Manuel Aristides Ramírez (born May 30, 1972 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. In 1985, he joined his father and mother who relocated from the Dominican Republic to the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. He joined the Red Sox in 2001, after spending the first part of his career with the Cleveland Indians (1993-2000). From 1993 to 2000 Ramírez collected 236 home runs and 804 RBI in 967 games for the Cleveland Indians, including a career-high 45 home runs in 1998, and a career-high 165 RBI in 1999, when he hit .333 with 44 homers and scored 131 runs (also a career-high). His 165 RBI in 1999 was the highest total by any player since Jimmie Foxx (1938). His 1999 season was all the more impressive, since he played in just 147 games. In the summer of 2003, after missing several games with pharyngitis, Ramírez was criticized by the Boston sports media and many fans. When it became public that he was spotted in a bar (in the same hotel where Ramirez lives) with a close friend, Yankees infielder Enrique Wilson when Ramirez was supposedly too ill to play, the controversy grew, causing Boston manager Grady Little to bench Ramírez for one game. Despite his strong play in the 2003 post-season, Ramírez's Red Sox lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Yankees in a seven game showdown in the ALCS. The new Red Sox ownership and management, trying to rid themselves of his massive contract, put Ramirez on irrevocable waivers, thus making him available to any team willing to assume the remainder of his contract. However, all 29 other teams passed on the opportunity to claim Ramirez. In 2004, Ramírez led the American League in home runs (43), slugging percentage (.613) and OPS (1.009); he also finished third in RBI (130), sixth in on base percentage (.397), eighth in base on balls (82), tenth in runs (108), and posted a .308 batting average. In addition, Ramírez and David Ortizbecame the first pair of American League teammates to hit 40 home runs, have 100 RBI, and bat .300 since the Yankees' Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in 1931. Also along with Ortiz, Ramírez hit back-to-back home runs six times, tying the major league single-season mark set by Hank Greenberg and Rudy York (Detroit Tigers) and Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordóñez (Chicago White Sox). In the All-Star Game, facing Roger Clemens in the top of the first inning, Ramírez hit a two-run home run, giving his teammates an immediate 3-0 lead. Along with Derek Jeter (a single), Ichiro Suzuki (a double) and Iván Rodríguez (a triple), Ramírez and company became the first All-Star quartet to hit for the cycle during the same inning. His season was capped off by being named the MVP of the World Series as the Red Sox won their first title since 1918. On May 15, Ramírez hit his 400th home run, off Gil Meche of the Seattle Mariners. Ramírez is one of only 45 MLB players in the 400 home run club. On July 5, Ramírez hit his 20th career grand slam —and his third of the season— off Chris Young of the Texas Rangers. Only Lou Gehrig, with 23, has hit more. Off the field, 2005 Major League Baseball was one of much conflict for Ramírez. Persistent trade rumors (generally involving the New York Mets) dogged him all season. After the Red Sox were eliminated in the first round of that year's playoffs, Ramírez once again expressed a wish to be traded. This included a threat to not show up for spring training if his latest demand was not met by Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. Toward this end, in December 2005, Ramírez put his Ritz-Carlton condominium up for sale. Trade rumors circulated with Ramírez possibly going to the Baltimore Orioles or Mets, but no deal was reached. By January 5, 2006 Ramírez had changed his mind, stating to ESPN Deportes he was dropping the demand. His agents, in turn, insisted their client was still open to a trade. On June 10 Ramírez became the 31st player in history to hit 450 home runs, with a solo shot off Francisco Cordero of the Texas Rangers. Three weeks later, on July 1, he collected his 2000th hit. The remainder of the season was feast or famine for Ramírez: beginning in mid-July, he had a 28-game hitting streak, including 12 multi-hit games, 8 HR, and 28 RBI. But from mid-August on, Ramírez missed 28 games with soreness in his right knee. Ramírez began the 2007 season rather cold, with a .202 average and only three home runs through April. On April 22, Ramirez was the first of four Red Sox batters to homer in consecutive at-bats in a game against the Yankees. This tied the major-league record. All of the home runs were hit against Yankee pitcher Chase Wright. On April 29, Ramirez became the fifth player to hit at least 50 career home runs against the New York Yankees. He warmed back up in May, recovering his average to .269 by the end of the month and hitting 5 more home runs. During the month of June, he only hit 3 home runs, 2 against the San Francisco Giants and another against the Atlanta Braves. His production still continues to be much below average as of the All-Star Break. As of September 14th, Ramirez is hitting .292, with 20 home runs and 86 RBI. Wikipedia