Roberto "Robbie" Alomar Velázquez is a former Major League Baseball player (1988–2004), regarded highly as a second baseman. During his career, the 12-time All-Star won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in baseball history, and also won the third-most Silver Slugger Awards for a second baseman. On January 5, 2011, Alomar was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, in his second year of eligibility.
Background
Roberto Alomar Velazquez was bom in the southern city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, on February 5, 1968. The son of Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Sr. and María Velázquez, Alomar grew up in a baseball family. He and his older brother Sandy Jr. were raised mostly by their mother, due to their father's Major League career. When school in Puerto Rico was out for the summer, they joined their father, who let his sons hang around the clubhouse, shag fly balls, and absorb the game especially from his New York Yankees teammates, such as Thurman Munson and Graig Nettles. Growing up, Alomar idolized both his father and José Cruz.
Education
He attended elementary and high school in Salinas. Like his brother Sandy Jr., he signed with the San Diego Padres in 1984, and by 1988, he was playing in the big leagues. His first major league at-bat resulted in a hit against one of the most well-known pitchers of all time, Nolan Ryan. He followed in his father's footsteps, even playing the same position second base and is considered one of the best players in baseball.
Career
The year 1989 was his first full season in the major leagues, and he was the young¬est player in the National League. He led the league with 17 sacrifice hits, tied for second with 42 stolen bases, and was third with his 184 hits. By the 1990 season he was selected to the All-Star Team and was second in the National League with 311 outs. During the 1991 season, he won the Gold Glove for the first time, an award also won by his brother Sandy Jr. As a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, he became the 55th player in history to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game. In 1992 he won another Gold Glove and posted 17 consecutive stolen bases until his brother Sandy, who was playing for Cleveland, threw him out. He acquired his first championship ring when Toronto won the World Series that year.
In 1993 he hit his first career inside-the-park home run, won his third Gold Glove, and made an appearance at the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he hit .480, the second best on his team, and helped Toronto win its second straight world championship. In 1994, with his fourth Gold Glove, he hit his 400th RBI and committed just one error in 66 games (and none in the final 45 games). His statistics continued to improve and in 1996 he became a free agent and signed with the Baltimore Orioles. But 1996 was also his most controversial year. During a game between the Orioles and the Red Sox, when the game was tied in the ninth inning, umpire John Hirschbeck made a call that Alomar did not agree with. An argument ensued and Alomar was ejected from the game. He re-acted by spitting in the umpire's face and was universally criticized. Although he apologized, he was constantly ringed by reporters and booed by fans during games. Over time, however, prowess on the field, along with a written and verbal apology, has helped to heal some of the wounds.
In 1998, after a series of injuries, he joined his brother Sandy Jr. as a member of the Cleveland Indians. He was awarded his seventh Gold Glove, played in his ninth All-Star Game, and became the American League's all-time fielding percent-age leader at second base. With the Cleveland Indians he has again made baseball history. In 1999 he became the first player in the 99-year history of the Indians franchise to hit 20 home runs, score 100 runs, steal 30 bases, and drive in 100 or more runs all in the same season. Even though the 2000 season saw Alomar go through a series of injuries, he ended the season hitting 323 with 24 home runs and 120 RBIs while providing sparkling defense that earned him his eighth Gold Glove. On December 2001, the New York Mets announced they had acquired "Hall of Fame-caliber" Roberto Alomar as a member of their team.
Membership
Roberto Alomar's number 12 was retired by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011.
Toronto Blue Jays
2011
Personality
Having grown up in Puerto Rico, where their father was an idol, the Alomar brothers dreamed of following in their father's baseball footsteps. They now have surpassed their father's major league achievements to become two of the top stars in the game.—G.C.
Connections
Alomar married Puerto Rican model Maripily Rivera on June 1, 2009. The next year, Rivera alleged that she had been victim of aggression from Alomar and that she wanted to end the marriage. Alomar alleged that Rivera had threatened to divorce him unless he gave her half ownership of his Tampa residence. In the midst of the scandal, rumors that Alomar was HIV-positive resurfaced, and Rivera sued him for allegedly exposing her to the virus, even though she had defended him previously when an ex-girlfriend made the same claims. The divorce was finalized on July 12, 2011 with a private settlement. The HIV claims remain unfounded.
On December 12, 2012, Alomar married Toronto native Kim Perks at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Their first daughter, Lourdes María, was born on April 11, 2014. Alomar resides in Toronto.
Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar was born on February 5, 1968, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. In 1988, Alomar started his career in Major League Baseball with the San Diego Pad...
