Porfi Altamirano

Porfirio Altamirano Ramirez
(El Guajiro)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut May 9, 1982
• Final Game June 8, 1984
• Born May 17, 1952 in Ciudad Darío, Matagalpa, Nicaragua

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Biographical Information

Porfi Altamirano, a Nicaraguan pitcher, spent part of three years in the majors.

"El Guajiro" (The Hillbilly), as he was known, began his career in amateur play at home in 1972. He was born in Wiscaran Valley, near Ciudad Darío in Nicaragua in 1952. He was one of the last cuts from the Nicaraguan national team in 1972. In the 1974 Amateur World Series, Altamirano's 0.50 ERA led all pitchers as he helped the Nicaraguan national team win Silver. He also starred in both amateur leagues at home, the Roberto Clemente League and the Hope and Reconstruction League. Despite that success, it would be five years until he drew the interest of a US club. He helped the Nicaraguan national team to a Bronze Medal in the 1975 Intercontinental Cup, a Gold Medal in the 1977 Central American Games and Silver Medal in the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games. He was 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA in the 1978 Amateur World Series, leading Nicaragua in losses but also tying for the most wins on the staff.

Porfi started 1979 at home with Bóer, but got his first pro experience in the United States that year with the Miami Amigos of the short-lived Inter-American League. After the league folded in June, he joined the Oklahoma City 89ers in the American Association, the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Altamirano remained there through the 1981 season, appearing in 88 games, winning 19 and losing 13 while compiling a 4.49 ERA. (A transaction record of February 20, 1980 showing that the Phillies purchased Altamirano from Miami does not seem to fit with the facts.)

In 1982 Porfi started the season with Oklahoma City, winning one game in relief, and was called up to the Phillies for his first chance in the big leagues. He spent the rest of the season with the big league club, used mostly as a reliever, appearing in 29 games, pitching 39 innings and recording five wins with only one loss, with a 3.68 ERA. He was back with the Phillies in 1983, going 2-3 in 31 games with a 3.60 ERA before being sent to the Pacific Coast League Portland Beavers, where he finished the year with a 5-4 record in 28 games and ending with a 2.88 ERA. Altamirano pitched that winter with Aguilas del Zulia in the Venezuelan League, recording 20 saves and also taking part in the Caribbean Series, which the Venezuelan team won.

On March 26, 1984, Altamirano was traded by the Phillies, along with Bob Dernier and Gary Matthews, to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Campbell and Mike Diaz. He appeared in only five games, with no decisions, for the 1984 Cubs. He spent time with the American Association Iowa Cubs, appearing in 49 games, going 4-4, with a 3.03 ERA. 1984 was to be Porfi's last season in professional ball. Overall, he had a record of 29-21 in the minor leagues and was 7-4 in the major leagues.

Sources

The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Third Edition
SABR Minor League Database
baseball-reference.com

Related Sites

• "El fabuloso 1974 de Porfirio Altamirano," by Tito Rondón, La Prensa (Managua, Nicaragua), April 10, 2002