Moisés Alou
Encyclopedia
Moisés Rojas Alou is a former American
outfielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for 17 seasons in the National League
. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average
of .303 with 2,134 hits
, 421 doubles
, 332 home run
s, and 1,287 runs batted in. Because of his status as a five-tool player
and his excellent career numbers, Alou is considered by many to be one of the best outfielders of the 1990s and 2000s.
His father Felipe, who managed Moises with the Expos
from 1992 to 1996 and the Giants
from 2005 to 2006, as well as uncles Matty
and Jesús
, and cousin Mel Rojas
, all had long careers in Major League Baseball. As of 2008, he was one of four active major leaguers (along with Prince Fielder
, Ken Griffey, Jr.
, and Daryle Ward
) to hit 20 home runs in a season whose fathers had also hit 20 home runs in an MLB season. Alou is married to Austria Alou; they have three sons: Percio, Kirby and Moisés Jr.
Alou is one of the few baseball players who batted without the use of batting gloves
. Instead, Moises Alou revealed that during baseball season he urinates on his hands to toughen them up. Alou was also known for pranking teammates while they were sleeping in the locker room. For baseball shoes, Alou wore only hi-top Nikes once he switched to them from lo-cut Nikes in 1992.
during his youth, and did not play organized baseball until he attended Cañada College
in Redwood City, California
. It was there that baseball scouts noticed his bat speed and speed on the basepaths. In , Alou was the second overall pick in the amateur draft, chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
where he would later play under his father while he managed the Expos.
Alou suffered a severe ankle injury in that would rob him of his speed and force him to become strictly a corner outfielder. He recovered in , hitting .339 and hit the game-winning hit in the year's All-Star Game
. For the next two seasons, he would enjoy success at the plate in Montreal, although surgery to both shoulders prematurely ended his season.
with the Florida Marlins
, where he led the team with 23 home run
s and 115 RBIs
. The Marlins made the playoffs as a wild card
team, and defeated the San Francisco Giants
in the National League Divisional Series, and then the Atlanta Braves
in the National League Championship Series
, before going to the World Series
, which Florida won in seven games. Alou led the team by hitting .321 with three home runs and nine RBI in the World Series (although, pitcher Liván Hernández
, by virtue of his wins in Games 1 and 5 was named the Series Most Valuable Player
instead).
Before the season, the Marlins traded Alou to the Houston Astros
. In his first season with the team, Alou hit a career-high 38 home runs and drove in 124 runs while leading the Astros to a franchise record 102 wins. However, he tore his ACL in a treadmill
accident in the offseason, and missed the entire season. Once recovered, he returned to the Astros lineup to hit .355 in and .331 in , while driving in at least 108 runs in each season. After the 2001 season, the Astros did not offer Alou a new contract, making him a free agent
.
.
In , Alou again ended up on the disabled list
at the start of the season, and once healthy, he hit .275 and 15 home runs. After the 2002 season, Alou, hired a personal trainer and dedicated himself to return to his old form. In the season, Alou batted over .300 for most of the season while driving in runs as he used to, before a late season slump dropped his season batting average to .280, with 22 home runs and 91 RBIs. Alou went on to lead the team in average in its two series against the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins.
In Game 6 of the National League Championship Series
against the Florida Marlins
that year, Alou was involved in the Steve Bartman incident, in which a Cubs fan named Steve Bartman deflected a foul ball landing one row into the stands, preventing Alou, who reached into the stands, from attempting to catch the ball for an out that could have been the second out of the 8th Inning. However, the Marlins went on to score eight runs in the inning, which the Cubs had led 3-0. The Cubs, who had led the series 3-2, lost the game 8-3 and eventually lost the series in seven games. Alou openly admitted later in interviews that while he was frustrated at the moment, he could not have made the catch anyway. Later he denied making such a statement and said if he had, it was only to make Bartman feel better.
In , Alou set new career highs in home runs (39) and doubles (36), while driving in 106 runs. However, the Cubs missed the playoffs after losing seven of their last nine games. The Cubs refused to offer arbitration and let him go, citing numerous fights with umpires whom he claimed had a vendetta against him.
, he started most games in left field. Alou had stated that he would retire if the Giants won the World Series in . They did not, and Alou exercised his option and stayed with San Francisco in season, hitting 22 home runs and 74 RBI.
On November 20, 2006, the New York Mets
signed Alou to a one-year contract worth $7.5 million with a club option for . After hitting .318 in his first month as the regular left fielder, Alou suffered a torn quadriceps muscle, and was forced out until August. Upon his return, Alou led the Mets with a .345 batting average and had a 30-game hitting streak. The streak was the longest streak of the season, was the longest hitting streak by a player over age 40, and broke the Mets' overall and single-season hitting streak records.
On October 31, 2007, the Mets exercised their option on Alou's contract for the 2008 season. "Last year, Moises showed us what type of hitter he was," said General Manager Omar Minaya
.
On March 5, 2008 Alou underwent hernia
surgery and missed the start of the 2008 season. On July 9, Alou suffered a torn right hamstring playing in the outfield for AA Binghamton
in Norwich, Connecticut
. Mets general manager Omar Minaya stated in a press conference the following day that Alou will likely need surgery and miss the remainder of the 2008 season, which ended his career.
On March 5, 2009, Alou announced that he would retire after the World Baseball Classic
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for 17 seasons in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .303 with 2,134 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 421 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 332 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and 1,287 runs batted in. Because of his status as a five-tool player
Five-tool player
In baseball, a five-tool player is one who excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, baserunning skills and speed, throwing ability, and fielding abilities....
and his excellent career numbers, Alou is considered by many to be one of the best outfielders of the 1990s and 2000s.
His father Felipe, who managed Moises with the Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
from 1992 to 1996 and the Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
from 2005 to 2006, as well as uncles Matty
Matty Alou
Mateo Rojas "Matty" Alou was a Dominican outfielder who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals , Oakland Athletics , New York Yankees and San Diego Padres...
and Jesús
Jesús Alou
Jesús María Rojas Alou is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. During a 17-year baseball career, he played for the San Francisco Giants , Houston Astros , Oakland Athletics , and New York Mets...
, and cousin Mel Rojas
Mel Rojas
Melquiades Rojas Medrano was a pitcher with a 10 year career from 1990 to 1999. He played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League and the Detroit Tigers of the American League.His best season was in 1992, when he posted a 7-1 record in 68...
, all had long careers in Major League Baseball. As of 2008, he was one of four active major leaguers (along with Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder
Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...
, Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter...
, and Daryle Ward
Daryle Ward
Daryle Lamar Ward is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and plays in the Minor League farm system. He has not played in the Majors since 2008. He bats and throws left-handed. The 6-foot-2, 240 pound Ward was drafted by the Detroit Tigers...
) to hit 20 home runs in a season whose fathers had also hit 20 home runs in an MLB season. Alou is married to Austria Alou; they have three sons: Percio, Kirby and Moisés Jr.
Alou is one of the few baseball players who batted without the use of batting gloves
Batting gloves
Batting gloves are a component in baseball sportswear. The glove covers one or both hands of a batter, providing comfort, warmth, improved grip, and shock absorption when hitting the ball...
. Instead, Moises Alou revealed that during baseball season he urinates on his hands to toughen them up. Alou was also known for pranking teammates while they were sleeping in the locker room. For baseball shoes, Alou wore only hi-top Nikes once he switched to them from lo-cut Nikes in 1992.
Baseball career
At the age of 18, Alou was more interested in playing basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
during his youth, and did not play organized baseball until he attended Cañada College
Cañada College
Cañada College is a community college located at 4200 Farm Hill Boulevard in an unincorporated area of Redwood City, California, just off Highway 280. Cañada College opened in 1968 as part of the three-school San Mateo County Community College District. It is one of the smallest community...
in Redwood City, California
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
. It was there that baseball scouts noticed his bat speed and speed on the basepaths. In , Alou was the second overall pick in the amateur draft, chosen by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
Montreal Expos
In , he was traded to the Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
where he would later play under his father while he managed the Expos.
Alou suffered a severe ankle injury in that would rob him of his speed and force him to become strictly a corner outfielder. He recovered in , hitting .339 and hit the game-winning hit in the year's All-Star Game
1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 65th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
. For the next two seasons, he would enjoy success at the plate in Montreal, although surgery to both shoulders prematurely ended his season.
Florida Marlins and Houston Astros
Prior to the season, Alou signed as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, where he led the team with 23 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 115 RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. The Marlins made the playoffs as a wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
team, and defeated the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in the National League Divisional Series, and then the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
, before going to the World Series
1997 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 18, 1997 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, FloridaThe first World Series game in the state of Florida, Game 1 featured a youngster and a veteran facing each other on the mound...
, which Florida won in seven games. Alou led the team by hitting .321 with three home runs and nine RBI in the World Series (although, pitcher Liván Hernández
Liván Hernández
Eisler Liván Hernández Carrera is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher. He is the half-brother of pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernández.-Playing career:...
, by virtue of his wins in Games 1 and 5 was named the Series Most Valuable Player
World Series MVP Award
The World Series Most Valuable Player Award is given to the player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series, which is the final round of the Major League Baseball postseason...
instead).
Before the season, the Marlins traded Alou to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. In his first season with the team, Alou hit a career-high 38 home runs and drove in 124 runs while leading the Astros to a franchise record 102 wins. However, he tore his ACL in a treadmill
Treadmill
A treadmill is an exercise machine for running or walking while staying in one place. The word treadmill traditionally refers to a type of mill which was operated by a person or animal treading steps of a wheel to grind grain...
accident in the offseason, and missed the entire season. Once recovered, he returned to the Astros lineup to hit .355 in and .331 in , while driving in at least 108 runs in each season. After the 2001 season, the Astros did not offer Alou a new contract, making him a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
Chicago Cubs
In December 2001, he inked a 3-year, $27 million contract with the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
In , Alou again ended up on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
at the start of the season, and once healthy, he hit .275 and 15 home runs. After the 2002 season, Alou, hired a personal trainer and dedicated himself to return to his old form. In the season, Alou batted over .300 for most of the season while driving in runs as he used to, before a late season slump dropped his season batting average to .280, with 22 home runs and 91 RBIs. Alou went on to lead the team in average in its two series against the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins.
In Game 6 of the National League Championship Series
2003 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 7, 2003 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IllinoisThe Marlins took Game 1 of the series, coming back from an early 4–0 deficit. They scored five runs in the third on three home runs from Juan Encarnacion, rookie Miguel Cabrera, and Ivan "Pudge" Rodríguez. In the sixth inning,...
against the Florida Marlins
2003 Florida Marlins season
The 2003 Florida Marlins season was a season in American baseball. The Marlins were the National League Wild Card Winners, the National League Champions, and the World Series Champions.-Offseason:...
that year, Alou was involved in the Steve Bartman incident, in which a Cubs fan named Steve Bartman deflected a foul ball landing one row into the stands, preventing Alou, who reached into the stands, from attempting to catch the ball for an out that could have been the second out of the 8th Inning. However, the Marlins went on to score eight runs in the inning, which the Cubs had led 3-0. The Cubs, who had led the series 3-2, lost the game 8-3 and eventually lost the series in seven games. Alou openly admitted later in interviews that while he was frustrated at the moment, he could not have made the catch anyway. Later he denied making such a statement and said if he had, it was only to make Bartman feel better.
In , Alou set new career highs in home runs (39) and doubles (36), while driving in 106 runs. However, the Cubs missed the playoffs after losing seven of their last nine games. The Cubs refused to offer arbitration and let him go, citing numerous fights with umpires whom he claimed had a vendetta against him.
San Francisco Giants and New York Mets
In October 2004, Alou announced that he had talked to his father, Felipe, about possibly playing for him and the Giants next season. In December 2004, he signed a one-year deal with the Giants worth $13.5 million, with a player option for a second year. Alou was expected to regularly play in right field for the first time since 2001, but due to injuries to left fielder Barry BondsBarry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
, he started most games in left field. Alou had stated that he would retire if the Giants won the World Series in . They did not, and Alou exercised his option and stayed with San Francisco in season, hitting 22 home runs and 74 RBI.
On November 20, 2006, the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
signed Alou to a one-year contract worth $7.5 million with a club option for . After hitting .318 in his first month as the regular left fielder, Alou suffered a torn quadriceps muscle, and was forced out until August. Upon his return, Alou led the Mets with a .345 batting average and had a 30-game hitting streak. The streak was the longest streak of the season, was the longest hitting streak by a player over age 40, and broke the Mets' overall and single-season hitting streak records.
On October 31, 2007, the Mets exercised their option on Alou's contract for the 2008 season. "Last year, Moises showed us what type of hitter he was," said General Manager Omar Minaya
Omar Minaya
Omar Teodoro Antonio Minaya y Sánchez is a former baseball executive who served as General Manager for the Montreal Expos and New York Mets.-Early life:...
.
On March 5, 2008 Alou underwent hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
surgery and missed the start of the 2008 season. On July 9, Alou suffered a torn right hamstring playing in the outfield for AA Binghamton
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
in Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
. Mets general manager Omar Minaya stated in a press conference the following day that Alou will likely need surgery and miss the remainder of the 2008 season, which ended his career.
On March 5, 2009, Alou announced that he would retire after the World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.
See also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of second generation Major League Baseball players
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI