MANNY RAMIREZ HALL OF FAME SPEECH
Commissioner John “Stray” Corrado’s Introduction Speech for Manny Ramirez:
Born Manuel Arístides Ramírez Onelcida – aka – “Manny” in Santo Domingo of the Dominican Republic. Manny & his family moved to New York when he was 13 Years old. Baseball was & still is – his one true love.
Playing for only five teams his entire career (Emporium, Severn, Tempe, Chicago & Sacramento) Manny Ramirez became a powerhouse hitter in the Mid-West Baseball League. Amassing 475 Career Home Runs, over 1450 RBI’s, almost 500 Doubles (492) & walking over 1030 times. He was also a career .300 hitter in the MWBL, finishing exactly at .300 for his career.
Manny was a four time All-Star reserve, a five time All-Star starter, the 2000 MWBL All-Star Games Most Valuable Player, the 2005 World Series Most Valuable Player, the 2006 Christmas Classic Home Run Derby winner, the 2009 Most Valuable Player Award Winner. So to say the least Manny racked up a few awards along the way.
Ramirez has often attracted attention on and off the field for his quirky behavior and attitude. These incidents are colloquially known as “Manny Being Manny” but today Manny is no longer Manny. He’s a Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Famer & I am proud to introduce him to you. Please welcome Manny Ramirez to the Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Fame.
Manny Ramirez Speech:
Thank you, thank you, gracias! (smiles wide and points to the sky) Wow, what a day! What a day!
I am thrilled to be standing at this podium with all these great players (looks back at the assembled HOFers). I feel so good to be honored with this award! It is a sign that all the hard work pays off.
I had a lot of fun in my career (looks to Pedro Ramirez, nods and laughs) but I always loved the game and worked hard to be the best I could. I moved around a lot, because everybody wants to see Manny being Manny, especially at the plate! (laughs)
But seriously, hitting is something I always took seriously. There’s nothing better than getting a hit in a big situation, with the game on the line. It’s a feeling that’s hard to find anywhere else. Growing up in New York, I always dreamed of being up there in the big game and hitting that homer. Well, I hit 38 postseason home runs, 12 in the World Series. I had a lot of good feelings! I feel so blessed to have played in ten World Series, to perform on the big stage so often. The 2005 World Series MVP is my most cherished memory, to help a great team to the top of the mountain!
I need to thank so many people for helping me get here (pauses, and unrolls a long sheet and grins). First of all, my family, who have been with me, supporting me and loving me along the way. Everything I do, is for you guys! (looks at his family and tears up, wipes a tear and keeps going).
I’d also like to thank the Emporium Red Raiders General Manager Joe Heiberger for drafting me. I’d also like to thank all the teams who traded for me, especially Chris Douglass of the Tempe Tempers, for all those World Series trips. I spent a lot of busy Octobers, but wouldn’t have it another way.
I’m very proud that I ended up with a .300 career batting average, and I couldn’t have done that without the help of some great hitting coaches, especially Charlie Manuel. Thanks, too, to my teammates who have given me friendship and support and played along with the fun. They always knew that when it was time to go to work, I would be ready. And they were too.
In conclusion, let me say that I had a great time playing and winning in my career, and this day has been everything I dreamed it could be! Thanks you everyone for sharing it.