One of the DR's first great hitters. Matty was a slap hitting player who spread the ball around the field and got many hits in the infield. Sorry to read he left us so soon. I remember reading about how all the Alou brothers played the outfield position for the same inning with the Giants. Felipe was joined by his brothers, Matty in 1960, and Jesus in 1963, who became the first all-brother outfield. The brothers SHOULD have been known by the surname ROJAS as this is their father's surname, but an early mix-up caused them to be known by their mother's maiden name of Alou.

"Mateo Rojas "Matty" Alou (born December 22, 1938 in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic) is a former Major League Baseball center fielder.

During a 15-year baseball career, he played for the San Francisco Giants (1960–65), Pittsburgh Pirates (1966–70), St. Louis Cardinals (1971–72), Oakland Athletics (1972), New York Yankees (1973), and San Diego Padres (1974). He was the middle of the trio of baseball-playing brothers that included Felipe and Jesús.


Alou was a platoon player for the Giants for several years and was mostly unremarkable. His finest moment in San Francisco came in 1962 when his pinch-hit bunt single in the final game of a three-game tie-breaking playoff against the Los Angeles Dodgers began the rally that won the game and the pennant for the Giants. He batted .333 in the Giants' losing effort against the Yankees in that year's World Series. After Alou was traded to the Pirates before the 1966 season, he received instruction from expert hitting instructor Harry "the Hat" Walker that helped turn him into a formidable batter.

He won the batting title with a .342 average, with his brother Felipe finishing second, and finished in the top five in hitting four more times after that (1967-1969, 1971). He also led the league in at bats twice (1969-1970), hits once (1969) and doubles once (1969). After leaving the Major Leagues following the 1974 season, he played three seasons in Japan (Taiheiyo Club Lions) and managed in the Dominican Winter League.

On June 23, 2007, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame inducted Matty Alou into their Hall of Fame during an on-field, pre-game ceremony at AT&T Park before a game between the San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees. He, along with San Francisco Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel were inducted in front of over 43,000 fans." Wikipedia.

Career highlights and awards

2× All-Star selection (1968, 1969)
World Series champion (1972)
1966 NL batting title

rip!

Que pena?

Que descanse en paz!

How quickky we fade away and are forgotten like the leaves that fall off a tree?

The year 1060?

this is a guy i loved to watch playing the game, as much as i admired his brothers. RIP, Matty. you ran a good race.

RIP. A great loss to the baseball community.

rip matty

A proud moment for Dominican Yankee fans when he came over that year. Got many clutch hits that season for the Yanks. Any one knows what he batted that season of 1973? He will always be in our childhood memories. RIP Matty

Will never forget him! Great person and great talent as MLB. God bless his family and give them comfort during this difficult time. I have created a tribute to Mateo and if you would like to view...here is the site: youtu.be/j4_dUftr45k

Manny was fun to watch!