Manny Ramírez

. Athens, 2004. During the 2005 season, Manny Ramirez is the 3rd highest paid player at $19,906,820.00. Sydney, 2000. He is one of only 39 other baseball players to ever hit this many home runs. He has recently bought a $2.9 million house in Caringbah, a southern suburb of Sydney. On May 16th, Manny Ramirez hit a major career milestone by hitting his 400th home run off Gil Meche of the Seattle Mariners. The race attracted unprecedented media attention in Australia, and Thorpe's victory made him one of the most celebrated Australian athletes of all time.

. Thorpe's performances in Sydney and Athens have made him a national hero in Australia, a country which reveres sporting stars. His victory in the 200 metres at Athens pitted him against American swimming phenomenon Michael Phelps, Sydney gold medallist Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands and his fellow Australian Grant Hackett. His numbers were capped off by being named the MVP of the World Series as he led the Red Sox to their first title since 1918. Instead, his other enthusiasm appears to be fashion, as an ambassador for Armani clothing and his own range of designer jewellery. 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 lack of interest in (and aptitude for) other sports is well-known. In the All-Star Game, facing Roger Clemens in the top of the first inning, Ramírez knocked out a two-run home run giving his teammates an immediate 3-0 lead. He is quiet, mild-mannered, thoughtful, articulate, but extremely guarded in his statements, and he reportedly makes considerable efforts to insulate himself from the media when preparing for and during important events.

Also along with Ortiz, Ramirez 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). Away from the pool, Thorpe in many ways defies the stereotype of Australian sportspeople. 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). After some deliberation, the second qualifier, Craig Stevens, withdrew from the event, and Thorpe accepted the offered place. 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. Australia's Olympic selection rules allow for a qualifier to stand down, and for another swimmer to be selected in their place. Coupled with impressive play on the field, this absolved Ramírez in the eyes of many Boston fans and sportswriters. He was disqualified from the 400 m freestyle (his best event) after making a false start.

He displayed a good attitude and an enthusiasm for playing, two qualities his critics had charged that he lacked. In late March 2004 Thorpe competed in the qualification events. In 2004, nevertheless, Ramírez silenced his critics. Thorpe's preparations for the Athens Olympics were clouded by controversy. All 29 other teams passed, due to the length and costs of his contract. He has however, been able to maintain a trademark six-beat kick to power away to victory in the closing stages of races, attributed to his unnaturally large feet. After the season, the Red Sox put him on irrevocable waivers, meaning he was had but for the asking. At 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) and 105 kg (231 lb), he is very large for a swimmer and many thought that as he matured and continued to grow he would be unable to maintain his performance as a teenager.

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 lobby with close friend, Yankees infielder Enrique Wilson, the controversy grew, causing Boston manager Grady Little to bench Ramírez for one game. Thorpe's success is based on a strong work ethic, attention to detail, flawless technique, mental strength, and a physiology suited to swimming. In the summer of 2003, Ramírez found himself as the latest victim of the Boston Sports Media's thirst for blood when he missed several games with pharyngitis. In total, he has broken world records (either individually or as part of a relay team) 22 times. He is aggressive playing balls off the Green Monster and holding runners to singles. Thorpe has also pushed Australian relay teams to unprecedented success, anchoring the winning 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relay teams in Sydney, the first time the United States had ever been beaten in the events. Ramirez is an adept left fielder in Fenway Park, as he's learned to play all the corners and angles. He has been nicknamed "Thorpedo" by the Australian press for his swimming prowess.

He still has trouble at times with footwork, his range is limited, but his arm is fairly strong, he has soft hands, and his hard work improves every aspect of his game. His dominance has broadened to include the 200 and 400 metre freestyle (at which he holds the world record), and he is one of the fastest 100 metre freestylers in the world. As a fielder, he's not going for any Gold Glove Awards. Since 1998 Thorpe has completely dominated the 400 metre freestyle event, winning the event at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, the 2001 Fukuoka World Championships (at which he won a total of six gold medals), and again in Athens. 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. He also excelled in the 200 metre freestyle and the 200 metre butterfly. He does most of his hitting from center field to the right field line. He came second to another Australian teenager, Grant Hackett, in the 400 metre freestyle, beginning a rivalry which has continued ever since.

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. Thorpe made his first impact in 1997, when he was selected at 14 for the Australian team at the Pan Pacific competition in Fukuoka, Japan. Arguably, Ramírez is the best all-around righthanded hitter in the American League. Instead, he followed his sister, Christina, into competitive swimming. He has totaled 390 home runs and 1270 RBI in 1535 games. Although Thorpe's father, Ken, excelled as a cricketer, Ian did not have the same ability. Through the 2004 season, Ramírez is a career .316 hitter, with a .397 on base percentage and a .613 slugging average. Thorpe was born in Milperra, in the western suburbs of Sydney, and was educated at East Hills High School.

Though originally from the Dominican Republic, he grew up in the Washington Heights section of New York City a short walk away from Yankee Stadium. Ian James Thorpe (born October 13, 1982), Australian swimmer, is regarded as one of the greatest middle-distance swimmers of all time after winning the 200 and 400 metre freestyle races at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He has won five Olympic gold medals, more than any other Australian. He bats and throws right-handed. Bronze : Men's 100 freestyle (48.56). Previously, Ramírez played with the Cleveland Indians (1993-2000). Silver : Men's 4 x 200 m freestyle relay (7:07.46). Manny Ramírez [rah-MEE-rez], born Manuel Arístides Ramírez (May 30, 1972 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Boston Red Sox (since 2001). Gold : 200 metre freestyle (1:44.71) - Olympic Record.

He was featured on the cover of the Electronic Arts Sports electronic game MVP Baseball 2005 [1] (http://www.easports.com/games/mvp2005/home.jsp). Gold : 400 metre freestyle (3:43.10). 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. Silver : 4 x 100 metre medley relay (3:35.27). 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. Gold : 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay (7:7.05). He made the All-Star team four times, and hit 127 homers and 432 RBI in 415 games over last three seasons. Gold : 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay (3:13.67).

1993-2000: Ramírez collected 236 home runs and 804 RBI in 967 games, 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). Gold : 400 metre freestyle (3:40.59). 129 intentional walks - 12th and 56th. Silver : 200 metre freestyle (1:45.83). 1.010 OPS - 3rd and 9th. 785 extra base hits - 18th and 89th.

.599 slugging average - 3rd and 8th. .411 on base percentage - 9th and 35th. 1270 RBI - 12th and 98th. 390 home runs - 12th and 43rd.

.316 batting average - 4th and 69th. Career rankings among active players and on the All-Time lists