11. Roberto Alomar
With all due respect to Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez, two incredible players, the acquisition that sent them for Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter was the transaction that made Toronto.
Carter was the one who hit the most famous Home Run in Blue Jays history, but Alomar was the true gem of the deal. In the five seasons that Alomar was with Toronto, there was no doubt that he was the top Second Baseball in the American League, both with his bat and glove. Alomar went to the All-Star Game and won the Gold Glove in all of his Jays campaigns, and was the engine that led Toronto to back-to-back World Series wins in 1992 and 1993.
Alomar was an excellent hitter when he played for Toronto. He batted over .300 in four of his five years, with the other year seeing the Second Baseman bat .295. He had a patient eye, walked often, and when he was on base, he was always a threat to steal, swiping over 50 bases twice and 206 in total in Toronto.
As good as Alomar was, he grew impatient with the Blue Jays management when they went into rebuilding mode, and he signed with Baltimore after the 1995 Season as a Free Agent. He batted. 307 with 832 Hits for Toronto, and would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011 and is also a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall. The team also retired his #12, and inducted him into their Level of Excellence, though neither are no longer displayed following sexual misconduct allegations when he worked for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
40. Roberto Alomar
It’s tempting to judge Roberto Alomar’s legacy solely by his legendary postseason moments, ten Gold Gloves, and his induction to Cooperstown with a Blue Jays cap on his plaque. However, before he became an international baseball icon, Alomar was a highly regarded 20-year-old prodigy challenging expectations in Southern California. When he debuted in the majors in April 1988, his exceptionally smooth switch-hitting style meant he didn't need a long development period; he seamlessly filled the second baseman role and immediately brought a vibrant mix of aggressive baserunning, precise hitting, and innate style, indicating a future baseball superstar.
His 1988 intro showed his advanced baseline as he swiftly bypassed early challenges. Alomar made collecting line drives and playing infield his routine. He systematically dismantled NL pitching, earning 145 hits, 24 doubles, and 24 stolen bases, finishing fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
He really shone that year, making a remarkable breakthrough in 1989 and demonstrating excellent skill at the top of the order. That summer, Alomar worked on his batting, hitting a team-high 184 times, maintaining a strong .295 average, and stealing a career-high 42 bases, leading the local offense and establishing himself as a key player. Beyond his hitting, his great range and sharp instincts impressed fans and teammates alike. Though he didn’t officially win a Gold Glove during his brief three seasons in San Diego, an award he would later earn many times, advanced stats now show that his quickness and awareness on the field were truly deserving of recognition.
He earned his very first career All-Star selection in 1990, hitting a steady .287 with 168 hits, 27 doubles, and 60 runs batted in, proving to be the highly coveted engine of a rising team.
It’s easy to mistakenly remember him staying on through the following campaign, but in reality, the front office made its most famous blockbuster move before the 1991 season even started. Eager to add a powerful, middle-of-the-order hitter under general manager Joe McIlvaine, the Padres teamed up with Toronto for an exciting four-player trade in December 1990. They sent their promising young second baseman and outfielder Joe Carter to the Blue Jays in exchange for Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. This was a remarkable, high-stakes swap that truly benefited both teams; McGriff brought impressive power to San Diego, while Alomar's arrival in Canada helped lead the Blue Jays to two consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.
In San Diego, he accumulated exactly 497 hits, 78 doubles, and 90 stolen bases, entirely validated by a sharp .283 batting average. His Cooperstown call came on his first ballot in 2011.
Roberto Alomar banned from baseball
Roberto Alomar has been placed on Major League Baseball’s ineligible list following an investigation of a sexual misconduct incident in 2014.
Alomar, who had been working as a consultant with MLB and was also a special assistant with the Toronto Blue Jays was immediately terminated from both roles. The Jays, whom he won two World Series Titles with, announced that they will sever all ties with their former Second Baseman. This includes removing a banner that honors his retired #12, and also his name from their ring of honor.
The Baseball Hall of Fame, who inducted Alomar in 2011, will not be removing him. He also will not be expelled by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, but they did state that they would not be inviting him to future events, nor will they do any work with his foundation.
Alomar played 17 seasons in a career spent with San Diego, Toronto, Baltimore, Cleveland, New York (NL), Chicago (AL) and Arizona.
Awards = HOF? Part Twenty-Five: Gold Glove Second Base
Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential. In basketball, the team sport with the least amount of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher. In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.
We are now taking a look at the Gold Glove Award, given annually to the best defensive player in MLB in each respective position.
Awards = HOF? Part Seven: The Silver Slugger (Second Base) (MLB)
Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential. In basketball, the team sport with the least amount of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher. In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.
