Alomar played every position but pitcher and catcher in the majors. A light hitter, he became a regular with the 1968 White Sox after he learned to switch hit. Though he led AL second basemen in errors in 1968 and 1969, most observers considered the errors a by-product of his exceptional range. He was California’s everyday second baseman for five years, played 648 consecutive games from 1969 to 1973, and in 1971 led the league with 689 at-bats – a since-broken AL record for a switch hitter. Sold to the Yankees in 1974, he led the AL in fielding at 2B in 1975. He stole 20 or more bases in seven seasons, and 227 lifetime. He became a manager in his native Puerto Rico, and a coach for the Padres, the team that signed his sons Roberto, an infielder, and Sandy, Jr., a catcher.
