Home > Roberto Alomar

Roberto broke into the Major Leagues in 1988 with the San Diego Padres, where he was regarded as an excellent fielder with speed and a solid bat. In 1991 he and Joe Carter were traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. It was in Toronto that Roberto developed into a premier offensive second basemen, combining a .300-plus batting average with some pop and a continued threat on the bases. In 1993 Roberto batted .326, third in the league behind teammates John Olerud and Paul Molitor. Roberto was a large part of Toronto's World SeriesIn baseball, the World Series is the championship series of Major League Baseball in North America, played in October after the end of the regular season between the pennant winner of the American League and the pennant winner of the National League. championships in 19921992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday. Events January January The Internet Society is formed. January 1 Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General January 1 George H. Bush becomes the fi and 1993.

In 19951995 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). It has a Golden number of 1, and was the first year of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995- 2005): http://www. org/culture/indigenous . Events January events Ja Roberto moved to greener pastures, signing with the Baltimore OriolesBaseball teams For the 1901-02 American League team known as the Baltimore Orioles see New York Yankees. There were also a 19th-century National League team and a 20th-century minor league team named the Baltimore Orioles . For the bird the team is named at a time when Toronto was moving to rebuild and Baltimore was building towards a championship-calibre team. Roberto would play again in the playoffs in 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan and 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t for the Orioles, although the Orioles were defeated in the American League Championship SeriesIn Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series ALCS determines who wins the American League pennant and advances to baseball's championship, the World Series. It began in 1969, when the American League was reorganized into two divisions in both years.

On September 27September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 95 days remaining. Events 489 Odoacer attacks Theoderic at the Battle of Verona, and is defeated again. 1540 Jesuit Order receives its charter from Pope Paul I, 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan Roberto gained notoriety when, during a heated argument over a called third strike, he spat in the face of umpire John Hirschbeck . Roberto defended himself by saying Hirschbeck had uttered a racial slur and that Hirschbeck had been bitter ever since his son had died of ALD. Roberto was suspended five games and made to donate $50,000 to ALD research. Alomar and Hirschbeck have since settled their differences, and now consider one another friends off the field.

In 1999 Roberto signed with the Cleveland Indians, joining his brother, Major League catcher Sandy Alomar . It was in Cleveland that Roberto would have two of his finest seasons -- and perhaps two of the finest seasons ever for a second baseman. In 1999 Roberto hit .323 with 24 HRs, 120 RBIs and 37 stolen bases. In 2001 Roberto hit .336 with 20 HRs, 100 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Cleveland would make the playoffs in both years only to lose in the American League Divisional Series. Roberto finished 3rd in MVP voting in 1999.

On the field, Alomar teamed with shortstop Omar Vizquel one of the most decorated keystone combination of all time. In 2000, with Vizquel committing just 3 errors all season long, the entire infield committed just 34 errors, one more than the record set by the New York Mets a year previous. Vizquel, Alomar and third baseman Travis Fryman won the Gold Glove award that season. Beside this, the Vizquel-Alomar duo won three Gold Gloves, joining a select list of eight shortstop-second baseman duos have won the honor in the same season while playing together.

Up to this point in his career, Alomar established remarkable milestones for a second baseman, including making twelve straight all star teams (1990-2001), winning ten straight gold gloves (1992-2001), batting over .300 nine times (1992-1997, 1999-2001), posting on OBP over .400 five times (1992-93, 1996, 1999, 2001), scoring 100 or more runs six times (1992-93, 1996, 1999-2001), driving in 100 or more runs twice (1999, 2001), stealing 30 or more bases eight times (1989, 1991-93, 1995, 1999-2001), and winning four silver slugger awards (1992, 1996, 1999-2000). There seemed no doubt that his immortality was assured, but then he was traded to the New York Mets before the 2002 season along with Mike Bacsik and Danny Peoples for Matt Lawton , Alex Escobar, Jerrod Riggan, Billy Traber and Earl Snyder.

In 2002, Alomar hit only .266 with 53 RBIs and 73 runs scored while falling apart definsively at second base. Not even a midseason trade back to the American League to the Chicago White Sox part way through 2003 could revive him from his funk. There was more misery ahead with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004, as a broken hand ruined much of his season. On August 5, he returned to the White Sox. It remains to be seen whether Alomar can turn his career back around and whether his complete collapse after years of greatness will deny him what once seemed to be a guaranteed place in the Hall of Fame.