Manny Ramirez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manny Ramirez
Ramirez with the Boston Red Sox in 2007
Outfielder
Born: (1972-05-30) May 30, 1972 (age 53) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right Threw: Right
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
Cleveland Indians (1993–2000) Boston Red Sox (2001–2008) Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–2010) Chicago White Sox (2010) Tampa Bay Rays (2011)
Career highlights and awards
12× All-Star (1995, 1998–2008) 2× World Series champion (2004, 2007) World Series MVP (2004) 9× Silver Slugger Award (1995, 1999–2006) 2× AL Hank Aaron Award (1999, 2004) AL batting champion (2002) AL home run leader (2004) AL RBI leader (1999) Cleveland Guardians Hall of Fame Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame

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. He played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. Later, he played one season in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan.

Manny Ramirez is known for his amazing batting 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 are the third most ever. 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 games in a row from 1998.

Ramirez 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 top baseball player. The Cleveland Indians picked him in the first round of the 1991 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut on September 2, 1993.

In 1994, Ramirez became a regular player in the major leagues. He finished second for the Rookie of the Year Award. By 1995, he was an All-Star. He played in the playoffs with the Indians from 1995 to 1999. This included playing in the 1995 and 1997 World Series. In 1999, Ramirez set a team record with 165 RBIs for the Indians.

After the 2000 season, Ramirez joined the the Boston Red Sox. In Boston, Ramirez and his teammate David Ortiz became a powerful hitting duo. Ramirez helped the Red Sox win World Series Championships in 2004 and 2007. He was later traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008.

In 2009, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for a rule violation. In 2011, he was told about another rule violation. He chose to retire on April 8 instead of being suspended. Later, he wanted to play again. He agreed to a shorter 50-game suspension. He played in minor league systems and internationally. However, he did not play in another Major League game.

Ramirez was known as a great hitter. He could hit for both power and a high batting average. Many people think he was one of the best right-handed hitters of his time. 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.

Manny's Early Life and Baseball Dreams

Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He lived there for 13 years. As a child, he loved baseball very much. When he was eight, his grandmother gave him a Dodgers uniform. It had the number 30 on the back. He still cherishes it today.

In 1985, he moved to Washington Heights in New York City. He often played baseball at Snake Hill. This was the same place where Lou Gehrig played as a child. Even though he lived near Yankee Stadium, Ramirez cheered for the Toronto Blue Jays. His favorite Dominican players, George Bell and Tony Fernández, played for them.

High School Baseball Star

Ramirez went to George Washington High School from 1987 to 1991. He left school at 19 without graduating. His high school baseball team was made up entirely of Dominicans. As a young person, Ramirez was modest and did not like to be the center of attention.

He led his team to three division championships in a row. In 1990, as a junior, he had a .633 batting average. He also hit 16 home runs. He was chosen as an all-city player three times. In 1991, as a senior, he was named New York City Public School Player of the Year. He batted .650 with 14 home runs in 22 games. In 1999, he was added to the New York City Public School Athletic League Hall of Fame.

Manny's Professional Baseball Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The Cleveland Indians picked Ramirez in the first round of the 1991 MLB draft. He was the 13th player chosen overall. He received a $250,000 signing bonus. He started playing professionally for the Rookie-level Burlington Indians. He was named the Appalachian League MVP. Baseball America also named him short-season Player of the Year. He hit 19 home runs and had 63 RBIs in 59 games.

In 1992, with the Single-A Kinston Indians, Ramirez dealt with some injuries. Still, he hit .278 with 13 homers and 63 RBIs in 81 games. Baseball America called him the number three prospect. They also called him the "Most Exciting Player in the Carolina League." In 1993, Ramirez was named "Minor League Player of the Year" by Baseball America. He hit .333 with 31 homers and 115 RBIs. This was in 129 games combined with the Double-A Canton–Akron Indians and Triple-A Charlotte Knights.

Playing for the Cleveland Indians (1993–2000)

Ramirez batting in 1996

First Major League Games

Ramirez played his first major league game on September 2, 1993. It was against the Minnesota Twins. He did not get any hits in four tries as the designated hitter.

The next day, the Indians played the New York Yankees. Ramirez got 3 hits in 4 tries, including his first two home runs. Many of his family and friends were there at Yankee Stadium. His first hit was an automatic double. It bounced into the left-field seats. Ramirez thought it was a home run and kept running. His teammates teased him when he had to go back to second base. After flying out, Ramirez hit home runs in his last two times at bat.

In 1994, Ramirez's first full season, he started strong. He hit six home runs in April. The Indians were trying to catch the Chicago White Sox in their division. But the season ended early in August because of a baseball 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 Player

Ramirez had a great season in 1995. He batted .308 with 31 home runs and 107 RBI. In July, he was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He also won his first Silver Slugger Award. That year, the Indians made it to the playoffs. Ramirez hit two home runs in the 1995 American League Championship Series. The Indians won that series. Then, they played the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. Ramirez batted .222 with one home run, but the Indians lost. In December 1995, Ramirez signed a four-year contract for $10.15 million.

Ramirez kept hitting well in 1996. He batted .309 with 33 home runs and 112 RBI. The Indians went to the playoffs again. Ramirez batted .375 with two home runs. But the Indians lost to the Orioles. In 1997, Ramirez's hitting average got even better. He hit .328 with 26 home runs and 88 RBI. The Indians reached the World Series again. Ramirez batted .154 with two home runs. They lost to the Florida Marlins in seven games.

Powerful Hitting and Records

In 1998, Ramirez hit with much more power. He became one of the best players at getting runs. He batted .294 with 45 home runs and 145 RBIs. He was chosen for his second All-Star Game. He got a sacrifice fly and an RBI there. Ramirez 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. After the season, Ramirez finished sixth in the voting for the AL MVP.

Ramirez started 1999 very well. He hit .337 with seven home runs in April. His great hitting continued all season. He batted .364 in May. By the All-Star break, he had 25 home runs and 96 RBI. This was one of the highest RBI totals by the All-Star break in MLB history. On September 30, 1999, Ramirez broke the Indians' record for RBIs in a single season. He hit a three-run home run, giving him 164 RBIs. He finished 1999 with 165 RBI. He also batted .383 against left-handed pitchers. He finished third in the voting for the AL MVP. However, he struggled in the 1999 playoffs. He got only 1 hit in 18 tries. The Indians were eliminated by the Boston Red Sox.

In 2000, Ramirez played in only 118 games because of injuries. But he had his best batting average at .351. He also hit 38 home runs and had 122 RBI. His return helped the Indians make a big comeback. They finished the season with 90 wins and 72 losses. His return also helped other teammates like Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel hit better. Despite their comeback, the Indians did not make the playoffs. Ramirez hit a home run in his last game as an Indian. It was on October 1 against Toronto.

Playing for the Boston Red Sox (2001–2008)

Ramirez asking the first base umpire if he went around on a checked swing

Joining the Red Sox

In November 2000, the Indians offered Ramirez a seven-year contract for $119 million. But Ramirez and his agent wanted a ten-year, $200 million contract. In December, he signed an eight-year, $160 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. The deal also included options for 2009 and 2010. This could make the total value $200 million over 10 years.

Ramirez immediately played well for the Red Sox. He hit .408 in April 2001. By the All-Star break, he had a .335 batting average, 26 home runs, and 84 RBI. He missed some games due to hamstring injuries. But he finished the 2001 season with a .306 average, 41 home runs, and 125 RBI. This set a team record for most home runs by a new Red Sox player. On June 23, Ramirez hit two huge home runs at Fenway Park. One of them hit the very top of the light tower. It was officially measured at 501 feet. This was the second-longest by a Red Sox player at Fenway Park.

In 2002, Ramirez played in only 120 games because of a hamstring injury. But he still won the AL batting title, hitting .349. His .647 slugging percentage was second in the league. He reached 30 home runs and 100 RBI again, with 33 and 107 respectively. He hit his 300th career home run on August 26. However, the Red Sox did not make the playoffs in 2002.

In 2003, Ramirez had strong hitting numbers again. He finished with a .325 average, 37 home runs, and 104 RBI. The Red Sox also had David Ortiz, which made their lineup very strong. Ramirez missed some games in the summer due to illness. But he was seen at a bar with a friend. The manager, Grady Little, benched Ramirez for one game. Despite this, the Red Sox made the playoffs. Ramirez hit a big three-run homer in the playoffs against the Oakland Athletics. This set up a series against the Yankees. In one game, Ramirez was involved in a fight on the field. The Red Sox lost that game. Even with Ramirez playing well, the Red Sox lost to the Yankees in the final game.

Winning the World Series in 2004

Ramirez at the Red Sox victory parade

In 2004, Ramirez led the AL in home runs (43). He also led in slugging percentage (.613) and OPS (1.009). He finished third in RBIs (130). He batted .308. He also led the AL in salary, earning $22.5 million.

Ramirez and teammate David Ortiz made history. They were the first AL teammates to hit 40 home runs, have 100 RBIs, and bat .300 since Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1931. They hit back-to-back home runs six times.

In the 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Ramirez hit a two-run home run. The Red Sox made the playoffs again. Ramirez kept hitting well. He batted .385 in the playoffs, helping the Red Sox sweep the Anaheim Angels. This set up a rematch with the Yankees. Ramirez batted .300 as the Red Sox made a historic comeback. They were down 3 games to 0 but won in seven games against the Yankees. This led to the 2004 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Red Sox wanted to end the Curse of the Bambino and win their first championship since 1918.

Ramirez hit .412 with a home run and 4 RBI in the World Series. The Red Sox swept the Cardinals in 4 games. They won their first title in 86 years. Ramirez's home run came in the first inning of Game 3. His great season ended with him being named World Series MVP. Ramirez also finished third in AL MVP voting.

Later Years with the Red Sox

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 in 2005, with 144 runs. He also hit 45 homers. But he batted .292, which was his first time under .300 since 1998. He and David Ortiz combined for an amazing 292 RBIs. Ortiz finished second, and Ramirez fourth, in MVP voting.

In 2006, Ramirez hit his 450th home run on June 10. On July 1, he got his 2000th hit. He had a 28-game hitting streak starting in mid-July. He reached 100 RBI for the ninth season in a row. Ramirez finished the season batting .321 with 35 home runs and 102 RBI. He also had a career-high 100 walks. However, the Red Sox missed the playoffs that year.

Manny Ramirez in 2007

In 2007, Ramirez was part of a record-tying moment. He was the first of four Red Sox batters to hit home runs in a row. This happened on April 22 against the New York 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. He had a great fielding percentage (.990) among left fielders in the AL.

In the playoffs, Ramirez hit a walk-off three-run home run. This won Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In the next game, he and David Ortiz hit back-to-back home runs. This tied him for the most postseason home runs ever with 22. On October 13, he hit his 23rd postseason home run, passing the record. He helped the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series. They swept the Colorado Rockies. Ramirez batted .348 with four home runs and 16 RBI in the postseason. He earned his second World Series ring.

The 2008 season started with Ramirez saying he wanted to play six more years with the Red Sox. He played his 2,000th game on May 26, 2008. On May 31, 2008, Ramirez hit his 500th home run. This made him the 24th player in MLB history to do so. He joined other Red Sox legends like Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams in this special club.

Later in 2008, Ramirez had some disagreements with teammates and staff. He also sometimes did not run hard on ground balls. Many fans and reporters thought he was unhappy with his contract. Despite these issues, Ramirez still hit well. He batted .299 with 20 home runs and 68 RBI in the first 100 games.

Moving to the Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–2010)

"Mannywood" in Los Angeles

On July 31, 2008, Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox got outfielder Jason Bay. The Pittsburgh Pirates also got players in the deal. Ramirez had always worn number 24. But the Dodgers had retired that number for manager Walter Alston. So, Ramirez chose to wear number 99 with the Dodgers.

Ramirez played incredibly well for the Dodgers. He was named the NL Player of the Month for August 2008. This started the "Mannywood" excitement in Los Angeles. He batted .415 with nine home runs and 25 RBIs that month. He finished the season with the Dodgers batting .396. He hit 17 home runs and had 53 RBI in just 53 games. His combined totals for 2008 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 batted an amazing .520. He hit four home runs and had 10 RBI. Ramirez finished 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 playoffs, Ramirez signed a two-year, $45 million contract to stay with the Dodgers.

Challenges and Departures

Ramirez during his time with the Dodgers

Ramirez started 2009 playing very well. But on May 7, he was suspended for 50 games for a rule violation. During his suspension, Ramirez was allowed to train at the Dodgers' facilities. He also played some games in the minor leagues to get back in shape. Ramirez returned to the Dodgers on July 3. On July 7, he was ejected from a game for arguing a strike call.

On July 21, Ramirez hit his 537th career home run. This passed Mickey Mantle for 15th place on the all-time home run list. Manny finished 2009 with a .290 batting average, 19 home runs, and 63 RBI in 104 games. He hit one home run and had 4 RBI in the 2009 playoffs. But the Dodgers lost to the Philadelphia Phillies again.

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 place all-time. He passed Schmidt on May 28. On June 19, he hit a home run in his second game back at Fenway Park.

In 2010, Ramirez was on the disabled list three times. When he returned on August 21, he seemed to have lost his starting job. He was ejected from a game on August 29 for arguing a strike call. That was his last game as a Dodger. He batted .311 with eight home runs and 40 RBI in only 66 games. He was then placed on waivers.

Playing for the Chicago White Sox (2010)

The Chicago White Sox claimed Ramirez after the Dodgers put him on waivers. The White Sox hoped he would help their offense make a playoff push. However, Ramirez hit .261 with only one home run and 2 RBI in 24 games with the White Sox. He became a free agent after the season. The White Sox missed the playoffs.

Playing for the Tampa Bay Rays (2011)

On January 21, 2011, Ramirez signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. His former Red Sox teammate Johnny Damon also signed with the Rays.

Ramirez retired suddenly on April 8, 2011. He had batted only .059 (1 hit in 17 tries) in his first five games with the Rays. He had no home runs and only one RBI. Ramirez retired after being informed of another rule violation. He chose to retire rather than face a suspension.

Later Career and Coaching (2012–2021)

In September 2011, Ramirez wanted to play baseball again. He agreed to serve a 50-game suspension for his rule violation. He said he was available for any MLB team. If no team was interested, he would play in Japan or elsewhere.

Oakland Athletics System (2012)

On February 20, 2012, Ramirez signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics. He had to serve his 50-game suspension first. He was allowed to play on May 30, 2012. He hit .302 in 17 games with the Sacramento River Cats. But he had no home runs. On June 15, Ramirez asked to be released by the Athletics, and they agreed.

Playing in Taiwan (2013)

Ramirez played in the Dominican Professional Baseball League in late 2012. He then signed with the EDA Rhinos in Taiwan for the 2013 season. He played his first game on March 27. In 49 games, Ramirez batted .352 with eight home runs and 43 RBI. He was among the top players in all these areas. On June 19, 2013, Ramirez left his contract with the Rhinos. He said he wanted to be closer to his family.

Texas Rangers System (2013)

Ramirez signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers on July 3, 2013. He was assigned to the Round Rock Express. The Rangers noticed his bat speed had slowed down. This meant he was not hitting with as much power. The Rangers released Ramirez on August 13.

Chicago Cubs System and Coaching (2014–2016)

Ramirez signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on May 25, 2014. He became a player-coach for the Iowa Cubs. This is Chicago's top minor league team. Ramirez hit a two-run home run in his first home game for Iowa on June 30, 2014. Cubs young players like Arismendy Alcántara and Javier Báez said Ramirez helped them with their hitting. Báez also said Ramirez was a good mentor. In August, Ramirez got a knee injury. He stopped coaching and playing for the team.

On February 24, 2015, the Cubs announced Ramirez was hired as a hitting consultant. He would work with both the Chicago Cubs and the Iowa Cubs. In 2016, Ramirez continued as a hitting consultant for the Cubs.

Playing in Japan (2017)

On January 8, 2017, the Kōchi Fighting Dogs in Japan announced they had signed Ramirez. He would play for them in 2017. He left the team on August 17 to go back to the United States for treatment on a knee injury.

Recent Years (2018–2021)

In April 2020, Ramirez wanted to play in the Chinese Professional Baseball League again. But no team offered him a contract. He then showed interest in playing winter baseball for the Auckland Tuatara in New Zealand.

On August 29, 2020, Ramirez signed a one-year deal with the Sydney Blue Sox in Australia. He would be a player-coach. Ramirez said he mostly wanted to coach the young players. He also said he was happy to play in Sydney because it is a beautiful city.

On January 11, 2021, Ramirez was released by the Blue Sox. He did not play any games. This was because of uncertainty about the season due to COVID-19. Also, Ramirez had a medical problem that stopped him from playing or training.

Manny's Career Statistics

Source:[1]

Postseason Statistics

Source:[2]

Manny's Life Outside Baseball

On May 10, 2004, Ramirez missed a Red Sox game to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. He ran onto the field in the next game carrying a small American flag. He gave the flag to a fan near the Green Monster.

Ramirez has three sons. Manny Ramirez, Jr. (born 1995) is from a past relationship. Manuelito "Manny" Ramirez (born January 24, 2004) and Lucas Ramirez (born February 2006) are with his wife Juliana. As of August 2015, he and his family live in Weston, Florida.

All three of his sons have played baseball at a high level. Manny Jr. played college baseball. Manuelito (also called Manny Ramirez Jr.) plays college baseball. The youngest son, Lucas, plans to play baseball for the University of Tennessee. As of July 2024, both younger Manny and Lucas play for the Victoria HarbourCats. Lucas was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2024 MLB draft.

Ramirez at Dodger Stadium on September 25, 2008, after the Dodgers won the NL West Division title

Ramirez was known for his fun and sometimes quirky behavior. People often called these moments "Manny Being Manny." This phrase 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 and watching videos of pitchers. But when he was actually batting in a game, he kept his approach very simple. He relied on his practice and just focused on "seeing the ball."

In 2000, the Boston Red Sox signed Manny Ramirez to a big contract. Part of the deal included $32 million in payments that he will receive over many years. He will earn about $1.968 million each year from 2011 to 2026.

Manny's Career Highlights

Ramirez has been on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame since 2017. Players need 75% of the votes to be chosen. His vote totals have not reached that amount. A player can stay on the ballot for up to 10 years if they get at least 5% of the votes each year.

Publicity

Ramirez was featured on the covers of two video games: World Series Baseball '96 for Sega Genesis and MVP Baseball 2005 by EA Sports.

See also

In Spanish: Manny Ramírez para niños