He achieved everything in baseball that a young ball player in Canada could want. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays. He won championships. He made it into the hall of fame.
And now, Roberto Alomar will be coming to Nanaimo to tell kids how it’s done.
Alomar, along with his dad Sandy Alomar, Sr., and Jays alumni Duane Ward and Lloyd Moseby – all of them former all-stars – will be in Nanaimo on July 11 for An All-Star Evening, a fundraiser dinner for the Nanaimo Minor Baseball Association and the Foundation 12 charity.
“I’m looking forward to it. The last time I was in Nanaimo I had a lot of fun with the kids,” said Robbie Alomar, recalling a clinic a few years ago. “I’m looking forward to the dinner and visiting around with the kids and their families and anybody who’s going to be there and just chat with them.
“It’s about them getting to know me, the things that I had to go through when I was a kid to become who I am today and to become a professional.”
Alomar was a 12-time all-star in the majors and won the World Series with the Jays in 1992 and 1993. In ’92, he hit a game-tying two-run home run in the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics’ near-invincible closer Dennis Eckersley to help his team to a 3-1 lead in the American League championship series.
Fans today still like to ask about that hit, Alomar said, or other big wins, or about his own idols, or growing up in a baseball family.
“They ask a lot of questions, but it’s all good,” Alomar said. “I want them to [know] what it takes to become in life who you want to be. We’re there to help, to help them believe in themselves and hopefully they can fulfil their dream the same way I did, or the guys who are going to be with me.”
A lot of young ball players in Nanaimo dream of playing for the Blue Jays. Buoyed by last season’s playoff run, the Jays have experienced a resurgence as Canada’s team. Alomar said in his playing days, he always knew where the fans were and appreciated the support.
“There was two teams before, but now there’s only one team, so we really believe that now we have even more fans than we had before when we won,” he said. “As an organization, we know how much they love the Jays all over Canada and we appreciate that.”
Alomar lives in Toronto, continues to be part of the Blue Jays’ organization as a consultant, and helps out with minor baseball camps across the country. His Foundation 12 benefits youth players including those with disabilities.
“It’s real special when you give an opportunity to those kids… It’s one of my main goals to continue to support them,” he said.
An All-Star Evening at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on July 11 will include a pre-banquet reception with the special guests starting at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:15 p.m. and speakers at 7 p.m. Cost is $85, or $850 for a table of eight. Tickets are available at Kirby’s Source for Sports on Bowen Road or online at www.baseballnanaimo.com. For more information, please e-mail michael.holyk@bnc.ca.
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