Sandy Alomar Sr., a former Major League Baseball All-Star infielder and respected coach whose influence spanned more than five decades, died on Monday, October 13, 2025. He was 81 years old, just days away from celebrating his 82nd birthday on October 19.
Major League Baseball confirmed the passing of the Puerto Rico native, whose career in professional baseball encompassed playing, coaching, and managing roles. The Cleveland Guardians, where his son Sandy Alomar Jr. currently serves on staff, announced that they were informed by the Alomar family about his death. The organization expressed its condolences through social media, noting that the baseball community mourned his passing.
Born in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Alomar was one of eight children who attended Luis Muñoz Rivera High School. He signed with the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent for approximately $12,000 before the start of the 1960 season. Four years later, on September 15, 1964, he made his big league debut with the Braves at 20 years old, appearing in 19 games down the stretch of that season.
The infielder’s 15-year playing career saw him wear the uniforms of six different franchises. After remaining with the Braves when they relocated to Atlanta in 1966, he moved to the New York Mets in 1967, then to the Chicago White Sox from 1967 to 1969. His most productive years came with the California Angels starting in 1969, where he earned his only All-Star selection in 1970. He played 648 consecutive games with the club before breaking his leg in September 1973.
Known more for his defensive prowess and speed than his batting, Alomar excelled on the basepaths. He stole 35 bases in 1970 and achieved a career-high 39 stolen bases in 1971, when he also led the American League with 689 at-bats and 739 plate appearances. His final playing stops included the New York Yankees from 1974 to 1976, where he helped the team reach the World Series in 1976, and the Texas Rangers from 1977 to 1978.
Throughout his playing career, Alomar compiled a .245 batting average with a .290 on-base percentage and .288 slugging percentage. He finished with 1,168 hits, 13 home runs, 126 doubles, 19 triples, 282 RBIs, and 227 stolen bases across 1,481 games. His versatility showed in his defensive assignments: 1,156 games at second base, 197 at shortstop, 43 at third base, 14 at first base, eight in the outfield, and 43 as a designated hitter. His lone postseason appearance came in the 1976 American League Championship Series against the Royals, where he went 0-for-1 with a caught stealing in two games.
Following his retirement as a player in 1978, Alomar transitioned into coaching and managing. He returned to his native Puerto Rico, where he managed in the Puerto Rican Winter League and led the Puerto Rican national team. Both of his sons, Sandy Jr. and Roberto, played under their father’s guidance in winter ball, where he helped develop their considerable baseball skills.
His coaching career in the major leagues proved extensive. During the 1980s, he worked in the San Diego Padres organization before serving as the team’s third-base coach from 1986 to 1990. A notable moment came in 1988 when both of his sons made their major league debuts with San Diego. Roberto became the team’s starting second baseman that season, while Sandy Jr. made one plate appearance. Alomar Sr. later coached for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, and New York Mets through the 2000s, with his coaching career extending until 2009.
His sons achieved remarkable success in their own right. Sandy Alomar Jr. played 20 seasons in the majors as a catcher, earning the 1990 American League Rookie of the Year award and six All-Star selections. Roberto became one of baseball’s premier second basemen, earning 12 All-Star selections and winning 10 Gold Glove awards before his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. The Alomar family also included daughter Sandia, and Alomar Sr.’s wife, Maria.
Tony Clark, Executive Director of the MLB Players Association, said, “The baseball world suffered a great loss today with the passing of Sandy Alomar Sr., whose impact spanned more than five decades as a player, manager, coach, and ambassador for the game in Puerto Rico.”
The Yankees organization also paid tribute, expressing their mourning and extending condolences to Alomar’s family, friends, and loved ones. His contributions to baseball extended far beyond his own playing statistics, encompassing his role in developing future stars and serving as an ambassador for the sport in Puerto Rico and throughout the baseball world.
Sources:
https://www.mlb.com/news/sandy-alomar-sr-dies-at-81
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/sandy-alomar-sr-dies-at-81-former-mlb-player-coach-was-father-of-roberto-and-sandy-jr/
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/16/metro/sandy-alomar-sr-baseball-obituary/
https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/longtime-mlb-infielder-coach-sandy-alomar-sr-dies-at-81-210508480.html
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/mlb/news/mlb-legend-sandy-alomar-sr-dies-at-81-father-of-hall-of-famer-roberto-alomar-and-sandy-jr-/articleshow/124537928.cms
