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Roberto Alomar: The Complicated Life and Legacy of a Baseball Hall of Famer
A captivating look into the remarkable career and controversial life of a baseball Hall of Famer. Roberto Alomar was not just a five-tool Hall of Famer; he was a magician on the diamond, a generational talent whose defensive wizardry left teammates and opponents breathless. Yet, despite his twelve All-Star selections and ten Gold Glove awards, he has remained one of the most contentious and enigmatic characters in baseball’s history. Roberto The Complicated Life and Legacy of a Baseball Hall of Famer is the first complete, balanced biography of arguably the greatest second baseman in the history of Major League Baseball. It covers Alomar’s impressive career, his altercation with umpire John Hirschbeck and their eventual friendship, the allegations stemming from Alomar’s personal life, never-before-heard stories about his conflicts with both minor and major league teammates, and his global influence. When Roberto Alomar retired in 2005, his place as one of baseball’s all-time greats was unquestioned. But the controversies that always seem to follow him make Alomar’s legacy far from clear. Drawing on dozens of personal interviews with Alomar’s former teammates and opponents, Roberto Alomar pulls back the curtain on one of the most significant, divisive, and perplexing figures in baseball history.
276 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 8, 2024
The subtitle of this book by David Ostrowsky is very accurate when discussing the baseball legacy of Roberto Alomar, a Hall of Fame second baseman who played for seven different major league teams but found his greatest success as a Toronto Blue Jay. Alomar’s entire career, as well as his personal life and the controversies that surrounded him both on and off the field are captured here.
From the very beginning it is clear that Ostrowsky is not going to sugar coat Alomar’s life as the book begins with the infamous incident in 1996 when Alomar, then a member of the Baltimore Orioles, spit on umpire John Hirschbeck after a disputed called third strike. Alomar then further enraged fans and media when he mentioned that Hirschbeck had become more bitter since his son passed away. While easily the most famous of the controversies involving Alomar, there are others that did not get as much attention but are noted by Ostrowsky. These included allegations of sexual assault that led Major League Baseball to ban him from the game in 2021, although it would not change his Hall of Fame status.
Lest one thinks this book only covers this side of Alomar, it is also full of food writing about Alomar’s baseball career, from his excitement about the game as a child to his determination to keep playing late when his diminished skills in his mid-30’s would not allow him to hang on with a team. His brief time with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox (twice) illustrate how much he had declined.
But when his star shone bright, it was brilliant as his accomplishments in Toronto made everyone who saw him believe he was one of the best, if not the best second baseman in the game. His knowledge was considered to be off the charts, and he was always sharing it freely with teammates or anyone else who wanted to learn more about the game.
In short, this book was a very fair, balanced, and informative account of Roberto Alomar. A reader will come away from this agreeing that he certainly deserves to be considered a Hall of Fame player but will also understand why there are also detractors given the many controversies, justified or not, that surround his legacy.
I wish to thank the author and publisher for providing a review copy. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
From the very beginning it is clear that Ostrowsky is not going to sugar coat Alomar’s life as the book begins with the infamous incident in 1996 when Alomar, then a member of the Baltimore Orioles, spit on umpire John Hirschbeck after a disputed called third strike. Alomar then further enraged fans and media when he mentioned that Hirschbeck had become more bitter since his son passed away. While easily the most famous of the controversies involving Alomar, there are others that did not get as much attention but are noted by Ostrowsky. These included allegations of sexual assault that led Major League Baseball to ban him from the game in 2021, although it would not change his Hall of Fame status.
Lest one thinks this book only covers this side of Alomar, it is also full of food writing about Alomar’s baseball career, from his excitement about the game as a child to his determination to keep playing late when his diminished skills in his mid-30’s would not allow him to hang on with a team. His brief time with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox (twice) illustrate how much he had declined.
But when his star shone bright, it was brilliant as his accomplishments in Toronto made everyone who saw him believe he was one of the best, if not the best second baseman in the game. His knowledge was considered to be off the charts, and he was always sharing it freely with teammates or anyone else who wanted to learn more about the game.
In short, this book was a very fair, balanced, and informative account of Roberto Alomar. A reader will come away from this agreeing that he certainly deserves to be considered a Hall of Fame player but will also understand why there are also detractors given the many controversies, justified or not, that surround his legacy.
I wish to thank the author and publisher for providing a review copy. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
August 1, 2024
You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.
Mr. Book just finished Roberto Alomar: The Complicated Life And Legacy Of A Baseball Hall Of Famer, by David Ostrowsky.
Thank you to the author, for providing this book for review consideration in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Roberto Alomar was one of the best second basemen in baseball history. He was a 12-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, was the MVP of the 1992 ALCS and was a crucial part of the Blue Jays’ consecutive World Championship teams of 1992-93. This is an outstanding biography about him.
Alomar grew up in a baseball family, with his father, Sandy, playing 15 years in the majors and then his brother, Sandy Jr., having a 20-year career as a catcher. The book does a good job covering his relationship with them.
The book was very well researched, with a lot of input from teammates and those who had covered Alomar’s career. The book did a great job covering all of Alomar’s career.
Alomar’s life and career was not without controversy. The book did an excellent job covering not just the spitting incident with umpire John Hirshbeck, but also the rest of the story—how their relationship eventually evolved over the years. There were also controversies in Alomar’s personal life, including domestic violence allegations and sexual improprieties, that are covered.
I give this book an A. Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews.
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on July 31, 2024.
Mr. Book just finished Roberto Alomar: The Complicated Life And Legacy Of A Baseball Hall Of Famer, by David Ostrowsky.
Thank you to the author, for providing this book for review consideration in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Roberto Alomar was one of the best second basemen in baseball history. He was a 12-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, was the MVP of the 1992 ALCS and was a crucial part of the Blue Jays’ consecutive World Championship teams of 1992-93. This is an outstanding biography about him.
Alomar grew up in a baseball family, with his father, Sandy, playing 15 years in the majors and then his brother, Sandy Jr., having a 20-year career as a catcher. The book does a good job covering his relationship with them.
The book was very well researched, with a lot of input from teammates and those who had covered Alomar’s career. The book did a great job covering all of Alomar’s career.
Alomar’s life and career was not without controversy. The book did an excellent job covering not just the spitting incident with umpire John Hirshbeck, but also the rest of the story—how their relationship eventually evolved over the years. There were also controversies in Alomar’s personal life, including domestic violence allegations and sexual improprieties, that are covered.
I give this book an A. Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews.
Mr. Book originally finished reading this on July 31, 2024.
February 20, 2025
When I began closely following baseball in the mid-1990s, Roberto Alomar was widely regarded as the best second baseman in the business. While author David Ostrowsky does a solid job of covering the on-field Alomar exploits, the behind-the-scenes material is what makes this tome a compelling read.
This is a pretty straightforward bio in terms of chronology. Like I said, all of Roberto’s relevant on-field actions are covered in nice detail here, from his Padres debut to his Blue Jays reign and later his more brief tenures with Baltimore, Cleveland, and a few other squads. Not only does Ostrowsky illustrate how talented of a player Alomar was, but also emphasizes his familial ties to the sport (both father Sandy Sr. and brother Sandy Jr. were players/coaches in MLB).
But by far the most interesting part of this book is how Ostrowsky chronicles Alomar’s off-field turbulence. The biggest issue, of course, is the spitting incident with umpire John Hirschbeck which is given much coverage. A series of sexual “scandals” involving women accusing him of abuse and/or being HIV-positive and not sharing that information were all new to me. Here-and-there concerns about Alomar’s perceived snobbishness and/or unwillingness to be a true team player also proliferate.
In essence, Ostrowsky indeed paints a complicated portrait (per the book’s subtitle) of Robert Alomar. On one hand: a tremendous baseball player from a baseball-obsessed family that many teammates and coaches have nothing but positive things to say about. On the other hand: a man who many other individuals—partners, teammates, coaches, writers, etc.—view as significantly less than professional and affable/honest.
All in all, an intriguing bio of a figure I did not realize had this much depth/controversy when not slicing base hits or picking grounders all over the field.
This is a pretty straightforward bio in terms of chronology. Like I said, all of Roberto’s relevant on-field actions are covered in nice detail here, from his Padres debut to his Blue Jays reign and later his more brief tenures with Baltimore, Cleveland, and a few other squads. Not only does Ostrowsky illustrate how talented of a player Alomar was, but also emphasizes his familial ties to the sport (both father Sandy Sr. and brother Sandy Jr. were players/coaches in MLB).
But by far the most interesting part of this book is how Ostrowsky chronicles Alomar’s off-field turbulence. The biggest issue, of course, is the spitting incident with umpire John Hirschbeck which is given much coverage. A series of sexual “scandals” involving women accusing him of abuse and/or being HIV-positive and not sharing that information were all new to me. Here-and-there concerns about Alomar’s perceived snobbishness and/or unwillingness to be a true team player also proliferate.
In essence, Ostrowsky indeed paints a complicated portrait (per the book’s subtitle) of Robert Alomar. On one hand: a tremendous baseball player from a baseball-obsessed family that many teammates and coaches have nothing but positive things to say about. On the other hand: a man who many other individuals—partners, teammates, coaches, writers, etc.—view as significantly less than professional and affable/honest.
All in all, an intriguing bio of a figure I did not realize had this much depth/controversy when not slicing base hits or picking grounders all over the field.
June 2, 2024
I never considered Roberto Alomar as one of the all-time players in baseball history, but the author makes a compelling argument that Alomar is perhaps the greatest all-around second baseman to ever play the game. The book is very well-written, and Ostrowsky compiled a very impressive list of interviewees, including Randy Johnson, Dave Winfield, and umpire John Hirschbeck (whom Alomar infamously spat on during an argument). One slight qualm I have is that Ostrowsky wrote that Alomar was no less worthy of accolades than Ken Griffey Jr. for the 1997 MVP Award (I'm a Mariners fans, so I have to go to bat for Griffey and his monster numbers that season). Other than this one hint of hyperbole, quotes from Alomar's teammates and competitors definitely support the case of him being an all-time great at his position. The author also provided extensive coverage of ugly incidents which have soiled Alomar's reputation in more recent years, including allegations of sexual misconduct.
January 14, 2026
I’ll start by addressing the factor that likely keeps some readers away from this outstanding biography: Roberto Alomar is, despite being a contender for the best second baseman ever, not a particularly likable person (especially given the misconduct that led to his lifetime ban from MLB in 2021). Given the thorny nature of Alomar’s story, it is all the more worth praising the manner in which this book is written. Ostrowsky’s crisp, conversational prose not only makes for an entertaining read, but proves to be the ideal approach in handling both Alomar’s dazzling heroics on the field and his most repellant actions off of it. Interview testimony from former teammates, opponents, and others connected to Alomar strengthens an already riveting narrative. Don’t let your perception of Alomar keep you from reading this gem!
April 8, 2024
Must Read!
The author's choice for a subtitle primes the reader for the well-documented roller coaster of Alomar's life/baseball journey. Initially, I didn't understand why he doesn't show at subsequent HOF gatherings. David's telling makes abundantly clear the reason(s) for Alomar's absence.
With the reveal of each turn, I realized this has tones of a sad story - when a gifted athlete with frequent noteworthy intentions keeps trying to figure out life's other challenges.
I hope he finds peace!
The author's choice for a subtitle primes the reader for the well-documented roller coaster of Alomar's life/baseball journey. Initially, I didn't understand why he doesn't show at subsequent HOF gatherings. David's telling makes abundantly clear the reason(s) for Alomar's absence.
With the reveal of each turn, I realized this has tones of a sad story - when a gifted athlete with frequent noteworthy intentions keeps trying to figure out life's other challenges.
I hope he finds peace!
August 29, 2024
In this day and age of social media it Is shocking that details of the scandal that put Roberto Alomar on the ineligible list have not been revealed. “Roberto Alomar” attempts to shed a little light but offers very few details. An interesting biography of Alomar that goes far deeper than the image he portrayed as a ballplayer. To describe him as complicated is an understatement. Solid read.
May 22, 2024
A very well written, researched book on former baseball star Roberto Alomar, who was one of the best to ever play second base, while also one of the most flawed people off the diamond. I liked this book because there hasn't been much written about Alomar, and due to this I learned a ton from this book. At times I really wanted to know more, and this book actually could have used about 50 more pages, especially dedicated to his days as a Toronto Blue Jay. I feel this was the prime of his career with two World Series rings and I was hoping for more game information, especially the postseason from those two years. However I learned a ton more about his days as an Oriole and Indian, as well as the Mets and Chicago White Sox, which I had basically completely forgotten about. I had also forgotten about just how much this guy was a douchebag. Even his brother, Sandy Alomar Jr, got into a huge fight with him. So many sexual assault cases and situations, this was clearly not the best person in the world and it's hard to get into a book too much when the main character or person chronicled is just scum. This almost turns into a crime blog book rather than a baseball book at the end. And the whole situation with Alomar and Hirschbeck is just...weird, although I thought the author did a great job explaining both sides of that event and the years that followed. Good stuff.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews