Felipe Alou
A trailblazing hitter from the Dominican Republic who paved the way for generations of Latin American stars, later becoming a respected manager.
Born 1935 (age 91)·Dominican baseball player and manager·Birthday: May 12·The Silent Generation
Biography
Felipe Alou's journey from the sugar mills of the Dominican Republic to the major leagues was a path he forged for himself and countless others. Signed by the New York Giants in 1955, he broke through as an everyday player, becoming the first Dominican to do so. He was a formidable, intelligent hitter, making three All-Star teams over a 17-year career. But his impact extends far beyond his .286 lifetime average. He was the patriarch of baseball's first great family dynasty, playing alongside brothers Matty and Jesús, and later seeing his son Moisés become a star. After retiring, he transitioned into a pioneering role as a manager. Leading the Montreal Expos, he became the first Dominican-born manager in MLB history, guiding a young, multicultural team with a steady hand for a decade. His deep respect in the game was rooted in his dignity, his strategic mind, and his role as a bridge between Latin American talent and the big leagues.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Felipe was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Felipe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
Felipe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 70
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 80
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2026Age 91 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Dominican-born player to be a regular starter in Major League Baseball.
- Managed the Montreal Expos for 10 seasons (1992-2001), the longest tenure in franchise history.
- Led the National League with 218 hits and 122 runs scored for the Atlanta Braves in 1966.
- He and his brothers Matty and Jesús made history by forming an all-Alou outfield for the San Francisco Giants in 1963.
Did You Know?
He was a talented track and field athlete and almost pursued a career as an Olympic hurdler.
All three Alou brothers (Felipe, Matty, Jesús) were born on the same date, just in different years.
He hit two home runs in the same inning for the Milwaukee Braves in 1961.
Before managing, he served as a batting coach for the Montreal Expos.
“I am not the first Latin manager, but I am the first Latin manager who is Latin.”
