Joe Altobelli: Family, Stats, Baseball & Cause of Death

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‘If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride- and never quit, you will be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards.’ Joe Altobelli lived his life being a prime example of that quote.

Joseph Salvatore Altobelli, known as Joe Altobelli, was a professional baseball player, outfielder, and first baseman. He batted and threw from the left hand, whereas most of the players are right-handed.

Joe was also a director of the San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago Cubs.

Joe Altobelli
Joe Altobelli, Professional First Baseman, and Outfielder

And Joe went ahead of Earl Weaver as manager of the Orioles in 1983.

Altobelli also ran the squad to their sixth American League pennant and their third (and latest) World Series tournament.

Joe finished his participation in qualified baseball in 2009 and retired a decade afterward.

Before diving deep, let us look at some interesting quick facts about the late player.

Joe Altobelli | Quick Facts

Full Name Joseph Salvatore Altobelli 
Date Of Birth May 26, 1932
Place Of Birth Detroit, Michigan
Nick/Pet Name Unknown
Religion Unknown
Nationality American
Ethnic Belonging Caucasian
Father’s Name Jim Altobelli
Mother’s Name Unknown
Number Of Siblings Unknown
Education Eastern High school
Zodiac Sign Gemini
Age 88 Years Old
Height ‎6 feet
Weight 185 lb
Eye color Brown
Hair color Brown
Shoe Size Unavailable
Body Measurement Unknown
Figure Atheltic
Marital Status Married
Girlfriend No
Children 6
Occupation Baseball Player
Net worth 1 million USD
Salary Unavailable
Active Since 1955
Merch Autographed Baseball Card, Signed Orioles Baseball, 1988 Chuck Cottier Card
Current works Red Wings
Social Handle None
Last Updated  March, 2024

Joe Altobelli | Early Life & Family 

Joe was born and brought up in Detroit city of Michigan, on May 26, 1932. As a kid, he was very interested and active in sports.

Joe’s proud father was Mr. Jim Altobelli, a professional baseball player and an excellent one. 

Altobelli even earned All-City recognition in baseball, football, and basketball while attending his high school. His school, Eastern High, considered him as a gem of a student.

Later, the Cleveland Indians contracted Joe as an amateur free agent little before the 1951 season.

Even though his mother’s name is unknown, she must have been very proud of her son’s achievement as well.

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Age and Height 

Being a player all his life, it falls under everyone’s understanding that Altobelli led a very healthy life. 

Joe was six feet tall and had an equally alluring physique. His toned body came from all the rigorous practice he had to go through every day. 

Even though he had an unquestionably fit body, fans loved him for his work more.

Altobelli was a record-breaking player in his time. He applied hard work and strategy to win all those tournaments.

Similarly, as a May-born, Joe’s zodiac sign is Gemini. They are especially known for being adaptable, intelligent, great thinkers, and passionate. 

 The characters mentioned above are a must-skill in the game, so his natural behaviors also led him to success and consistent effort.

Not to mention, Joe was a positive person and a problem solver.

Altobelli was 88 years when he took his last breath and passed away due to natural causes.

Joe Altobelli | Debut in Small Leagues

The late player Altobelli showed his interesting playoff in small, minor leagues and tournaments.

After the Indians wanted him in their group, he got allocated to their Florida State League connecting in Daytona Beach for the 1951 campaign.

Joe made amazing records in the game. He single-handedly made a 36-game hitting streak which mounted as the Florida State League greatest for 59 long years.

In 2010 a player beat that the scores made by him. Then in 140 total games with the Islanders that season, he jagged 204 hits posting hand by hand a .341 batting average.

Altobelli received an advancement to the Eastern League the subsequent year by placing two solid seasons with the Reading Indians.

Not only had that, but he even aided in leading them to 101 victories and the Eastern League banner in 1953.

Additional pennant trailed in 1954, this time as an associate of the AAA American Association’s Indianapolis Indians.

The talented baseball player has a .297 average and 79 RBI that time of year. However, it was sufficient to earn him a call-up to the Major Leagues next year.

Major League Career

Joe completed his big league debut in his hometown of Detroit in 1955, when he was introduced into the team in the eighth inning.

It took place as a pinch-runner for three-time All-Star Vic Wertz.

His direct hit and RBI came a week later when he was left alone to the left with the bases overloaded to score Larry Doby.

Altobelli engaged in 20 games with the Tribe before being reverted to Indianapolis.

This incident took place because the Indians thought he could get more playing time as a commonplace player.

By September call-up, Joe frolicked in a total of 42 games aimed at the big league club that season, hitting .200 BA, 2 HR, and 5 RBI.

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Achievement at the AAA Level as a Competitor

Alto continued with Indianapolis as the club forwarded one of the most effective seasons in the entire franchise history.

Altobelli showed a brand-new influence by gulping 19 home runs and ten triples despite driving in 81 runs to go along with a .254 batting average in 145 games.

The AAA Indians earned the American Association pennant with the best score, counting a 24-0 win that ended the Louisville Colonels.

In the American Association championships, Joe’s team also cleared off the Denver Bears, then swept the International League’s Rochester Red Wings in the Junior World Series.

He spent the entire period with the Cleveland Indians, performed in 83 games while satisfying a major pinch hitter character.

Alto was a knock-back original baseman and outfielder who liked his utmost achievement at the AAA level as a competitor.

But, Joe grasped double-digits in home runs in nine of his thirteen times as an AAA player. 

 Joe Altobelli | International Debut 

As an associate of the Montreal Royals, he commanded the 1960 International League (IL) in home runs and RBI.

Joe engaged in baseball three winter seasons in Venezuela. After that he spent one whole year in the Liga Occidental de Béisbol Profesional (LOBP).

Alto also engaged himself for two years in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (VPBL).

He appealed a batting title with a .378 usual for the 1955–56 Gavilanes de Maracaibo challenge squad.

Lastly, Joe posted two solid operations with the Indios de Oriente and Industriales de Valencia.

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Joe Altobelli | Life after Retirement

After his retirement, Joe signed an 11-year-old contract with the Baltimore farm system, appearing in six seasons.

Alto’s main duty was to manage the IL Rochester Red Wings. He was delighted with the Rochester’s and resigned the terms four times again.

After working with Rochester’s, San Francisco Giants contracted him.

Even though Joe showed outstanding managerial skills with the team and even got the team a prestigious award, they discharged him.

Joe cheering
Joe cheering

Alto then joined the New York Yankees’ as a manager and started working with their triple-A team.

As Yankees did a great job in the IL, the organization promoted him as their coach. It was a piece of wonderful news for Joe.

Many said that he was the best manager any team could get. Alto was very compassionate, soft-spoken, and sensitive compared to most managers.

After that, he joined the Yankees again, but he couldn’t stay in there as much as he planned.

Due to his reasons, he returned to Rochester again and took the position of General Manager. Three years later, Joe was the color commentator of that same organization.

Altobelli's Statue
Altobelli’s Statue

He was called ‘Mr. Baseball’ and the organization even retired his jersey number.

Similarly, Alto received the Red Wings Hall of Fame with his statue installed in the Frontier Field.

He loved Rochester dearly, and Rochester loved Joe back with the same intensity.

Joe Altobelli | Net Worth and Income

The estimated net worth of this legendary baseball player and coach is about $1 million.

His primary source of earning was, of course, playing and coaching. In his times, the Merch and fan graphs were not as popular as it is now.

Otherwise, it would have allocated him some amount as well.

Besides, Joe led a very private life, so it isn’t easy to access if he had done any brand endorsements or not.

We will update this section as soon as we get information about it.

But he has earned enough to lead a very prosperous and happy life for his wife and children in his entire career.

Joe Altobelli | Personal Life, Kids, and Death

Joe spent his last days at the residence in Rochester, New York. He had a lovely wife named Patsy Ruth Wooten. Unfortunately, she left Alto’s side in 2003.

The lovely couple had six children: Mike, Mark, Jody, Jackie, Jerry, and Joe. 

The Altobelli couple were very much in love with each other as they had an unbroken 52 years of marriage.

Alto had his first stroke in 2017, and since then, he had been residing at a rehabilitation center.

Joe Altobelli
Joe spending his last days

Joe’s last public appearance was in 2019 when one of his students got the Red Wings Hall of Fame award.

Likewise, Altobelli was a humble and loving baseball player who never had any issue related to ego.

As he grew old, his movement was restricted and mostly remained confined in a room. Sadly, on March 3, 2021, the world lost one of its finest gems.

Joe was 88 when he left the world. Even though he is not here physically, his contribution to baseball will forever keep his memory alive. 

His fans and fellow players thought of him as a family and were gravely saddened upon his death. However, the late manager’s legacy will forever live on.

His colleagues and other baseball experts couldn’t praise Alto enough. Not only was he a great baseball figure, but he was also a good man too. May his soul rest in peace and ease.

Joe Altobelli | Social Media Presence 

Joe has almost nil social media presence. He doesn’t have an account on any platform, be it Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

He hails from a generation that doesn’t require the attention of people to keep going. Alto rather believed in living in the present and real moment.

Some of his hashtags were trending on social media platforms. 

Twitter – #JoeAltobelli

Instagram – #JoeAltobelli

Joe Altobelli | FAQs

Did Joe Altobelli play for the Montreal Dodgers?

Yes, during his playing career, the late baseballer and manager was a member of the Montreal Royals, Brooklyn Dodgers’ club. Besides that, he had a brief career in the Major League Baseball with the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins. 

What is Joe Altobelli’s “DECEASED” Giants 1979 Topps SIGNED / AUTOGRAPH baseball Card value?

The baseball card’s value is $5.95.

Is Joe Altobelli still alive?

No, Altobelli passed away on March 2021 due to natural causes. 
Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah
Sanjib Sah is an engineer and content writer passionate about sports and athletics. With a background in engineering and a love for all things active, Sanjib brings a unique perspective to the world of sports writing. Whether he is covering the latest trends in sports technology or sharing tips on improving your game, Sanjib's words are always rooted in a deep appreciation for players' hard work and dedication everywhere. In his free time, you can find him hitting the courts or hitting the trails, always looking for new ways to challenge himself and improve his skills.

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