George Altman

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George Altman
Outfielder
Born: (1933-03-20) March 20, 1933 (age 91)
Goldsboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 11, 1959, for the Chicago Cubs
NPB: April 6, 1968, for the Tokyo Orions
Last appearance
MLB: October 1, 1967, for the Chicago Cubs
NPB: October 16, 1975, for the Hanshin Tigers
MLB statistics
Batting average.269
Home runs101
Runs batted in403
NPB statistics
Batting average.309
Home runs205
Runs batted in656
Teams
Career highlights and awards

George Lee Altman (born March 20, 1933) is an American former

home runs and bat .309 with 985 hits
.

Altman batted left-handed and threw right-handed; he was listed as 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and 200 pounds (91 kg). He was born in

historically black college in Nashville, where he played varsity baseball and basketball.[1]

Baseball career

In North America

Altman's first professional baseball experience came with the

center field, including on Opening Day, when he went two for three against Don Drysdale in a 6–1 Chicago victory.[4] Altman batted only .245 as a rookie, and his playing time diminished slightly in 1960, as he started at all three outfield positions, as well as at first base
.

But he improved his batting average to .266, and in

inning; the National League ultimately prevailed in the wind-blown contest, 5–4.[5]

He followed his 1961 season with another strong showing in

to Chicago.

He became the 1963 Cardinals' starting right fielder and played a role in a pennant race that saw the Redbirds challenge the eventual world champion Los Angeles Dodgers into late September before a six-game losing streak doomed their chances. But Altman's production declined, as he was platooned and started only against right-handed pitching; his average fell 44 points to .274, and he hit only nine home runs. Again, he was traded in the off-season, sent to the last-place New York Mets for pitcher Roger Craig in November. Altman played four more years in the majors. Only in 1964, his sole season with the Mets, did he play regularly. But he struggled offensively, hitting .230 in 124 games, again hitting only nine homers, and was traded back to the Cubs in January 1965.

In Japan

He was a spare outfielder in both

Lotte Orions and the Hanshin Tigers, and enjoyed seasons of 39, 34 and 30 homers—and four more years with 20 or more blasts—and batted over .300 six times. Highlights from his NPB career included leading the Pacific League in hits (170), runs (84), and RBI (100) in 1968; and being named to the "Best Nine" Pacific League team in 1968, 1970, and 1971. He credited martial arts training for baseball success in Japan.[6]

MLB totals

In his nine-year major league career with the Cubs, Cardinals and Mets, Altman batted .269; his 832 hits included 132 doubles, 34 triples, and 101 home runs. He had 403 RBIs in 991 games played. He recorded a .981 fielding percentage playing at all three outfield positions and first base. In three All-Star Game appearances, his 1961 homer was his only hit in three at bats; he played errorless ball in the field over three innings as the National League's right fielder in 1961's second midsummer classic, played July 31 at Fenway Park.

Altman currently resides in O'Fallon, Missouri.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "NAIA Players in the Pros". The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 2005-09-10. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
  2. ^ "George Altman," Negro League Baseball Players Association. Accessed Oct. 7, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Costello, Rory, George Altman, Society for American Baseball Research Biography Project
  4. ^ Retrosheet box score (11 April 1959): "Chicago Cubs 6, Los Angeles Dodgers 1"
  5. ^ Retrosheet box score (11 July 1961): "National League 5, American League 4, (10 innings)"
  6. .

External links

Preceded by Major League Player of the Month
June, 1961
Succeeded by