It's difficult to describe Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez in one word, but mercurial may come closest to getting it done. He's made as many headlines with his mouth as his bat, but there's no questioning one thing: the guy can flat out hit, and collectors in three MLB cities have witnessed that up close.
A native of the Dominican Republic, Ramirez was originally a product of the Cleveland Indians organization and first put his batting talent on display in Ohio. He made the All-Star Game four times as an Indian, played twice in the World Series and led the Major Leagues with an eye-popping 165 RBI in 1999.
After the 2000 season, Ramirez signed as a free agent with the Red Sox, and it was in Boston that Manny's legend grew - in both positive and negative ways. Forming a devastating one-two punch with David Ortiz, Ramirez was named MVP of the 2004 World Series, helping the Red Sox end decades of futility.
But the outfielder also frustrated the organization with his enigmatic behavior, which included indifference in the field and on the bases and frequent comments about displeasure with his contract. In July of 2008, Boston finally decided it had put up with enough, trading Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-way deal that also involved the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Manny adjusted to the National League immediately, earning NL Player of the Month honors in August 2008 and sparking L.A.'s run to the playoffs. His combined numbers compare favorably with all but the best seasons of his career, suggesting that he has plenty of life left in his bat.
Though he's not always thought of as such, Ramirez is likely to retire with numbers that place him in the all-time great category. That makes his 1992 rookie cards a good buy, as he is almost certainly headed for the Hall of Fame when he calls it quits.
1992 Manny Ramirez Rookie Cards
- Bowman # 532
- Donruss Rookies # 98
- Pinnacle # 295
- Score # 800
- Stadium Club Dome # 146
- Topps # 156
- Upper Deck # 63