Faith and family are the central themes that motivate White Sox second baseman and 12-time Major League all star Roberto Alomar. During his 16-year career, Robbie has produced Hall of Fame credentials, including a major league record 10 Gold Glove awards, and a career .301 average. He’s only 321 hits away from the coveted 3000 hit plateau going into next season.
Spiritual Practices Bring Joy
Praying the Rosary has brought Roberto closer to his family. His father Sandy Sr. played in the major leagues for 15 years and was role model for young Roberto growing up. Robbie is very close to his brother Sandy, Jr., a 6-time all-star catcher , and has been a professional teammate with Sandy in three different ball clubs including the White Sox.
In Alomar’s locker at U.S. Cellular Field is a 8″ by 12” image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that was given to him by ex-teammate Mike Piazza of the New York Mets while playing a series in Mexico City. Piazza bought the print while at Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Robbie has a strong love for the Blessed Mother. “To me she’s beautiful and that’s why I will always keep her with me at my locker.”
Roberto finds tremendous inner satisfaction in attending Catholic Mass on a regular basis. “Every time I go to a church, it bring me peace and enjoyment, and I just smile because I feel like I’m talking to God, and He’s talking to me.” The future Hall of Famer understands that the Eucharist he receives in Mass is the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. “I’m receiving God, I feel like He’s taking all my sins away and I’m being born again.”
Proud of Being a Christian
The 35-year-old Alomar was acquired by the White Sox from the New York Mets on July 1st to improve their defense and provide a switch hitting veteran presence. Robbie was reunited with his brother, Sox catcher Sandy Alomar, and he’s open to re-signing with the White Sox for next season.
But Roberto Alomar is much more than gold gloves and hitting ability, he’s a Catholic Christian with a burning desire to know God more intimately. Roberto says, “the Lord is always going to be with me…. I’m real proud of being a Christian, and of getting to know more about God everyday. I think that’s what keeps me going.”
Under his White Sox uniform, Roberto wears a white Rosary around his neck; it was given to him by his mother who lives in Puerto Rico and is a devout Catholic. “The Rosary to me is special, because it brings me peace and always keeps me blessed.” Alomar, who is single, knows that the Rosary is the prayer of the Gospel, and a never-ending reminder of the life of Jesus Christ and his Mother. “I do it every day, I go home and pray every day. God has given me more than I expected, a baseball career, family, friends and everything that I have I owe it to Him. This is what I do for Him on an everyday basis.”
Running Home on Sunday
For over 40 years, nondenominational Baseball Chapel services have been held on Sundays in stadiums around the country. Alomar dreams of the day when Catholic Masses are also said every Sunday throughout Major League baseball. While a member of the Orioles and Mets, Alomar regularly went to Mass at the ballpark with his teammates. “In New York, that was the greatest day of my life, to be there in Mass with my teammates every Sunday.”
When Alomar was younger he was much more emotional and hot-tempered. He’s matured and come a long way because of his faith in Christ. “We, as human beings, make a lot of mistakes, but one thing that I have learned through my family and through church, is that God is always going to be there for you with forgiveness…if you are sorry for your sins.”
He’s is one of the greatest second baseman of his generation, but Alomar would like baseball fans to knows that he’s much more than just a professional athlete. “I wish people could know us, not just as ballplayers, but for the people who we are.”
Roberto Alomar is most of all a family man, proud to be a member of the worldwide family of God, the Catholic Church.
John Morales is a bilingual sports reporter formerly with Fox Sports Net Chicago. A Catholic evangelist who currently serves as the Sports Director for Relevant Radio on the Starboard Network, John provides sports updates and interviews on Morning Air with Jeff Cavins. The program is broadcast on a variety of radio stations around the country from 8-10 a.m. EST. You can write John with story ideas at: jmorales@relevantradio.com
This article originally appeared in the Chicago Catholic New World and is used by permission of the author.
