Ramiro Mendoza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ramiro Mendoza |
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Mendoza in 1999
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: June 15, 1972 Los Santos, Panama |
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| debut | |||
| May 25, 1996, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 1, 2005, for the New York Yankees | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 59–40 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.30 | ||
| Strikeouts | 463 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ramiro Mendoza (born June 15, 1972) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He was also known by his nickname "El Brujo", which means "The Witch Doctor". Mendoza played for the New York Yankees from 1996 to 2002 and again in 2005. He also played for the Boston Red Sox from 2003 to 2004.
Ramiro threw the ball with his right hand and also batted right-handed. While he started 62 games in his career, he was mostly known as a middle relief pitcher. This means he would come into the game after the starting pitcher. He threw different types of pitches, including a sinker, a slider, a four-seam fastball, and a changeup. During his ten years in Major League Baseball, Mendoza was part of five teams that won the World Series.
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Ramiro's Major League Baseball Career
Ramiro Mendoza played in Major League Baseball for nine years. During this time, he had a record of 59 wins and 40 losses. He also recorded 463 strikeouts. His earned run average (ERA), which measures how many earned runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings, was 4.30. He pitched a total of 797 innings.
Playing for the New York Yankees (1996–2002)
Ramiro Mendoza first played in the major leagues in 1996. In his first year, he won 4 games and lost 5. His ERA was 6.79. He did not play in the postseason games that year.
In 1997, Mendoza improved his record to 8 wins and 6 losses. His ERA was 4.24. He started 15 games, playing both as a starter and a reliever. He also played in his first two postseason games that year. He won one game and lost one, with a good ERA of 2.45. He pitched much more in 1997 than in 1996.
The year 1998 was Ramiro's best season for statistics. He won 10 games and lost only 2, which was his career best. His ERA was also his best at 3.25. In the postseason, he pitched over four innings without giving up any runs. This was against the Cleveland Indians in the American League Championship Series. In the 1998 World Series against the San Diego Padres, Mendoza pitched one inning. The Yankees won the series, and he earned his second World Series ring.
In 1999, Mendoza had a tougher year. He won 9 games and lost 9. His ERA was 4.29. He pitched over 123 innings but started only six games. He was moved to the bullpen, meaning he mostly pitched in relief. He gave up 68 runs, which was the most in his career. He was not on the team roster for the first round of the postseason. He rejoined the team for the Championship Series. There, he pitched over two innings and earned a save. In the World Series, he pitched over one inning in relief. He gave up 3 hits and 2 runs. However, the Yankees swept the Braves 4–0, and he still got the win.
Mendoza's performance got a little better in 2000. He won 7 games and lost 4, with an ERA of 4.25. He pitched over 65 innings and even pitched his last complete game. Despite this, he was not on the postseason roster. The next year, 2001, he won 8 games and lost 4, with an ERA of 3.75. He returned to the postseason. In the first round of the postseason, he pitched in three games and allowed only two hits with no runs. In the Championship Series, he pitched in three games. He gave up one home run, which was his only earned run in that series. He pitched over five innings with a 1.69 ERA. In the 2001 World Series, he pitched over two innings and allowed only one hit. The Yankees lost to the Diamondbacks in seven games.
In 2002, Mendoza played in 62 games. He had the same record of 8 wins and 4 losses. His ERA was slightly better at 3.44. He pitched over one inning in the 2002 American League Division Series against the Angels. He gave up two earned runs as the Yankees lost the series. After the 2002 season, his contract with the Yankees ended.
Playing for the Boston Red Sox (2003–2004)
On December 30, 2002, Ramiro Mendoza signed a two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. On July 24, 2004, Mendoza pitched two innings without giving up any hits. He earned the win against his old team, the Yankees. The Red Sox were behind 10–8 but came back to win the game 11–10.
Mendoza won another World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2004. He was on the Red Sox team for the 2004 American League Championship Series. He played in 2 games but was given the loss in Game 3.
Returning to the Yankees (2005)
After having shoulder surgery, Mendoza came back to the Yankees in September 2005. He was one of three players from the 2004 Red Sox team to play for the 2005 Yankees. Mendoza's time with the 2005 Yankees was short. He pitched only one inning, giving up two hits and two earned runs, and recorded one strikeout. After the 2005 season, Mendoza signed a smaller contract with the Yankees.
Later Baseball Career (2006–2009)
Ramiro Mendoza played for his home country, Panama, in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, 2009 World Baseball Classic, and 2013 World Baseball Classic tournaments. These are big international baseball competitions.
In February 2009, he signed a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was invited to their spring training, but he left after a physical check-up. After this, he decided to retire from Major League Baseball. In 2009, he played for one season with the Newark Bears. This team was part of an independent league called the Atlantic League.
See also
In Spanish: Ramiro Mendoza (beisbolista) para niños
