Manny Being Manny — one of the most naturally gifted right-handed hitters in baseball history and one of the sport's most idiosyncratic personalities. 555 career home runs, two World Series championships with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and 2007, and a career batting average of .312. His eccentric behaviour, which gave rise to the phrase Manny being Manny, masked a fearsome hitter who opponents genuinely feared in clutch situations. Twice found guilty of PED violations, which complicated his Hall of Fame case despite numbers that would otherwise have been automatic.
Manuel Aristides Ramírez Onelcida was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1972. The Cleveland Indians selected him 13th overall in the 1991 MLB Draft. His 19-season career produced 555 home runs, a .312 batting average and two World Series championships with the Boston Red Sox (2004, 2007). He was named World Series MVP in 2004. He was a 12-time All-Star. He drove in 100 or more runs 13 times in his career. His unorthodox, relaxed approach to the game — personified by the phrase Manny being Manny — masked one of the most technically pure right-handed swings in baseball history. He hit .312 against left-handed pitchers and .312 against right-handers — an unusual consistency. He was suspended twice for positive drug tests (2009, 2011), which ended his major league career. His Hall of Fame candidacy has been complicated by these suspensions. Despite this, his combination of batting average, power and consistency place him among the 10 greatest right-handed hitters in baseball history.
Prolific home run hitting and clutch postseason performances
How They Played
Power hitter with exceptional plate discipline and clutch hitting
Lasting Impact
One of the greatest right-handed hitters in baseball history