Full Name : Manuel Aristides Ramírez
Born : May 30, 1972
Hometown : Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height : 6'
Weight : 212 lbs
Bats : Right
Throws : Right
Major League Baseball debut : September 2, 1993 for the Cleveland Indians
Family : wife, Juliana; children, Manuelito "Manny" Ramírez, Manny Ramírez, Jr., Lucas Ramírez
Primary Position : LF (Left Field)
No other player in Major League Baseball history has earned a reputation like that of Manny Ramirez. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Ramirez grew up in Washington Heights, a Dominican neighborhood near New York City. His career as a baseball player began when he starred for George Washington High School, where he developed the skills to be considered a top prospect by major league scouts.
As a youngster, Manny grew up cheering for the Toronto Blue Jays as they were noted for having some of the game's best Latin-American athletes, including Tony Fernandez and George Bell. Despite his admiration for the team, Manny made his debut for the Cleveland Indians in 1993, but it wasn't until 1994 that he saw significant time on the field. Appearing in 91 games that season, Ramirez did not hesitate to make an impact, as he belted 17 homers and drove in 60 RBI's in just 290 at-bats. His undisputed power caused him to be feared by pitchers as well, and this was obvious after he put up a respectable .357 on-base percentage in just his second season as an Indian.
Ramirez continued to put up remarkable numbers during his Cleveland tenure, gaining all-star honors during four seasons with the team and finishing in the top 15 for the American League Most Valuable Player Award on four separate occasions. His performance as an Indian earned him an 8-year, $160 million contract from the Boston Red Sox after the 2000 season when he became a free agent. In his first year with the Red Sox, he began to demonstrate why he was one of the game's best sluggers, batting .306, knocking out 41 homers, and driving in 125 RBI's. However, these numbers were not enough to avoid the speculation that surrounded Ramirez about his mentality and approach to the game. After being spotted in a beer when he was supposed to be suffering from an injury (during the 2003 season), the Boston media immediately bombarded Manny, and he was even forced to sit out for one game as ordered by manager Grady Little. When the season ended, Ramirez was put on waivers in hope that another team would pick up his hefty contract.
The following season, Ramirez apologized to Boston fans when he led the American League in home runs (43), slugging percentage (.613), and OPS (1.009). He also paired up with slugging teammate David Ortiz to become the first major league duo to hit above .300, blast 40 homers, and drive in at least 100 RBI since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees. He also became the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 World Series, as he led the Red Sox ball club to their first championship victory since 1918.
Today, Red Sox fans definitely get a kick out of Manny's unique personality. During a game in the 2005 season when a pitching change was being made, Ramirez actually went into the famous left-field Green Monster. When the game was about to resume, he was nowhere to be found. Many speculate that he was simply using the washroom, though there are no bathroom facilities in that part of the stadium. Today, Manny takes frequent visits to the monster, and he has not once failed to return on time since that incident. His current contract contains club options for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, and it is no question that Boston fans now consider him the heart and soul of the Red Sox ball club.
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