17
|
93
|
80
|
67
|
.408
|
.492
|
.900
|
| 1994 |
TOR |
.306
|
107
|
392
|
78
|
120
|
25
|
4
|
8
|
38
|
51
|
41
|
.386
|
.452
|
.838
|
| 1995 |
TOR |
.300
|
130
|
517
|
71
|
155
|
24
|
7
|
13
|
66
|
47
|
45
|
.354
|
.449
|
.803
|
| 1996 |
BAL |
.328
|
153
|
588
|
132
|
193
|
43
|
4
|
22
|
94
|
90
|
65
|
.411
|
.527
|
.938
|
| 1997 |
BAL |
.333
|
112
|
412
|
64
|
137
|
23
|
2
|
14
|
60
|
40
|
43
|
.390
|
.500
|
.890
|
| 1998 |
BAL |
.282
|
147
|
588
|
86
|
166
|
36
|
1
|
14
|
56
|
59
|
70
|
.347
|
.418
|
.765
|
| 1999 |
CLE |
.323
|
159
|
563
|
138
|
182
|
40
|
3
|
24
|
120
|
99
|
96
|
.422
|
.533
|
.955
|
| 2000 |
CLE |
.310
|
155
|
610
|
111
|
189
|
40
|
2
|
19
|
89
|
64
|
82
|
.378
|
.475
|
.853
|
| 2001 |
CLE |
.336
|
157
|
575
|
113
|
193
|
34
|
12
|
20
|
100
|
80
|
71
|
.415
|
.541
|
.956
|
| 2002 |
NYM |
.266
|
149
|
590
|
73
|
157
|
24
|
4
|
11
|
53
|
57
|
83
|
.331
|
.376
|
.708
|
| 2003 |
NYM |
.262
|
73
|
263
|
34
|
69
|
17
|
1
|
2
|
22
|
29
|
40
|
.336
|
.357
|
.693
|
| 2003 |
CWS |
.253
|
67
|
253
|
42
|
64
|
11
|
1
|
3
|
17
|
30
|
37
|
.330
|
.340
|
.670
|
| 2003 |
Total |
.258
|
140
|
516
|
76
|
133
|
28
|
2
|
5
|
39
|
59
|
77
|
.333
|
.349
|
.682
|
| 2004 |
ARI |
.309
|
38
|
110
|
14
|
34
|
5
|
2
|
3
|
16
|
12
|
18
|
.382
|
.473
|
.855
|
| 2004 |
CWS |
.180
|
18
|
61
|
4
|
11
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
8
|
2
|
13
|
.203
|
.246
|
.449
|
| 2004 |
Total |
.263
|
56
|
171
|
18
|
45
|
6
|
2
|
4
|
24
|
14
|
31
|
.321
|
.392
|
.713
|
|
|
AVG
|
G
|
AB
|
R
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
HR
|
RBI
|
BB
|
K
|
OBP
|
SLG
|
OPS
|
|
| Totals |
.300
|
2379
|
9073
|
1508
|
2724
|
504
|
80
|
210
|
1134
|
1032
|
1140
|
.371
|
.443
|
.814
|
|
(Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/4189/)
When Roberto Alomar came up to the Major Leagues as a spry twenty
year old, the opposing pitcher was supposed to be Fernando Valenzuela.
The game was rained out, so Alomar did not have to face Valenzuela.
Instead, he faced an even better pitcher the next day: Nolan Ryan.
Most hitters would cringe, but Alomar was ready for the opportunity
to get his first hit against one of the most unhittable pitchers
in the history of baseball.
“The first one came against Nolan Ryan, a little ground ball,”
Alomar said. “He was pitching for Houston. That was big, coming
off a future Hall of Famer.”
Throughout that 1988 season, Alomar performed quite well for a rookie
and continued to improve throughout his career with San Diego. The
Padres then traded Alomar to Toronto before the 1991 season, which
is where the fun began. Alomar led the Blue Jays to two consecutive
World Championships, over the Phillies and Braves. The switch hitter
also began a strong of six consecutive seasons with a .300+ batting
average. From Toronto, Alomar moved to Baltimore with several other
big hitters and continued his dominance at the plate. After the
Orioles, Alomar went to Cleveland and hit .300+ for three more seasons.
In the offseason, the Tribe sent Alomar to the Mets. Shea Stadium
is the place where good hitters go to die. In his first season with
the Metropolitans, Robbie hit .266 with a .331 OBP. These were significant
drop-offs from his previous year of .336 and .415. 2003 brought
much of the same, and Alomar began his trek around the Major Leagues.
He joined the White Sox later in 2003, moved to Arizona, back to
the south side of Chicago, and then finally to Tampa Bay.
"I learned a lot from him and I have all the respect in the
world for him," DRays youngster Jorge Cantu said. "I watched
him when I was a kid and looked up to him all through the minor
leagues. You have to respect what he's done."
This is the exact reason the Devil Rays gave Alomar this second
chance to play the Keystone position.
"We wanted to give him a chance," Devil Rays General Manager
Chuck LaMar said. "For 17 years he has been one of the greatest,
if not the greatest, second basemen ever to play the game.”
And Alomar was grateful for the chance, but his body just couldn’t
handle it.
“I just can't go anymore,” Alomar said. “My back,
legs and eyes aren't the same.
“I played a lot of games and I said I would never embarrass
myself on the field. I had a long career, but I can't play at the
level I want to play, so it's time to retire.”
Looking back on his career, Alomar is completely awed.
"Garry Templeton, Tony Gwynn, a lot of guys took me under their
wing," Alomar said. "Now I look back and I'm like, 'Wow,
I played with those guys.' Sometimes you don't realize what you
have until you get older. Tony Gwynn is one of the best hitters
in the history of the game. I've played with Cal Ripken and Paul
Molitor, a lot of great players."
Alomar finished his career with a total of ten Gold Gloves, a career
.300 batting average, and he was an All Star for eleven consecutive
seasons. Baseball has lost one of its true great players, but in
2010, the Hall of Fame will be that much stronger. Congratulations,
Mr. Alomar, on a wonderful career. Share your thoughts or comments in our forums
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