Manny Ramirez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manny Ramirez |
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Ramirez with the Boston Red Sox in 2007
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 30, 1972 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| September 2, 1993, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| April 6, 2011, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .312 | ||
| Hits | 2,574 | ||
| Home runs | 555 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,831 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Manuel Arístides Ramírez Onelcida (born May 30, 1972) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 19 seasons. Manny played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. He also played one season in Taiwan.
Ramirez was known for his amazing hitting skills and power. He won the Silver Slugger Award nine times. He is one of only 28 players to hit 500 career home runs. His 21 grand slams rank third all-time. His 29 postseason home runs are the most in MLB history. He was chosen for 12 All-Star Games. This included a streak of eleven straight games from 1998.
Manny was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. When he was 13, he moved to New York City with his parents. He went to George Washington High School. There, he became a baseball star. The Cleveland Indians picked him 13th overall in the 1991 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut on September 2, 1993.
In 1994, Ramirez became a regular player. He finished second for the Rookie of the Year Award. By 1995, he was an All-Star. He helped the Indians reach the playoffs five times in a row. This included playing in the 1995 and 1997 World Series. In 1999, Ramirez set an Indians record with 165 RBIs. After the 2000 season, Ramirez joined the Boston Red Sox.
In Boston, Ramirez and teammate David Ortiz formed a powerful hitting duo. Ramirez led the Red Sox to World Series Championships in 2004 and 2007. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008.
In 2009, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games. This was for breaking baseball's rules about banned substances. In 2011, he faced another suspension. He chose to retire on April 8 instead. However, in September 2011, Ramirez wanted to play again. He agreed to a shorter 50-game suspension. He played in minor leagues and internationally. But he never played another Major League game.
Ramirez was known as a great hitter. He could hit for both power and a high average. He ended his career with a .312 batting average. He hit 555 home runs (15th all-time) and had 1,831 RBI (18th all-time). In 111 postseason games, he batted .285 with 29 home runs and 78 RBI.
Contents
- Early Life and Baseball Dreams
- Professional Baseball Career
- Manny's Life Outside Baseball
- Career Highlights
- Images for kids
- See also
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Manny Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He lived there for 13 years. As a child, Manny loved baseball. When he was eight, his grandmother gave him a Dodgers uniform. It had the number 30 on the back. He still treasures it today.
In 1985, he moved to Washington Heights in New York City. He often played baseball at a nearby spot called Snake Hill. This was the same place where baseball legend Lou Gehrig played as a kid. Even though he lived near Yankee Stadium, Manny cheered for the Toronto Blue Jays. His Dominican heroes, George Bell and Tony Fernández, played for them.
Manny went to George Washington High School from 1987 to 1991. He left at age 19 without graduating. His high school baseball team was made up entirely of Dominicans. As a young player, Manny was modest and didn't like being the center of attention. He led his team to three division championships in a row. In 1990, he batted .633 and hit 16 home runs. In 1991, he was named New York City Public School Player of the Year. He batted .650 with 14 home runs in 22 games.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
The Cleveland Indians picked Manny Ramirez in the first round of the 1991 MLB draft. He was the 13th overall pick. He received a $250,000 signing bonus. He started playing professionally for the Rookie-level Burlington Indians. He was named the Appalachian League MVP. He hit 19 home runs and had 63 RBIs in just 59 games.
In 1992, with the Single-A Kinston Indians, Manny dealt with some injuries. Still, he hit .278 with 13 homers and 63 RBIs in 81 games. In 1993, he was named "Minor League Player of the Year." He hit .333 with 31 homers and 115 RBIs across two teams.
Cleveland Indians (1993–2000)
Manny Ramirez made his first Major League appearance on September 2, 1993. It was against the Minnesota Twins. The next day, against the New York Yankees, he got his first three hits. He also hit his first two home runs. Many of his family and friends were there at Yankee Stadium.
In 1994, his first full season, Ramirez started strong. He hit six home runs in April. The Indians were chasing the Chicago White Sox for first place. However, the season ended early in August due to a player strike. Ramirez finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting. He batted .269 with 17 home runs and 60 RBI in 91 games.
Becoming an All-Star
Ramirez had a fantastic year in 1995. He batted .308 with 31 home runs and 107 RBI. In July, he was picked for his first All-Star Game. He also won his first Silver Slugger Award. The Indians made it to the postseason. Ramirez hit two home runs in the 1995 American League Championship Series. The Indians won that series. They then played the Atlanta Braves in the 1995 World Series. Ramirez hit one home run, but the Indians lost in six games.
In 1996, Ramirez continued to hit well. He batted .309 with 33 home runs and 112 RBI. The Indians reached the playoffs again. In 1997, his batting average improved to .328. He hit 26 home runs and had 88 RBI. The Indians returned to the World Series that year. Ramirez hit two home runs, but they lost to the Florida Marlins in seven games.
Power Hitting and Records
In 1998, Ramirez's power grew even more. He batted .294 with 45 home runs and 145 RBIs. He was chosen for his second All-Star Game. He batted .357 with two home runs in the playoffs against the Red Sox. The Indians won that series. In the next series against the Yankees, Ramirez batted .333 with two home runs. But the Indians lost.
Ramirez started 1999 on a hot streak. He hit .337 with seven home runs in April. He reached the All-Star break with 25 home runs and 96 RBI. On September 30, 1999, Ramirez broke the Indians' single-season RBI record. He hit a three-run home run, giving him 164 RBIs. He finished 1999 with 165 RBI. This was the highest total by any player since 1938. He also batted an amazing .383 against left-handed pitchers.
In 2000, Ramirez played in 118 games due to a hamstring injury. But he had a career-high .351 batting average. He also hit 38 home runs and had 122 RBI. The Indians made a big comeback that season. However, they missed the postseason. Ramirez hit a home run in his final game as an Indian.
Boston Red Sox (2001–2008)
In December 2000, Manny Ramirez signed a big contract with the Boston Red Sox. It was an eight-year, $160 million deal. He quickly showed his value to the Red Sox. In April 2001, he hit .408. He finished the 2001 season with a .306 average, 41 home runs, and 125 RBI. This set a new team record for home runs by a first-year Red Sox player.
On June 23, Ramirez hit two huge home runs at Fenway Park. One of them was officially measured at 501 feet. This was the second-longest by a Red Sox player at Fenway Park. Despite his efforts, the Red Sox did not make the playoffs in 2001.
In 2002, Ramirez played in 120 games due to a hamstring injury. Even so, he won the American League batting title. He hit .349. He also reached 30 home runs and 100 RBI again. He hit his 300th career home run on August 26. The Red Sox did not make the playoffs in 2002 either.
In 2003, Ramirez continued to have strong offensive numbers. He finished with a .325 average, 37 home runs, and 104 RBI. The Red Sox also had David Ortiz, who was hitting very well. Together, they were a powerful duo. The Red Sox made the playoffs for the first time with Ramirez. In the deciding game of their series against the Oakland Athletics, Ramirez hit a key three-run homer. This led to a big series against the Yankees. In that series, Ramirez was involved in a heated moment. Despite his strong play, the Red Sox lost in the final game.
World Series Champion
In 2004, Ramirez led the American League in home runs with 43. He also had 130 RBIs and a .308 batting average. He and teammate David Ortiz became the first pair of AL teammates since 1931 to hit 40 home runs, have 100 RBIs, and bat .300.
In the 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Ramirez hit a two-run home run. The Red Sox made the playoffs again. Ramirez hit .385 in the first series, helping the Red Sox sweep the Anaheim Angels. This set up a rematch with the Yankees. The Red Sox made a historic comeback, winning after being down 3-0 in the series. This led to the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Red Sox were trying to end the "Curse of the Bambino." Ramirez hit .412 with a home run and 4 RBI in a 4-game sweep. The Red Sox won their first championship in 86 years! Ramirez was named the World Series MVP.
Continued Success and Challenges
On May 15, 2005, Ramirez hit his 400th home run. On July 5, he hit his 20th career grand slam. He had his highest RBI total as a Red Sox player in 2005, with 144 RBIs. He also hit 45 home runs. He and David Ortiz combined for an amazing 292 RBIs.
Off the field, Ramirez faced some challenges. There were many rumors about him being traded. After the Red Sox lost in the playoffs, Ramirez said he wanted to be traded. But no deal happened.
On June 10, 2006, Ramirez hit his 450th home run. On July 1, he got his 2000th career hit. He had a 28-game hitting streak in July. He reached 100 RBI for the ninth season in a row. Ramirez finished the season with a .321 average, 35 home runs, and 102 RBI. He also had a career-high 100 walks. However, the Red Sox missed the playoffs that year.
Another World Series Title
On April 22, 2007, Ramirez was part of a rare event. Four Red Sox batters hit home runs in a row against the Yankees. On April 29, Ramirez hit his 50th career home run against the Yankees.
Ramirez finished 2007 with a .296 batting average, 20 home runs, and 88 RBI. This ended his streak of nine seasons with 30 home runs and 100 RBI. In the postseason, Ramirez hit a walk-off three-run home run in Game 2 of the playoffs. This broke a tie and won the game. He also hit his 23rd postseason home run, setting a new all-time record. He helped the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series, where they swept the Colorado Rockies. Ramirez earned his second World Series ring.
In 2008, Ramirez said he wanted to play six more years and retire as a Red Sox player. On May 26, 2008, he played in his 2,000th game. On May 31, 2008, Ramirez hit his 500th home run. He became the 24th player in MLB history to do so. He joined other Boston legends like Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams in this exclusive club.
Later in the season, Ramirez had some disagreements with teammates and staff. Despite these issues, he continued to hit well. He batted .299 with 20 home runs and 68 RBI in the first 100 games.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–2010)
On July 31, 2008, Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He chose to wear number 99 with the Dodgers. He had always worn number 24, but it was retired by the Dodgers.
Ramirez played incredibly well for the Dodgers. He batted .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI in just 53 games. These were amazing numbers for a 36-year-old. His combined totals for the year were a .332 batting average, 37 home runs, and 121 RBI.
With Ramirez, the Dodgers won their division. They then swept the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs. They lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the next series. During the playoffs, Ramirez hit an amazing .520 with four home runs. He was fourth in the voting for the 2008 NL MVP award. This was impressive since he played less than half a season in the NL. After the season, Ramirez signed a two-year, $45 million contract to stay with the Dodgers.
Suspension and Return
Ramirez started 2009 very well. But on May 7, he was suspended for 50 games. This was for breaking baseball's rules about banned substances. Ramirez said a doctor had given him a banned medication without him knowing. He accepted the suspension.
During his suspension, Ramirez trained to stay in shape. He played a few games in the minor leagues to get ready. Ramirez returned from his suspension on July 3. On July 21, he hit his 537th career home run. This moved him past Mickey Mantle on the all-time home run list. Manny finished 2009 with a .290 batting average, 19 home runs, and 63 RBI in 104 games. The Dodgers were again eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the playoffs.
Final Games with Dodgers
On April 10, 2010, Ramirez got his 2,500th career hit. On April 18, he hit his 548th career home run. This tied him with Mike Schmidt for 14th all-time. He passed Schmidt on May 28.
In 2010, Ramirez had three separate times on the injured list. When he returned, he had lost his starting job. He batted .311 with eight home runs and 40 RBI in only 66 games for the Dodgers. He was then put on waivers.
Chicago White Sox (2010)
The Chicago White Sox claimed Ramirez after the Dodgers put him on waivers. This happened on August 30. The White Sox hoped he would boost their offense for a playoff push. However, Ramirez hit .261 with only one home run and 2 RBI in 24 games. He became a free agent at the end of the season. The White Sox missed the postseason.
Tampa Bay Rays (2011)
On January 21, 2011, Ramirez signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. He also signed with his former Red Sox teammate Johnny Damon.
Ramirez retired suddenly on April 8, 2011. He had batted only .059 in his first five games with the Rays. He reportedly tested positive for a banned substance again. He chose to retire rather than face a 100-game suspension. This suspension would still apply if he ever wanted to return to MLB.
Later Career and Coaching
Return Attempts
In September 2011, reports said Ramirez planned to play in the Dominican Professional Baseball League. However, MLB said he couldn't play without serving his suspension first.
After this, Ramirez decided he would serve his 100-game suspension. He wanted to play in MLB again. On December 4, it was announced that his suspension would be reduced to 50 games.
On February 20, 2012, Ramirez signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics. He had to serve his 50-game suspension first. He played 17 games in the minor leagues. On June 15, he asked to be released by the Athletics.
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Ramirez played in the Dominican Professional Baseball League in 2012–13. He then signed with the EDA Rhinos in Taiwan for the 2013 season. In 49 games, Ramirez batted .352 with eight home runs and 43 RBI. On June 19, 2013, Ramirez left his contract with the Rhinos. He said he wanted to be closer to his family.
On July 3, 2013, Ramirez signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers. He played for their Triple-A team. The Rangers released him on August 13. They noticed his bat speed had decreased.
Coaching Roles
Ramirez signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on May 25, 2014. He became a player-coach for their Triple-A team, the Iowa Cubs. He hit a two-run home run in his first home game for Iowa. Cubs young players like Arismendy Alcántara and Javier Báez said Ramirez helped them with their hitting. In August, Ramirez got a knee injury. He stopped coaching and playing for the team.
On February 24, 2015, the Cubs hired Ramirez as a hitting consultant. He split his time between Chicago and Triple-A Iowa. In 2016, Ramirez continued as a hitting consultant for the Cubs.
On January 8, 2017, Ramirez signed to play for the Kōchi Fighting Dogs in Japan. He left the team on August 17 due to a knee injury.
In April 2020, Ramirez showed interest in playing in Taiwan again. He also wanted to play for the Auckland Tuatara in Australia. On August 29, 2020, Ramirez signed a one-year deal with the Sydney Blue Sox in Australia. He was going to be a player-coach. He said he wanted to help young players and try something new. On January 11, 2021, Ramirez was released by the Blue Sox. This was due to season uncertainty and a medical problem.
Manny's Life Outside Baseball
On May 10, 2004, Manny Ramirez missed a Red Sox game to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. He ran onto the field in the next game with a small American flag. He gave the flag to a fan.
Ramirez has three sons. One is from a previous relationship, and two are with his wife Juliana. As of 2015, he and his family live in Weston, Florida. All three of his sons have played baseball at a high level. His youngest son, Lucas, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2024.
In September 2011, Ramirez was accused of a disagreement with his wife. Authorities later dropped the charges.
Ramirez was known for his fun and sometimes quirky behavior. These moments were often called "Manny Moments" or "Manny Being Manny." For example, he once disappeared into a door in the Green Monster to use the bathroom. Another time, he high-fived a fan after catching a ball. The phrase "Manny Being Manny" was first used by his former manager, Mike Hargrove, in 1995.
Despite his playful side, Ramirez was a very hard worker at hitting. He spent many hours practicing his swings. He also watched videos of himself and opposing pitchers. When he was batting in games, he kept his approach simple. He relied on his training and just focused on "seeing the ball."
Career Highlights
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Manny Ramirez has been on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame since 2017. Players need 75% of the votes to be inducted. He has not yet been voted into the Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Ramirez at Dodger Stadium on September 25, 2008, after the Dodgers won the NL West Division title
See also
In Spanish: Manny Ramírez para niños
