Salinas seeks to honor baseball’s Alomar dynasty with highway dedication.
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
Salinas is moving to permanently link one of Puerto Rico’s most storied baseball families to a road that runs through the heart of their hometown.
Rep. Estrella Martínez Soto announced the filing of House Joint Resolution 305, a measure that would designate a stretch of Puerto Rico Highway 1—from kilometer 89.8 at the entrance to downtown Salinas to its intersection with Puerto Rico Highway 3—as “Familia Alomar Velázquez Highway.”
The proposal recognizes the extraordinary athletic achievements, historic legacy, and lasting impact of the Alomar family on the identity and pride of Salinas, Puerto Rico and the island as a whole. The initiative was requested by the municipality and its local legislature.
“As stated in the resolution’s statement of motives, PR-1 is one of the principal arteries in southern Puerto Rico,” Martínez Soto explained. “For Salinas in particular, it is a vital route for economic development, mobility and the social connection of its communities. The section from the town’s entrance to the PR-3 junction also carries deep historical and community meaning for residents.”
A baseball lineage rooted in Salinas
The legislation highlights Salinas as the birthplace of one of the most iconic families in Puerto Rican and Major League Baseball history: the Alomar Velázquez family.
At the foundation of that dynasty stands Santos Alomar Sr., known as “Santos (Padre),” who debuted in 1964 with the Atlanta Braves (then the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves) and later played for the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels.
During his Major League career he collected more than 1,200 hits, posted a .250 batting average and built a reputation as a steady defensive second baseman. Alomar also represented Puerto Rico in international competition and, after retiring, devoted himself to mentoring younger generations as a coach, manager and instructor—including work at the Major League level.
“His leadership and discipline laid the foundation for a family tradition of excellence in the sport,” Martínez Soto noted.
Sandy Alomar: Rookie of the Year and All-Star catcher
His son Sandy Alomar Jr. debuted in the majors in 1988 and quickly rose to prominence, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1990—the same season he earned his first All-Star selection.
Alomar would go on to appear in six All-Star Games (1990-1992, 1996-1998), establishing himself as one of the most complete catchers of his era. Over his career he totaled more than 1,200 hits, 112 home runs and nearly 600 RBIs, while earning respect for his game-calling and leadership behind the plate.
After his playing days, he remained deeply involved in baseball as a coach and mentor.
Roberto Alomar: a Hall of Fame second baseman.
Perhaps the most celebrated member of the family is Roberto Alomar, widely regarded as one of the greatest second basemen in baseball history.
Alomar was selected to 12 All-Star Games, won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1991 to 2000 and captured four Silver Slugger awards. He played a pivotal role in back-to-back World Series titles with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993.
He finished his career with more than 2,700 hits, 474 stolen bases and a lifetime .300 batting average before being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011—cementing his place among Puerto Rico’s greatest sports figures.
A legacy beyond the diamond
According to Puerto Rico’s Department of Recreation and Sports, baseball remains one of the island’s most widely played youth sports, with thousands of children participating in Little League programs each year.
For many of those young athletes—especially in southern towns like Salinas—the Alomar name has long served as an aspirational model.
“The combined trajectory of these three athletes represents an exceptional sporting legacy,” Martínez Soto said. “Their achievements have elevated Puerto Rico’s prestige internationally while strengthening the pride and identity of the people of Salinas.”
If approved, the highway dedication would make that legacy part of the town’s daily landscape—where every drive through Salinas would pass through a stretch of road named for one of Puerto Rico’s most celebrated baseball families.