He is regarded as a Rochester great and a local legend in baseball. During the final weekend of Red Wings baseball this season, the team paid tribute to one of its own: Joe Altobelli, known as Rochester’s "Mr. Baseball."

"Well, their like goings to heaven before you die," said Altobelli, describing the life-size statue the Red Wings made in his honor.

"He’s extremely humble, and a guy who’s done as much as he has and has had as much success as he had in the world of baseball he’s not one to brag," said Red Wings General Manager Dan Mason. "He’s extremely humble so that's another reason why we wanted to shout it from the mountaintops."

Altobelli, a Detroit native, moved to Gates in the fall of 1965. He calls Rochester his home.

"I was 31 years old when I came here as a player," Altobelli said. "At that time, players that turned 30 years old were on the downside of their careers."

But for Altobelli, it was only the beginning of a 24-year journey, one that took him all the way to a World Series win in 1981. He played in Rochester for four years, came back to manage the team for six, was the general manager for three years, and was the teams radio announcer for 11.

"Well, any honor that you get means you’ve done something right for along period of time," said former major league manager Jim Frey. "He's treated people right for a long period of time."

Mason explains why Altobelli got the nickname "Mr. Baseball."

"He’s the only guy to be a player, a coach, manager, general manager, and radio analyst that the team has ever had,” Mason said.

Red Wings fan Dan Livingston and his brother went to all seven of the Junior World Series baseball games in 1971. He said Altobelli's name is synonymous with Rochester baseball.

"I think he's been a long time stand out for the Red Wings and he's just a really good guy," Livingston said. "His major league connections have really been a nice thing for us."

In addition to the statue, Altobelli received the key to the city, and Sunday was declared "Joe Altobelli Day."

“I would like to leave you with one wish," Altobelli said. "That someday in the future years, when the sun is shining, and the grass is green and the smell of baseball season is in the air, fans will see this statue and remember a guy who played in the city he loved and played the game as it should be played with dignity and respect for all."

Rochester Red Wings