Name: Manuel Aristidez Ramirez
Height: 6"0
Weight: 200 lbs
Born to Aristides and Onelcida Ramirez, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Manuel Aristides (Manny) Ramirez traveled a long road to become one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball.
During the 70s, football, hockey and soccer were hardly known in the Dominican Republic, and there weren't many basketball courts. Consequently, like most children who attended school in the afternoon, Manny grew up playing baseball every morning and evening with friends. "I don't remember much about those times, but I do remember that my mom would get upset, because I never came home in time to eat at the table with the rest of the family. I was always at the field playing" (Manny). Baseball had taken a hold of Manny. Thus, in addition to playing he would watch the Winter League games to focus on what exceptional players did to win. Pedro Guerrero, Tony Fernandez, Julio Franco, Tony Peña, Alfredo Griffin, Juan Samuel and George Bell were among his idols. During these years, Manny also learned about the Dodgers, the Blue Jays, the Phillies, the Pirates and of course, the Yankees. Manny was changing. He was growing, but his understanding and his love for this game was growing too. For him, baseball was more than a game to have fun. It became a serious affair. Nevertheless, from the age of 5 to 12, his routine didn't change much - to the field in the morning, to school in the afternoon and back to the field in the evening.Then, at 13 years old his life headed in a new direction.
Manny's high school experience was bitter sweet. Yet he made the best of it. He sat with his high school coach for hours to talk about what he needed to do to become an outstanding baseball player. Then he would turn the advice into practice. Manny would wake up at the crack of dawn to run before going to school, and after dinner he went to a friend's house to lift weights. He was a very hard worker. He never missed or arrived late to practice. He was the star of the high school team. He was determined to become a better player, and when coaches, spectators and friends asserted that he could make it to the Big Leagues, Manny's determination became even stronger. And the fruits of his hard work began to show.
Manny led George Washington High School to three straight Manhattan Division championships (1988-1990) and to the Division finals in 1991. In his junior year, Manny belted a home run measured at over 400 feet in a game played in Central Park vs. Park West High School. As a senior vs. Brandeis High School, he walloped two home runs, each traveling over 430 feet. Manny's final high school numbers were exceptional: batting average of .630, slugging percentage of 1.455, and a home run every 5.7 at bats. He received All-City honors in 1989, '90 and '91 and was named New York City Public Schools "High School Player of the Year"
During his high school years, Manny also played summer ball in the Youth Service League. He traveled all over the United States with the Youth Service teams, including two trips in 1989 and 1990 to the AABC Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, New Mexico. He also played Pony League, American Legion and Connie Mack ball; he excelled in all.
Finally, in June 1991, he received the good news and his family cheered. The Cleveland Indians selected Manny in the first round (13th overall) of the Major League Baseball amateur draft; the same draft that produced Cliff Floyd, Shawn Green, and Pokey Reese. Former Indians scouting director Mickey White, one of the decision-makers who chose to draft Ramirez, saw in Manny a player who loved baseball. Manny was signed by scout Joe Delucca, and then sent to Burlington to begin his minor league professional career in the summer of 1991.
In the minors, Manny continued to work very hard, and accumulated impressive numbers. He led the Appalachian League in total bases (146), home runs (19), RBI (63), and slugging percentage (.679). Managers voted him the league's MVP and top prospect. In 1992, Manny was promoted to Single-A Kinston and was named the most exciting player in the Carolina League, even though a hand injury limited him to just 81 games. One of the youngest players in the league at 19 years old, he batted .278 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs, and 63 RBI. A year later, Manny was promoted to AA Canton-Akron, where he led the Eastern League with his .340 batting average. Manny then made a quick stop in AAA Charlotte. He played only 40 games there but made enough of an impression on manager Charlie Manuel that he predicted greatness for the young slugger; and great he became.
On September 2, 1993, Manny made his major league debut, going 0 for 4 in Minnesota. However, the next night, in his second major league game, Manny exploded with three extra-base hits (two homers and a ground-rule double) in front of his family and friends against his hometown Yankees. His first big league hit was a double off Melido Perez and his first homer was also off Perez. He played only 22 games in 93.
1994 was Manny's first year in the majors, and it was sweet. He hit .269 with 17 homers and 60 RBI, in the strike-shortened season. Manny ultimately ended up finishing second to Bob Hamelin in the Rookie of the Year voting. In 1995, Manny hit .308 with 31 home runs and 107 RBI; his career had taken off. Over the next few years, Manny continued to hit. He hit with power. He hit line drives. He hit consistently. He hit to the opposite field. He hit when he was behind in the count. He hit fastballs and breaking balls and knuckleballs. His hitting became so intimidating that pitchers frequently walked him intentionally with first base occupied. Year after year, he put up great numbers and developed the reputation as an RBI machine. Manny was the heart and soul of the fearsome Cleveland offense of the late 1990's, an offense that propelled the Indians into the post-season every year from 1995 to 1999, which marked his last year with Cleveland.
On December 12, 2000, Manny signed a $160 million, eight-year contract to play with the Boston Red Sox. His signing came just hours after Texas signed shortstop Alex Rodriguez to a record-shattering 10-year, $252 million deal. "My decision to play in Boston was not only about money. I wanted to play for a team that had a better chance to win the World Series, a team that could really battle the Yankees. I knew Boston was serious about winning. That's why I signed with the Red Sox."
The 2001 season opened in Boston, and the Fenway Faithful came to see what Manny would bring. Manny delivered. On the first pitch he saw wearing a Red Sox uniform in Fenway Park, he homered over the Green Monster. It was the beginning of another great year for Manny. However, three years later, the World Series title continues to elude Boston and Manny. Will this be the year?
2004 marks Manny's fourth season with the Boston Red Sox, a team with which he feels a special connection. "I will do my best for our team to win, the management wants our team to win and our fans will never forget the day we win it all. This point brings everyone together. This is where the gossip stops," and the ending of the 2004 season proved Manny right.
The Boston Red Sox became the 2004 World Champions, and the city of Boston hosted the ultimate party, as the Red Sox Nation finally celebrated. Sox management had fulfilled its deepest desire, by bringing the World Championship to Boston after an 86 year drought. And Manny 's performance earned him the World Series Most Valuable Player trophy.
"I just feel so proud of being part of the team that brought the Championship to these fans." "I'm just blessed to be the MVP and to win a World Series. I think God is blessing me with a lot of stuff -- my two kids, my wife, everything. I have it all. There's nothing that I can complain about."
(read less)
