[1] Born in Ciudad Darío, Nicaragua, Altamirano first became successful in his native country in the 1970s, when he pitched for the Estelí team in the Nicaraguan league, breaking many records.

He was an ideal reliever for a bullpen-by-committee because if his ability to pitch two or three innings at a time, setting the table for a variety of teammates, from Sparky Lyle to Tug McGraw to Lee Smith.

Altamirano made his major league debut on May 9, 1982, and played in 60 games over two seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies.

He was traded along with Gary Matthews and Bob Dernier from the Phillies to the Cubs for Bill Campbell and Mike Diaz on March 27, 1984.

[4] In his three-year MLB career, Altamirano compiled a 7–4 record with 57 strikeouts, a 4.03 earned run average (ERA), two saves, and 91+2⁄3 innings, in 65 games pitched.