99 Days to White Sox Opening Day: Manny Ramirez wore No. 99
May 28, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox former player Manny Ramirez throws out the first pitch before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
As the days have officially reached under 100 in the countdown to Opening Day 2015, and to count down those days we’ll take a look for White Sox players and moments in White Sox history that have made an impact within the organization.
Today with it being 99 days until Opening Day it is a good time to take a look back at the lone White Sox player who has wore the number on a White Sox jersey … Manny Ramirez.
Ramirez played part of the 2010 season with the White Sox, with Chicago selecting him off waivers on Aug. 30 2010. Ramirez was granted free agency on Nov. 1, 2010.
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In his short tenure with the White Sox (24 games played), Ramirez batted .261 in 69 at-bats with the club. That season the White Sox were in contention for a postseason birth, but the addition of Ramirez didn’t help matters much, with the White Sox missing the postseason. The team finished with an overall record of 88-74, six games back of the division title in second place.
Also for Ramirez, who was in the twilight of his playing career in the majors, he had a .420 on-base percentage with Chicago and a .319 slugging percentage. He walked 14 times and had just 18 hits, including one home run with the Good Guys.
His lone home run with the White Sox came on Sept. 17, 2010.
After granted free agency following the conclusion of ’10 Ramirez was quoted in an ESPN.com article as saying:
"“I still have a lot of baseball left in me. think that I can still bat if I keep myself healthy, and it is less probable to have an injury playing as the designated hitter.”"
He played just five more games in the majors in 2011 with the Tampa Bay Rays.
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In another ESPN Chicago article from 2010 it said of Ramirez’s tenure on the South Side:
"“Sure it was admirable that Williams took a chance to make the team better down the stretch, but Manny Ramirez didn’t come close to reviving his 2008 magic, and the White Sox were left holding a $4 million invoice.”"
It wasn’t the best of times with Ramirez on the roster as what was a last chance effort by the White Sox to compete for the ’10 AL Central title didn’t pan out as expected. Hopefully the White Sox learned something from that entire situation, though they are still looking for their first postseason birth since 2008.