Manny Ramírez returns to Cleveland to be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame

Red Sox

The Red Sox icon was honored by his maiden MLB team on Saturday.

By TOM WITHERS, Associated Press

August 19, 2023

CLEVELAND (AP) — Manny Ramírez took off his dark designer sunglasses, tugged at his Dolce & Gabbana tie and smiled widely.

Back in his element.

Manny is Manny.

“It’s an honor to return to the house that I built, Jake,” Ramírez said during a press conference at Progressive Field, known as Jacobs Field, when the slugger was playing in Cleveland. “I know they changed the name but I’m glad to be back. I’m happy to be back in the city and the place where I grew up.”

One of the greatest hitters in baseball history and one of the game’s greatest characters, Ramírez, who broke through with those powerful Indians teams in the 1990s, returned Saturday to be inducted into the Guardians Hall of Fame become.

The 51-year-old was relaxed and highly entertaining during a 16-minute session with reporters, in which he discussed his playing career in Cleveland and Boston, his ambivalence about being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and his future.

“I will play in Prague next year,” he claimed. “They saw me hitting BP (batting training) and they said can you take some at-bats with you? In Czechoslovakia, yes.”

Anything is possible with Ramírez.

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York, he joined Cleveland in 1993 and it wasn’t long before Ramírez blossomed into a perennial All-Star.

Blessed with quick hands, a keen punching eye, and ample power on all fields, Ramírez destroyed courts and pitching batons en route to concluding his career with a .312 average and 555 homers — 15th all-time.

“He’s one of the most talented batsmen I’ve ever seen,” said Guardians manager Terry Francona, who won two World Series titles with Ramírez in Boston. “It felt different when he got into the batter’s box. It was different when he left the batter’s box.

“But when he was in the batter box, that was very special. He had a pretty good idea of ​​what he wanted to do.”

Manny Ramirez, in the Guardians Hall of Fame.

Exactly where it belongs. #For the country pic.twitter.com/6TJUQ4naWg

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) August 19, 2023

Differently defines Ramírez.

But despite his many impressive accomplishments on the field, Ramírez’s two suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs have stained his resume and kept him from being chosen by baseball writers for a Cooperstown anchor.

He’s not alone, as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are among the many superstars who have not been forgiven for missteps during baseball’s steroid era.

Ramírez insists he doesn’t mind the omission.

“Life isn’t about how you start, it’s about how you finish,” he said. “I want to be there, but my priority is something else. But it will happen. It will happen in time. But I’m in no rush.”

During his playing career, Ramirez was also known for being a little goofy and unpredictable.

There were memorable and comical moments on and off the field, with some of his antics becoming so routine that it was summed up in a nutshell: “Manny is Manny.”

Ramirez said the phrase has always confused him.

“What does that mean?” he asked.

Ramirez attributed many of his actions to being young and carefree, like asking a Beat reporter before a game in Kansas City if he could borrow $10,000 to buy a motorcycle.

“We were just kidding when we were kids,” he said. “Life is all about having fun. And then when you have to work, get it. Because you don’t know when you’re going to die. It’s a blessing to come here and put on that uniform. That’s life.

“Remember, you’re not going to please everyone. But you can please yourself.”

Even in retirement, it looks like Ramirez, who took a few swings with his three sons in the ballpark’s batting cages earlier in the day, could still pick up a few hits.

He’s sure of it.

“Just put me in the lineup,” he said. “Last night I saw these guys hit and I wanted to activate. I should get third place.”

On the way out of the interview room, Ramirez paused at the door.

“Manny is Manny,” he said, shrugging.