George Altman was a power hitter in the early 1960’s and had two very good years. He came back to the Chicago Cubs as his career was declining and played part-time in the outfield.
Altman was one of the early ball players who played baseball in Japan, thereby extending in his career. He spent eight seasons in Japan and retired from the game at age 42.
Altman was noticed by the legendary scout Buck O’Neil while he played in the Negro Leagues in the late 1950’s. He was signed to the Cubs and came up to the big club in 1959, the same year that Billy Williams, now enshrined in baseball’s Hall of Fame, joined the club.