The good hands of Ray Ramírez

By Danny Torres

Nestled in a rustic village in Cooperstown, N.Y., and located 1.5 miles from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the Clarks Sports Center has become an annual pilgrimage for baseball aficionados and the legends of America’s pastime.

Last year, Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez, stood proudly in front of an estimated crowd of 27,500 jubilant fans and thanked numerous people who were instrumental in his baseball journey. One of those was a 57-year-old marginal ballplayer who sat proudly knowing his invaluable work as an athletic trainer was greatly appreciated.

“And [to] Ray Ramírez, a longtime trainer, a good friend of mine…thank you, thank you for everything you’ve done for me in preparing me to play everyday,” Rodriguez said during his induction speech.

Since 1985, Ramírez has been a certified athletic trainer. Through a 30-year professional career, including 13 years with the N.Y. Mets, he became the first Puerto Rican to be an athletic trainer in Major League Baseball.

Bronx Beginnings

Ramírez’s journey to the majors began in the Fordham section of the Bronx. His parents were part of a huge migration of Puerto Ricans to the United States in the early 1950s and settled in New York to raise their two children.

“My dad was very passionate about the game,” he said. “My dad’s favorite players were Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente. I didn’t know this ‘till I got older but my dad was actually a Mets fan.”

Sadly, personal tragedy struck the Ramírez family eight years ago. Although he has come to grips with the passing of his loving father, he still finds it rather ironic at the cause of his death.

“My dad taught me this game,” he said. “He loved it. I ended up becoming an athletic trainer, and he was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) named after a famous ballplayer. I’ve spent over 30 years treating players, and their families and I can’t do anything for my dad.”

Puerto Rican Returns

After third grade, Ramirez and his family moved back to Puerto Rico. While living in Trujillo Alto, he decided that in order to realize his goal of becoming a physical education teacher meant a return trip to New York.

“Athletic programs were limited,” he said. “And after my first year in college at the Catholic University in Ponce, I transferred to Hofstra University. I was a walk-on ballplayer. I got hurt and went to the training room.”

From that moment, his dream of becoming a teacher completely changed. The experience inside the athletic training room transformed his future ambitions.

While in college, he read “The Bronx Zoo: The Astonishing Inside Story of the 1978 World Champion New York Yankees,” which was written by former Yankee pitcher Sparky Lyle

He was astounded by the behind-the-scenes mayhem and practical jokes of this championship team. Lyle spoke fondly of former Yankees’ head trainer, Gene “Gino” Monahan.

“The book talked about ‘Gino’ and I thought that would be an excellent career that didn’t exist in Puerto Rico,” he said. “I signed up [to become a trainer] and my brother [Rich] followed my lead.”

Training for the Bigs

Former trainers at Hofstra planted the seed on his future endeavors, helping him secure stints with the Mets, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and winter ball in Puerto Rico. The early days in rookie ball left an indelible mark in his professional life.

Tom McKenna, the long-time Mets’ head trainer who had already retired saw him in spring training when Ramirez got to the Mets’ affiliate in the Gulf Coast League in 1983.

“Tom was known to have good hands,” Ramirez said. “And other players from other teams would go to him for a stretch and massage. I respected his experience but most importantly his patience with me. In my first year in rookie ball in St. Petersburg, he recommended me for a job.”

Years later when Ramírez was the assistant athletic trainer for the Texas Rangers, McKenna would stop by the ballpark to see his old protégé. He would call him Raymond and visit the stadium just to see him, telling his protege that he didn’t even plan to stay for the game.

McKenna died in 2006 and never saw the man he affectionately called “Raymond” take over his former job as the Mets’ head trainer.

Realizing the Dream

Throughout his storied career, Ramírez has had the honor of treating the various ailments of future Baseball Hall of Famers such as Nolan Ryan, Tom Glavine, Mike Piazza, Pedro Martínez and Rodríguez.

“In 1991, I had some interaction in the dugout with Pudge in spring training,” he said. “I didn’t know he was going to be called up mid-season. When I was called up in 1992, we became close friends. I consider myself like a big brother to him and Juan González. The one thing that stood out during his career, he enjoyed interacting with the fans.”

The unforgettable bond forged between the ballplayers, their families, and a Baseball Hall of Famer who recognized his tireless efforts in Cooperstown will forever be ingrained inside the compassionate heart of Ray Ramírez.

Featured Image: Marc Levine / N.Y. Mets