Manny Ramírez

Manny Ramírez [rah-MEE-rez], born Manuel Arístides Ramírez (May 30, 1972 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), nicknamed "Manny", is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Boston Red Sox (since 2001). Previously, Ramírez played with the Cleveland Indians (1993-2000). He bats and throws right-handed. Though originally from the Dominican Republic, he grew up in the Washington Heights section of New York City a short distance away from Yankee Stadium. In 2004, he became an American Citizen.

Career

Through the 2004 season, Ramírez is a career .316 hitter, with a .397 on base percentage and a .613 slugging average. He has totaled 390 home runs and 1270 RBI in 1535 games.

Ramirez is universally considered one of the best all-around righthanded hitters in the American League. He combines power, contact and patience at the plate, against left-handed pitchers and righties equally well, but he still doesn't pull the ball very often for a power hitter. He does most of his damage from center field to the right field line. He has good power that way and seems content to go with the pitch, but he is not afraid to take the occasional free walk.

Ramírez is a serviceable fielder, although is unlikely to win any Gold Glove Awards. He still has trouble at times with footwork, his range is limited, but his arm is fairly strong and he has soft hands. Ramírez is aggressive playing balls off the Green Monster and holding runners to singles. Ramirez has been known to be involved in several comical misadventures while playing the outfield. While playing for Cleveland in the sixth inning of Game 6 of the 1998 American League Championship Series, he turned his back on a line drive off the bat of the New York Yankees Derek Jeter and attempted a leaping catch at the top of the right field wall, only to have the ball hit him in the back of the feet. During the 2004 season, he was nominated for play of the year because of a spectacular catch he made in left field at Yankee Stadium to rob Miguel Cairo of a home-run.

Cleveland years

From 1993 to 2000 Ramírez collected 236 home runs and 804 RBI in 967 games for the Cleveland Indians, including a career-high 45 home runs in 1998, and a team-record career-high 165 RBI in 1999, when he hit .333 with 44 homers and 131 runs (also a career-high). He made the All-Star team four times, and hit 127 homers and 432 RBI in 415 games over last three seasons. His 165 RBI total in 1999 was the highest by any player since Jimmie Foxx in 1938; and made him the first player to have more RBI's than games played in a season since Ted Williams in 1949.

2003 season

In the summer of 2003, Ramirez found himself as the latest victim of the Boston Sports Media's thirst for blood when he missed several games with pharyngitis. Some Red Sox fans criticized the outfielder, saying he should have played despite the ailment. When it was learned that he had been seen in a hotel bar with close friend, Yankees infielder Enrique Wilson, the controversy grew, causing Boston manager Grady Little to bench Ramírez for one game. Despite his strong play in the 2003 post-season, Ramírez's Red Sox lost in heartbreaking fashion to Wilson's Yankees in the ALCS. After the season, the Red Sox put him on irrevocable waivers, meaning he was had but for the asking. All 29 other teams passed, due to the length and costs of his contract.

2004 season

In 2004, nevertheless, Ramírez silenced his critics. He displayed a good attitude and an enthusiasm for playing, two qualities his critics had charged that he lacked. Coupled with impressive play on the field, this absolved Ramírez in the eyes of many Boston fans and sportswriters. He led the American League in home runs (43), slugging average (.613) and OPS (1.009); finished 3rd in RBI (130), 6th in on base percentage (.397), 8th in base on balls (82), 10th in runs (108), and posted a .308 batting average.

In addition, Ramírez and David Ortiz became the first pair of American League teammates to hit 40 home runs, have 100 RBI, and bat .300 since the Yankees Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1931, and the first Red Sox duo with 40 homers since Tony Armas and Jim Rice (1984). Also along with Ortiz, Ramírez hit back-to-back home runs six times, tying the major league single season set by Hank Greenberg and Rudy York (Detroit Tigers) and Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordóñez (Chicago White Sox).

In the All-Star Game, facing Roger Clemens in the top of the first inning, Ramirez knocked out a two-run home run giving his teammates an immediate 3-0 lead. Along with Derek Jeter (a single), Ichiro Suzuki (a double) and Iván Rodríguez (a triple), Ramírez made history as the American League became the first All-Star team to hit for the cycle during the same inning. His season was capped off by being named the MVP of the World Series as he led the Red Sox to their first title since 1918.

2005 season

• May 16: Reached a major career milestone by hitting his 400th home run off Gil Meche of the Seattle Mariners. Ramírez is one of only 39 other baseball players to ever hit this many home runs.

• July 5: Hit his 20th career grand slam —and his third of the season— off Chris Young of the Texas Rangers. Only Lou Gehrig, with 23, has hit more grand slams than Ramírez.

• July 31: Although he is one of the most productive batters in major league history, Ramírez has been on the trading block every year as the Red Sox try to unload the remainder of his $160 million, eight-year contract, often at Ramirez's behest. As the trade deadline approached, the Red Sox discussed a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and New York Mets, but a deal was not reached before the trading deadline. The trade deadline behind him, Ramírez began his new life with the Red Sox with a go-ahead, pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, thrilling the Fenway Park crowd that thought he might be traded and giving Boston a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Highlights

• 9-time All-Star (1995, 1998-2005)
• World Series MVP Award (2004)
• 2-time Hank Aaron Award (1999, 2004)
• 7-time Silver Slugger Award (1995, 1999-2004)
• Won American League batting crown (2002, .349)
• Led AL in home runs (2004)
• Led AL in RBI (1999)
• 3-time led AL in slugging percentage (1999-2000, 2004)
• 3-time led AL in OPS (1999-2000, 2004)
• Twice led AL in on base percentage (2002-03)
• Twice led AL in intentional walks (2001, 2003)
• 8-time Top 10 AL in total bases (1996-99, 2001-04)
• 7-time Top 10 AL MVP (1998-2004)
• 7-time Top 10 AL in home runs (1998-2004)
• 5-time Top 10 AL in RBI (1995, 1998, 2000-01, 2004)
• 4-time Top 10 AL hitters (1997, 1999-2000, 2003)
• 4-time Top 10 AL in times on base (1997, 1999, 2003-04)

Miscellaneous statistics and facts

• Career rankings among active players and on the All-Time lists
  • .316 batting average - 4th and 69th
  • 410 home runs - 9th and 38th
  • 1270 RBI - 12th and 98th
  • .411 on base percentage - 9th and 35th
  • .599 slugging average - 3rd and 8th
  • 785 extra base hits - 18th and 89th
  • 1.010 OPS - 3rd and 9th
  • 129 intentional walks - 12th and 56th
  • 20 grand slams - 1st and 2nd

Salary

During the 2005 season, Manny Ramírez is the 3rd highest paid player in Major League Baseball at the yearly salary of $19,906,820.00.

Trivia

• Ramírez appealed to fans by joining the 2004 Red Sox tradition of growing a unique hairstyle, maintaining a solid set of dreadlocks throughout the season.
• He was featured on the cover of the Electronic Arts Sports electronic game MVP Baseball 2005 [1].