by Michael Sandler

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by Michael Sandler

Consultant: Jim Sherman Head University of Delaware

1529_MannyRamirez_FNL.indd 1 12/5/07 5:10:52 PM Credits Cover and Title Page, © Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters/Corbis; 4, © Jed Jacobsohn/ Getty Images; 5, © REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine; 6, © Guido Cozzi/Atlantide Phototravel/Corbis; 7, © AP Images/Andres Leighton; 8, © Popshots/Omni-Photo Communications, Inc.; 9, © Jim Hughes/; 10, © Tom DiPace/ ; 11, © George Tiedemann/Sports Illustrated; 12, © REUTERS/Ron Kuntz; 13, © Barry Chin/ Globe/Landov; 14, © AP Images/Bill Kostroun; 15, © AP Images/Charles Krupa; 16, © AP Images/Amy Sancetta; 17, © Ezra Shaw/ Getty Images; 18, © REUTERS/Shaun Best; 19, © Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images; 20, © Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images; 21, © AP Images/Charles Krupa; 22T, © REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi; 22C, © Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images; 22B, © AP Images/Kathy Willens.

Publisher: Kenn Goin Senior Editor: Lisa Wiseman Creative Director: Spencer Brinker Design: Stacey May Photo Researcher: Omni-Photo Communications, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Sandler, Michael, 1965– and the Boston Sox : 2004 / by Michael Sandler ; consultant, Jim Sherman. p. cm. — (World Series superstars) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-59716-628-7 (library binding) ISBN-10: 1-59716-628-6 (library binding) 1. Ramirez, Manny, 1972—Juvenile literature. 2. Baseball players——Biography—Juvenile literature. 3. (Baseball team) —Biography—Juvenile literature. I. Sherman, Jim. II. Title.

GV865.R38S36 2008 796.357092—dc22 [B] 2007038362

Copyright © 2008 Bearport Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

For more information, write to Bearport Publishing Company, Inc., 101 Fifth Avenue, Suite 6R, New York, New York 10003. Printed in the of America.

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1529_MannyRamirez_FNL.indd 2 12/5/07 5:04:06 PM +Contents+

Fearless ...... 4 The United States ...... 6 Practice Makes Perfect ...... 8 The Major Leagues ...... 10 Big Hitter ...... 12 The Red Sox and the Yankees ...... 14 2004 ...... 16 The Cardinals ...... 18 Winners ...... 20

Key Players ...... 22 Glossary ...... 23 Bibliography ...... 24 Read More ...... 24 Learn More Online ...... 24 Index ...... 24

1529_MannyRamirez_FNL.indd 3 11/13/07 6:21:03 PM Fearless Would Boston win a World Series at last? After two home wins, the Red Sox held a 2-0 lead in the series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Still, their fans were nervous. Boston’s job was about to get tough. The was headed to St. Louis. Surely the Cardinals would bounce back at home. Unlike the fans, Manny Ramirez wasn’t scared. The Boston was hitting the ball too well. “When I’m doing things right,“ said Manny, “I have no fear.“

Manny had gotten a in every 4 2004 postseason game.

1529_MannyRamirez_FNL.indd 4 11/9/07 5:48:41 PM Fans in Boston’s Park cheer the Red Sox during the 2004 World Series.

The Boston Red Sox hadn’t won a World Series in 86 years. 5

1529_MannyRamirez_FNL.indd 5 11/9/07 5:48:55 PM The United States Manny was born in the Dominican Republic. His family moved to in 1985. Manny was 13 years old. Life in the United States was hard. Manny’s mother sewed dresses. His father drove a cab. Together, they barely made enough money to pay the rent. They didn’t even have a telephone. Manny got used to many new things in the United States. So much was different— the people, the weather, the language. However, one thing didn’t change. He still loved playing baseball!

Manny was born in Santo Domingo, the largest city in the Dominican Republic. It is also the capital. 6

1529_MannyRamirez_FNL.indd 6 11/14/07 10:35:59 AM Baseball is the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic.

Many major-league players, including and , have Dominican backgrounds.

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1529_MannyRamirez_FNL.indd 7 11/9/07 5:49:25 PM Bibliography Edes, Gordon. “Manny Ramirez: Baseball’s Best Clutch Hitter.” (August 2001). McGrath, Ben. “Waiting for Manny.” The New Yorker (April 23, 2007). Pierce, Charles P. “The Sultan of Swings (and Smiles) Emerges.” Sports Illustrated (November 10, 2004). Weinreb, Michael. “A Manny Among Men.” The (June 21, 1999).

Read More Sandler, Michael. Baseball: The 2004 Boston Red Sox. New York: Bearport Publishing (2006). Vascellaro, Charlie. Manny Ramirez (Latinos in Baseball). Childs, MD: Mitchell Lane (2000).

Learn More Online To learn more about Manny Ramirez, the Boston Red Sox, and the World Series, visit www.bearportpublishing.com/WorldSeriesSuperstars

Index cleanup 12 draft 10 14–15, 16–17 high school 8–9 Pujols, Albert 7 Indians 10–11, 12 left fi eld 4, 22 reporters 10 Damon, Johnny 17, Most Valuable Player Rodriguez, Alex 7 22 (MVP) 21 St. Louis Cardinals 16, New York City 6, 8, 11 4, 18–19, 20 22 Schilling, Curt Dominican 14–15, 16 18–19 Republic 6–7 Ortiz, David 16, 22

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1529_MannyRamirez_FNL.indd 24 11/9/07 5:53:30 PM [Intentionally Left Blank] 2004 WORLD SERIES

After 86 years, were the Boston Red Sox fi nally about to win a World Series? The Red Sox had a 2-0 series lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. Left fi elder Manny Ramirez knew his team could do it. He was prepared to win the 2004 World Series!

Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees and the Anaheim Angels and the White Sox

Randy Johnson and the and the Florida Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals

Manny Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox 2004 WORLD SERIES

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