3. SANDY ALOMAR (1990-2000)
Alomar is the Indians’ current first base coach and the older brother of Hall of Famer Roberto, who played for Cleveland from 1999-2001.
Considered one of baseball’s premier prospects, Sandy Alomar broke into the big leagues by playing eight games for the San Diego Padres in 1988-89. He was traded with promising infielder Carlos Baerga and veteran outfielder Chris James to Cleveland for star outfielder-first baseman Joe Carter following the 1989 campaign.
Alomar made an immediate impact for the Indians, being voted by the fans as the American League’s starting catcher in the All-Star Game, and then winning the AL Rookie of the Year award and Gold Glove award as the league’s best defensive catcher. He hit .290 with 26 doubles, two triples and nine homers in 445 at bats, with 66 RBI and 60 runs.
Alomar made six all-star teams with the Indians, including when he was voted a starter in 1991 and 1992, despite missing a combined 184 games in those seasons, and hitting .238 in a combined 483 at bats with two homers and 33 RBI.
From 1991 through 1995, Alomar averaged just 70 games played and 239 at bats a season. In 1995, he played in 66 games but helped the Indians win the AL Central Division title by batting .300 with 10 homers and 35 RBI in 203 at bats. He played in 13 of 15 postseason games, hitting .220 (9-of-41) with four doubles, a triple and three RBI as the Indians swept the Red Sox, three games to one, in a division series; bested the Mariners, 4-2, to win their first AL pennant in 41 years; and lost to the Braves, 4-2, in the World Series.
Alomar set up the Indians’ 7-6 Game 3 World Series win — cutting the Braves’ series lead to 2-1 — with a run-scoring double that tied the game 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning at Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field).
Alomar finally enjoyed a healthy season in 1996 and began another string of three straight All-Star Game selections (though not as a starter).
In 1997, Alomar fashioned a remarkable season featuring one clutch hit after another and his usual expert handling of the pitching staff. During the regular season, he played 125 games and hit .324 in 451 at bats. He slugged 37 doubles and 21 home runs and drove in 83 runs.
In the middle of the campaign was the All-Star Game at Jacobs Field. Alomar stole the show before the Cleveland fans, clouting a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to snap a 1-1 tie and give the American League a 3-1 win.
Alomar’s dream campaign was capped by his postseason feats, as the Indians eliminated the defending World Series champion Yankees, 3-2, in the division series; bested the Orioles, 4-2, in the championship series; then lost to the Marlins, 4-3, in the World Series, which ended with the Indians’ 11-inning, 3-2 Game 7 loss at Florida — a game they led 2-1 going to the bottom of the ninth inning.
Alomar slugged one of the most dramatic homers in Cleveland history in the fourth game of the division series against the Yankees at Cleveland. Trailing in the best-of-five series, two games to one, the right-handed hitting Alomar lined an opposite field solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game 2-2. He hit it off the pitcher who would become not only baseball’s best closer ever, but arguably its best-ever postseason pitcher, Mariano Rivera. The Indians won 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth and then won the decisive Game 5 at Jacobs Field, 4-3, to advance to the ALCS.
The championship series featured more Alomar dramatics. His walk-off single in Game 4 drove in Manny Ramirez with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the Indians an 8-7 win at Jacobs Field and a 3-1 series lead. Alomar had three hits and four RBI in the game.
Alomar then totaled 10 RBI in the World Series. He played in all 18 games in the 1997 postseason, hitting .274 (20-of-73) with two doubles, five homers, 19 RBI and 12 runs.
After a solid 1998 campaign in which he played 117 games, Alomar’s injury problems returned, and he totaled just 134 games in 1999 and 2000 combined. Alomar then signed as a free agent with the White Sox. He played seven seasons and for five teams after his Cleveland departure, completing a 20-year career.
Alomar appeared in 985 games with the Indians, including 950 at catcher. He was considered a strong all-around performer behind the plate, ably handling all of the mental and physical aspects of the position. He threw out 31 percent of potential base-stealers, about two percent above the league average over those years.
Alomar hit .277 as an Indian, with 194 doubles, eight triples and 92 home runs in 3,409 at bats. He totaled 453 RBI and 416 runs. Alomar never drew more than 25 walks in a season.
Cleveland made the postseason in five of Alomar’s last six seasons with the team. He played in 49 of 52 postseason games, hitting .214 with nine doubles, one triple, five homers, 28 RBI and 17 runs in 173 at bats.
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