Athletes - Joe Altobelli

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	Athletes - Joe Altobelli

Joseph Salvatore Altobelli (born May 26, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan) is a former player, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. In 1983 he succeeded Hall of Fame pilot Earl Weaver as field boss of the Baltimore Orioles and led the O's to their sixth American League pennant and third World Series championship.

Altobelli the player was a slugging first baseman and outfielder who enjoyed his greatest success at the AAA level. He batted only .210 in 166 games for the Cleveland Indians (1955, 1957) and Minnesota Twins (1961) with five home runs and only 28 runs batted in. However, he was frequently in the double-digits in homers as a AAA player, and, as a member of the Montreal Royals, he led the 1960 International League in homers (31) and RBI (105). He batted and threw lefthanded.

In 1966, Altobelli began an 11-year apprenticeship as a skipper in the Baltimore farm system, culminating in six seasons (1971-76) as manager of the Rochester Red Wings of the IL. During that time, the Red Wings finished first four times. In 1977, Altobelli got his first big league managing job, as leader of the San Francisco Giants. Although his 1978 club finished 16 games above .500 and in third place in the National League West, Altobelli was dismissed in 1979, his third season, with a mark of only 225-239 (.485) as Giants' manager.

He then joined the New York Yankees as pilot of their AAA farm club, the Columbus Clippers. After another first place IL finish in 1980, Altobelli became a Yankees coach in 1981-82, working under Gene Michael, Bob Lemon and Clyde King. Before the 1983 season, he was named the surprise successor to Weaver, finishing a legendary, 14 1/2 season career as Baltimore's manager. But Altobelli rose to the occasion, leading the O's to 98 wins, the AL East championship, then a three games to one triumph over the Chicago White Sox in the American League Championship Series. The Orioles then outclassed the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1983 World Series, winning in five games.

But the Orioles fell to fifth in the AL East in 1984, despite playing eight games over .500, and in May 1985, when they continued to tread water at 29-26, he was let go. Weaver came out of retirement, but of 105 games under his command, Baltimore won only 53.

Altobelli then returned to coaching. He served under Don Zimmer with the Chicago Cubs from 1988-91, and filled in as interim manager when Zimmer was fired in 1991 and replaced by Jim Essian. He then returned to Rochester, where he serves as color commentator on Red Wings broadcasts. His career major league managing record: 437-407 (.518).

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