George Altman

Infobox MLB retired
name=George Altman


width = 150
position=Outfielder
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1933|3|20
city-state|Goldsboro|North Carolina
debutdate=April 11
debutyear=by|1959
debutteam=Chicago Cubs
finaldate=October 1
finalyear=by|1967
finalteam=Chicago Cubs
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.269
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=101
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=403
teams=
*Chicago Cubs (by|1959-by|1962, by|1965-by|1967)
*St. Louis Cardinals (by|1963)
*New York Mets (by|1964)
*Tokyo/Lotte Orions (by|1968-by|1974)
*Hanshin Tigers (by|1975)
highlights=
*2-time National League All-Star
*Led NL in triples in 1961

George Lee Altman (born March 20, 1933, Goldsboro, North Carolina) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball. From by|1959 through by|1967, Altman played for the Chicago Cubs (1959-by|1962, by|1965-1967), St. Louis Cardinals (by|1963) and New York Mets (by|1964). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

In a nine-season MLB career, Altman was a .269 hitter with 101 home runs and 403 RBI in 991 games played.

From by|1968 through by|1975, Altman played in Japan for the Lotte Orions and the Hanshin Tigers. He posted a .309 average with 205 HR, and credited martial arts training for his improvement.

An alumnus of Tennessee State University [cite web |url=http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/091005aaa.html |title=NAIA Players in the Pros |accessdate=2008-09-02 |publisher=The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics |date=2005-09-10 ] , Altman currently resides in O'Fallon, MO.

Highlights

*Made a leaping catch of a ninth-inning line drive to help preserve Don Cardwell's no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals (May 15, 1960)
*Twice National League All-Star (by|1961-1962)
*Led NL in triples (1961, 12)
*First player to hit two home runs off Sandy Koufax in the same game (August 4, 1961)
*Had a pinch homer in an All-Star Game (1961)
*Named Player of the Month for June 1961
*Only player in 19-year span (by|1955-by|1973) other than Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo to lead Cubs in RBI in one season (1961). (Altman 96, B.Williams 86, Santo 83, Banks 80)

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball triples champions

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/A/Altman_George.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.japanball.com/letter060105.htm Japanese Baseball]
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/history/mlb_asgrecaps_story_headline.jsp?story_page=recap_1961 MLB 1961 All-Star Game]
* [http://www.ultimatemets.com/profile.php?PlayerCode=0080 NY Mets Database]

References