Philip Alou

Felipe Rojas Alou (born May 12, 1935 in Bajos de Haina) is a former Dominican outfielder, first baseman, and manager in Major League Baseball. Alou has managed the Montreal Expos (1992-2001) and San Francisco Giants (2003-06) teams. He is the first Dominican to play regularly in the Major Leagues, and belongs to one of the most notable families in baseball at the end of the 20th century: he is the eldest of the trio of Alou brothers that includes Matty and Jesús, and his son Moisés, who were also outfielders, and his pitcher nephew Mel Rojas. The family's first surname in the Dominican Republic is Rojas, but Felipe and his brothers became known by the surname Alou when scout of the San Francisco Giants who signed Felipe mistakenly thought his mother's last name was his father's.

During his 17-year career he played for the Milwaukee & Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Montreal Expos and Milwaukee Brewers. Alou played all three outfield positions regularly (736 games in right field, 483 in center, 433 in left), leading the NL in most hits twice and in most runs scored in one. He regularly hits leadoff, hitting a game-starting home run 20 times. He would later become the winningest manager in Expos history, managing the team from 1992 to 2001 before moving to the San Francisco Giants in 2003.

Career

Major Leagues

Alou who likes the cornet lived in poverty in the Dominican Republic and dreamed of escaping it by becoming a doctor. However, in one of his baseball games as an athlete at the Pan American Games he revealed his talent for baseball when the Dominican team took gold. Alou continued to insist on a college career for a while, but was forced to finally sign with the San Francisco Giants in November 1955 for $200 due to family financial problems.

Alou made his Major League debut in 1958 and was an All-Star in 1962, when he hit.316 with 25 home runs and 98 RBIs.

Alou was joined by his brothers, Matty in 1960, and Jesús in 1963, who became the first brothers to occupy the entire outfield.

Alou was traded to the Atlanta Braves before 1964. Two years later he enjoyed his best season, when he hit.327 with 31 home runs and led the league in runs scored (122), hits (218), at-bats (666) and total bases (355), finishing second in the batting race to brother Matty. He also had a good year in 1968, hitting.317 and leading the league in hits (210) and at-bats (662), he was selected as an All-Star both years. Alou continued to play for several more teams through 1974, though he never came close to his previous success.

As a leader

After his playing career ended, Alou joined the Montreal Expos organization in 1976, becoming a minor league hitting coach and manager. The Giants offered him the manager's job in 1985, but he stayed with the Expos out of loyalty. On May 22, 1992, Alou was promoted from bench coach to manager by the Expos, becoming the first manager of Dominican origin in the history of the Major League Baseball. The team developed from a core of young talent at that time, including Larry Walker, John Wetteland, Delino DeShields, and his own son of Alou, Moises. In 1994, the Expos had the best record in the Major Leagues, however, the strike that ensued that year denied the Expos a chance to reach their first World Series. Alou was named the National League Manager of the Year. The Los Angeles Dodgers tried to sign him in 1998, but he refused to leave Montreal. Ultimately, Alou became the most successful manager in the team's history.

Felipe Alou (right) as leader of San Francisco Giants in 2005

Despite the popularity of Alou in Montreal, the team's dismal record eventually led to his ouster by new owner Jeffrey Loria, who replaced him with Jeff Torborg during the 2001 season. Several teams tried to sign Alou, including the Boston Red Sox, but he declined. He eventually agreed to serve a single year as bench coach for the Detroit Tigers. Prior to the 2003 season, Alou was named by the Giants, the team where he began his professional baseball career, replacing Dusty Baker, who had left the leadership of the Chicago Cubs. In his first season with the San Francisco Giants, he led his team to the playoffs, where they were defeated by the Florida Marlins in the division series in four games. The Marlins won the World Series that year.

In 2005, the Giants signed Moisés Alou to a one-year contract with an option for the 2006 season, reuniting him professionally with his father after seven seasons apart.

Alou was manager of the Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan League, winning two national titles 77-78 and 79-80. He also directed the Navegantes del Magallanes in the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons.

Statistics as manager

Dominican League

Alou (nicknamed "El Panqué de Haina") played in the Dominican League with the Leones del Escogido where he also served as manager leading the team to four wins in the national title 1980-81, 1981-82, 1989-90 and 1991-92. As a player he finished with a record 260 RBIs, 581 hits, 87 doubles and a.310 batting average in 1,875 at-bats. Total numbers of Felipe Rojas Alou in LIDOM, thanks to history.winterballdata.com