1976 Topps #629 - Sandy Alomar

• Sandy Alomar was heading to the end of a long career when this card came out. Alomar was originally signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1960 as a 16-year-old. After playing in the minors for five years Sandy was brought up to the majors in September 1964 and bated .245 in 19 games.
• Alomar spent the 1965 and 1966 seasons splitting time between AAA and the Braves. Sandy batted .241 in 67 games for the Braves in 1965 and batted .091 in 31 games in 1966.
• After the 1966 season Alomar was traded to the Houston Astros, who turned around and traded hi to the New York Mets during spring training. Sandy split time between AAA and the Mets (.000 in 22 AB) in 1967. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox on August 15 and went 3 for 15 (.200) to finish the 1967 season.
• Sandy was a utility player for the White Sox in 1968, mostly playing second base. Alomar batted .253 with 21 stolen bases in 133 games for the White Sox in 1968.
• In 1969 Alomar started with the White Sox (.224 in 22 games) and was traded to the California Angels on May 14. Sandy became the starting second baseman for the Angels and had his best years with that ballclub. Alomar batted .250 in 134 games for the Angels in 1970.
• Alomar was an AL All Star in 1971 (he went 0 for 1 in the game) and batted .251 with 35 stolen bases. In 1972 Sandy batted .260 with 39 stolen bases. He led the AL in games played in both of those seasons and also led the AL in at bats in 1972.
• Sandy batted .238 in 136 games in 1973. Alomar started the 1974 season with the Angels (.222 in 54 at bats) but he had lost his starting second base job to Denny Doyle and was being used as a utilityman. Sandy was sold to the New York Yankees on July 8. Alomar started at second base for most of the rest of the 1974 season and batted .269 in 76 games.
• The 1975 season was Alomar's last as a full-time player. He started at 2B for the Yankees and batted .239 in 151 games. In 1976 the Yankees acquired Willie Randolph to play second base and Alomar became a utility player. Sandy batted .239 in 163 at bats in 1976. He was 0 for 1 with a caught stealing in two games in the ALCS. Sandy wasn't used in the 1976 World Series.
• After the 1976 season Alomar was traded to the Texas Rangers. Sandy played just about every position except pitcher and catcher in 1977 and batted .265 in 83 at bats. In 1978 Alomar was a utilityman again and batted .207 in 29 AB. Alomar was released after the 1978 season and retired at the age of 34.
• Alomar coached in Puerto Rico and in the minor leagues after his playing career. Sandy became the Mets' bench coach in 2005. He also coached at first base and third base for the Mets and became the bench coach again in 2008. He was let go along with manager Jerry Manuel after the 2010 season.
• Sandy is the father of former catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. and former second baseman Roberto Alomar.
• Liked to face: Dean Chance (.444 in 27 AB); Earl Wilson (.438 in 16 AB); Reggie Cleveland (.429 in 21 AB)
• Hated to face: Fergie Jenkins (.000 in 14 AB); Milt Wilcox (.056 in 18 AB); Jim Slaton (.071 in 28 AB)

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