Roberto Alomar

#12

Cleveland Indians

By John M Milner

• Second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles
• Born Roberto Velazquez Alomar in Ponce, Puerto Rico on February 5, 1968
• Resides Ponce, PR
• Brother of Cleveland Indians catcher, Sandy Alomar Jr. and son of former major league infielder, Sandy Alomar Sr., who was later a coach with the Padres and is currently the manager of the Fort Myers (Fla.) Cubs, a Chicago Cubs minor league affiliate
• Is a switch hitter
• Signed as a non-drafted free agent by the San Diego Padres on February 16, 1985.
• On December 5, 1990, was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays along with OF Joe Carter in exchange for SS Tony Fernandez and 1B Fred McGriff
• Has been named to the All-Star team each year since 1990
• Was struck out to complete Nolan Ryan's 7th and final no-hitter (Texas vs Toronto, May 1st, 1991)
• Author of the 1992 autobiography "Second to None"
• Voted MVP of the 1992 American League Championship Series (Toronto vs Oakland)
• In Game 4 of the 1992 ALCS, hit a dramatic 2 run home run (scoring Devon White) off Dennis Eckersley in the top of the 9th to tie the game at 6-6. Toronto came back to win in extra innings.
• Made a great diving catch in Game 1 of the 1993 World Series to rob Phillies CF Lenny Dykstra of a sure base hit.
• Holds the American League Record for most consecutive games without an error (104)- June 21, 1994 to July 3rd, 1995
• A free agent at the end of the 1995 season, Alomar signed with the Baltimore Orioles on December 1995
• Gained unwanted attention during a September 27th, 1996 game against the Toronto Blue Jays. After arguing a third strike, Alomar got into a heated argument with umpire John Hirschbeck. Alomar claims that Hirschbeck uttered a racial slur, after which Alomar spit in the umpire's face. After the incident, Alomar was initially unapologetic, claiming that Hirschbeck had been bitter since the death of his son.
• Alomar did eventually apologize to Hirschbeck and sat out a five game, regular season suspension handed down by the American League. Alomar donated $50 000 to ALD research, the disease which killed Hirschbeck's son.
• One day after the incident, Alomar hits a home run that clinches the wild-card spot for the Orioles
• In 1996, Roberto was stalked by a crazed fan who planned to kill him and then herself. Luckily, authorities managed to track down and arrest the fan before she could get to Robbie.
• In 1996, after Toronto traded P David Cone to the Yankees, Alomar staged a one-day sit-down strike, and later demanded to be traded himself, to a contending team.
• Gold Glove winner from 1991-1996
• Currently dating tennis star Mary Pierce
• Voted MVP of the 1998 All Star Game, following in his brothers footsteps. who won the previous year.
• On November 24, 1998 signed with the Cleveland Indians, for a reported four-year contract worth $32 million. The contract included a club option for a fifth year in 2003.
• Robbie is now engaged to Mary Pierce, they just bought a house together and I believe its in Westlake. (Thanks to Kim P. - Cleveland)
• Holds the Toronto Blue Jay all-time record for highest career batting average (.307)
• In 1996, Alomar's 22nd home run of the season came off Paul Spoljaric with 2 outs in the 10th inning. The solo shot broke a 2-2 tie between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles, and clinched the American League Wildcard, putting the Orioles into the playoffs for the first time in 13 years.
• On October 5, 1996, in Game 4 of the Divisional Series, he hit the game-winning home run in the 12th inning off Cleveland reliever Jose Mesa. The Indians clinched the series 3 games to one.
• In 1997, he enjoyed a 22-game hit streak, the 2nd longest in Oriole history
• In 1998, with the Orioles, he batted .282 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs.
• On July 7th,was named the 1998 All-Star Game MVP during the Mid-Summer Classic in Denver. He had three hits, a home run, a stolen base and two runs scored. To the present, Alomar is a 10-time All-Star, having made the team every year since 1990, and has been voted in as a starter during the last 9.
• On November 23, 1998, signed a 4-year,$32 million dollar deal with the Cleveland Indians. He and his brother Sandy Alomar became the first brother combination to play concurrently for the Indians since Jim and Gaylord Perry in 1975-1976
• In 1999, with Cleveland, Alomar hit .323 with 24 homers and 120 RBIs. Was the first player in franchise to top 100 runs, 20 HRs, 100 RBIs and 30 Steals. Also won his 8th Golden Glove and his 3rd Silver Slugger award
• On September 22, 1999, Robbie logged his 2000th hit at Detroit off Brian Moehler. Of the 23 members of the 3000 hit club, only 6 have reached 2000 before their 32nd birthday. (Cobb, Speaker, Musial, Aaron, Kaline, Yount)
• Scored his 1000th career run on April 30th at Texas
• In 1999, Robbie finished first in runs scored, pitches seen and fielding percentage. On November 18th, it was announced that he had finished 3rd in the American League MVP voting, tied with team-mate Manny Ramirez, behind only Ivan Rodriguez and Pedro Martinez
• Also, shared Indians Man of the Year honours with Ramirez, voted by the Cleveland Chapter of the BBWAA
• Going into the 2000 season, Alomar has 2007 hits, 151 home runs, 829 RBIs, 377 stolen bases, 1117 runs and a career batting average of .307
• Has had 5 career Grand Slams, his last coming on July 23rd, 1999 at New York off of former Blue Jays teammate David Cone
• played most of 2000 with a hand injury (believed to be a ligament or tendon problem)
• in May, batted left-handed rather than switch-hitting because of a sore tricep muscle. Was sidelined for several games in July with tendenitis and bursitis in his left-ankle
• named as a starter for the American League All-Star team, went 0-2
• went 4-4 on September 23 at Kansas City
• won his third straight Golden Glove and his second straight Silver Slugger
• hit 19 Home Runs, drove in 89 runs, hit .310 (although I did read one source that listed that stat as .309, but most have Robbie hitting .310) and scored 111 Runs.
• The American League average was 88 runs, 86 RBI, .286 average and 21 home runs.
• Post-season rumours had Alomar and Dave Burba heading to Toronto for David Wells and Raul Mondesi, but the trade never materialized (to date) and Alomar professed his continued loyalty to the Indians

JOHN M's Opinion:  Alomar seems to be almost a Jeckyl-Hyde type of situation. On the field, Alomar is one of the best second baseman in the game with accuracy and range in the field and speed and power at the plate. However, it is off the field that causes one to shake their heads.

TYPO's Opinion:  Robbie is still my favourite player, and I think probably will be for years to come.  I have to admit that I am wondering if I will still be an Indians fan this year, I have not agreed with some of their off season decisions.  In some ways I am glad he will still be with the Indians, but time will tell for how long.  We still have the luxuary of seeing the Alomar-Visquel double plays that are played out with such ease, something I am sure I will never tire of.  It seems to me that as time goes on his past is becoming less baggage as people seem to forget the bad sides and look at his talent, which I am pleased to say is still strong.  I hope that 2001 is a good year for Robbie, its just a shame that he only got one year to play with his brother.

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Roberto Alomar Links

Big Leaguers CBS SportsLine Cleveland Indians Home Page CNNSI

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Roberto Alomar Ring member site

[Roberto Alomar] [Sandy Alomar Jnr] [Bartolo Colon] [Chipper Jones] [David Justice] [Javy Lopez] [Greg Maddux] [Chad Ogea] [Andy Pettitte] [Jorge Posada] [Ivan Rodriguez] [Larry Walker] [John Wetteland] [Jaret Wright]

Please note that I am not any of these players, nor I am associated with any of them (I wish!!!).  Just a fan like the rest of you :)    I would also like to thank everyone that has emailed me regarding my pages, it is great hearing from other fans, and some of you have been daft enough to stay in contact!  Of course the biggest thanks for all goes to John for taking the time to research and write these pages, and really do all the work for me!  I just take all the credit... well unless he does it wrong!  THANX

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