Former Batting Champion Matty Alou Passes Away At Age 72

Former National League batting champion, Matty Alou, has passed away at the age of 72, according to the San Francisco Giants’ website.

Matty, along with his brothers Felipe and Jesus all played in the Major Leagues during the 1960’s and 1970’s. The three made history in 1963 with the San Francisco Giants when they all played together in the outfield at the same time, becoming the first set of three brothers to do so. They also were the first set of three brothers to all bat in the same half-inning.

Matty Alou would later play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he became the National League batting champion after hitting .342/.373/.421 in 1966. He had only hit .231 the season prior in 117 games with the Giants. Alou would manage to hit .330 or above for the next three seasons, becoming one of the better hitters in the game.