1975 Profile: Sandy Alomar

"A dandy second baseman. Acquired from the Angels in mid-season, he was a tremendous factor in the team's pennant drive. The Yankees were in last place when he made his first start on July 10. Alomar is a slick fielder who turned over double plays in a manner the Yankees hadn't seen since Bobby Richardson.
'Some people have called me a whiz with the glove,' he says in all modesty. He batted .269 in 76 games with the Yankees. Sandy also stole eight bases and moved innumerable runners into scoring position.
'I'm a .240 or .250 hitter,' he says. 'That's all right as long as I do all of those little things.' Born in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Sandy saw limited service with the Braves, Mets and White Sox before becoming an established player with the Angels. An All-Star in 1970, he played in 648 consecutive for the Angels into the 1973 season, but suffered a broken leg late that year."

-Joe Gergen, The Complete Handbook of Baseball, 1975 Edition

"Sitting on the bench was not Sandy Alomar's idea of the 1974 season, but that's what he found himself doing as the season opened.
But in early July, things turned around for this veteran. The Yankees obtained him, installed him at once as the team's regular second baseman, and things started to happen. Sandy hit like he never hit before, finishing with a career-high batting average. The infield jelled and the Yankees began to win. With Alomar on the team, the Yankees won 50 of 80 games and almost took the Eastern Division title. Alomar was a big factor.
Sandy is a durable performer who once put together a streak of 648 consecutive games played while a member of the California Angels. He's also had experience with the Braves, White Sox and Mets, and was a member of the 1970 American League All-Star team.
With Alomar's experience and ability, the Yankees have no fears when they look to second base."

-The New York Yankees Official 1975 Yearbook

"Sandy joined the Yankees last July and the team played .625 ball from then on, winning 50 of 80. His defensive work held the infield together, and he was credited with helping to make Jim Mason a better shortstop. Sandy also did a fine job at bat, putting together a 13-game hitting streak to raise his average to .283. A hard collision at second with John Briggs caused a painful rib injury which limited his hitting ability in the final weeks, but he continued to sparkle defensively. His .261 batting average last year (a combined figure for his two teams) was a career high.
Sandy is still the all-time stolen base leader of the Angels with 139 and led California for five consecutive years. He was reduced to limited duty with the arrival of Denny Doyle in 1974 and was thus available to the Yankees. One of 18 players to have appeared with both the Yankees and Mets, Sandy played in 648 consecutive games, seventh longest American League streak in history, running through May 22, 1973. A member of the 1970 All-Star team, he hit safely in 22 straight games that season.
He also plays shortstop, but has spent most of his ten major league seasons at second."

-1975 New York Yankees Press/TV/Radio Guide