Manny is born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Manny grows up playing baseball in empty construction lots and fields in his homeland. His role models are the many successful Dominican players who had made their mark in the Major Leagues.

At the age of 13, Manny moves to New York City. He spends the next 5 years in Washington Heights, and attends George Washington High School.

Manny gets deeper into baseball. He trains hard to improve his playing skills. He becomes the star of the team, and leads George Washington High School to three straight Manhattan Division championships (1988-1990) and to the Division finals in 1991. He receives All-City honors in 1989, '90 and '91 and is named New York City Public Schools "High School Player of the Year". He hits .630, with a slugging percentage of 1.455, and a home run every 5.7 at bats, his final high school year.

Manny is selected in the first round (13th overall) of the draft by the Cleveland Indians, and is sent to Minor Leagues to Single-A Burlington. He leads Appalachian League in total bases (146), 19 home runs, 65 RBI, and .679 slugging percentage. Managers vote him the league's MVP and top prospect. Baseball America names Manny its Short-Season Player of the Year.

Manny continues to learn the fundamentals of the game at Single-A Kisnton. On July 4th, he suffers an injury to his left hand and only plays 81 games . He bats .278 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs and 63 RBI before the injury and is named the most exciting player in the Carolina League.

Manny is promoted to AA Canton-Akron and leads this league with .340 batting average. He is promoted again to AAA charlotte, where his hitting impresses his manager and is sent to the Majors. Makes major league debut, going 0-4 at Minnesota (9/2); he goes 3-4 at Yankee Stadium with a double and 2 home runs the next night. He is named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America (10/18).

The Indians make it official: Ramirez will break camp as the starting right fielder. At California, Manny has his second career 2-HR game and sets a career-high with 5 RBI (4/11). Finished second to Kansas City's Bob Hamelin in the American League Rookie of the Year voting (11/2).

Manny is named to American League All-Star team (6/20), and led the Indians to the World Series

Signs four year contract with the Indians.

Manny hits his 100th career home run (8/8). He returns to the World Series and homers for the eighth time in his career during the postseason; it was his third homer in World Series play (10/19).

He ties a major-league record with 8 home runs over the span of 5 games (9/19). Manny hits his 43rd homer and sixth in three games, tying the major league record last reached by Mike Schmidt 22 years ago.

Manny drives in a run to reach 160 RBI, the most in the majors since Jimmie Fox had 175 in 1938 (9/26). He is inducted into the New York City Public School Athletic Hall of Fame in along with Bobby Thompson, John Franco, Shawon Dunston, and Nate Archibald. He finishes tied for third (with Roberto Alomar) in the 1999 American League Most Valuable Player voting.

Manny is placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore hamstring; the effects of this injury would persist all season (6/2) . He hits a two-run homer in the sixth inning against the Astros for his 1,000th career hit (7/18); is named American League Co-Player of the Week for July 17-23 (along with Pedro Martinez). Manny led the American League in slugging percentage (1.120), home runs (6) and RBI (13) and tied for the League lead with 28 total bases. In seven games, he hit .360 (9-for-25) and scored eight runs. He agrees to an eight-year, $160 million contract with the Boston Red Sox. Conversations with Pedro Martinez, also born in the Dominican Republic, and Nomar Garciaparra helped sway him.

On his very first pitch at Fenway Park as a member of the Red Sox, Manny blasts a three-run homer over the Green Monster (4/6). On June 23rd he hits a 501 foot home run, second-longest by a Red Sox player in Fenway Park's history (Ted Williams hit a 502-foot shot in 1946). Ramirez wins the 2001 Silver Slugger Award from Hillerich & Bradsby, maker of Lousiville Slugger bats (10/23).