Baseball Notes: Ex-Giants great Matty Alou, 72, dies

Matty Alou, once part of an all-Alou outfield for the San Francisco Giants with brothers Felipe and Jesus, died Thursday in his native Dominican Republic. He was 72.

He died of diabetes complications, according to his former Dominican team, Leones del Escogido. The Giants also confirmed his death and said Mr. Alou had been sick for several years with a variety of health issues.

Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda said he knew his "great friend" had been ailing.

"We roomed together a few times with the Giants," Cepeda said by phone. "Very funny guy, hell of a ballplayer. When Matty was playing with the Giants, he was a dead fastball hitter, he could pull anybody."

A two-time all-star, Alou became the 1966 National League batting champion with the Pirates when he hit .342. He spent his first six years with San Francisco from 1960-65 and also played for St. Louis, Oakland, the New York Yankees, and San Diego.

McEwing interviewed. Bristol-native Joe McEwing was one of the first to interview for the vacant St. Louis managerial job, a source told the Associated Press.

McEwing starred at Conwell-Egan before playing nine seasons in the major leagues, including two years with the Cardinals.

Cubs hire GM. Jed Hoyer was introduced as the Chicago Cubs new general manager. He will join director of baseball operations Theo Epstein.

Yankee abroad. New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano doubled in a run in the seventh inning to help an MLB all-star team beat Taiwan's national team, 5-3, Thursday in the second game of a five-game series.

No moving here. Washington re-signed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and Arizona re-signed infielder John McDonald.