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Ramirez honored as Series MVP

World Series MVP Manny Ramirez tells the world that his Boston Red Sox are No. 1. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Mike Fitzpatrick Associated Press
World Series MVP Manny Ramirez tells the world that his Boston Red Sox are No. 1. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

ST. LOUIS — Manny Ramirez owns a treasured spot in Red Sox lore — the shy kid who grew up in the shadow of Yankee Stadium is Boston’s first World Series Most Valuable Player.

Ramirez and the Red Sox finished off a four-game sweep of St. Louis with a 3-0 victory Wednesday night, giving them their first World Series title since 1918.

“I never thought I’d get to be part of a World Series winner. But it’s fun, let me tell you,” Ramirez said. “Before we went to spring training, I told my wife … I’m going to be the MVP of something. And I did it.”

A feared hitter throughout his stellar career, Ramirez batted .412 (7 for 17) with a homer and four runs batted in against the Cardinals, helping the Red Sox end 86 years of pain and futility.

Now his clutch performance in October will be remembered forever, from Kenmore Square in the heart of Boston to the mountains of Maine in upper New England.

That was the idea when then-general manager Dan Duquette signed Ramirez to a $160 million, eight-year deal in December 2000.

One of the best all-around hitters in recent memory, Ramirez put up prodigious power numbers during his first three seasons with the Red Sox. But his awful defense, deplorable baserunning and hefty contract prompted the team to place him on waivers last offseason.

The new front-office regime then tried to trade him to Texas for A.L. MVP Alex Rodriguez. The deal fell through, and Ramirez was back in left field this season, flubbing fly balls and hitting homers over the Green Monster at Fenway Park.

He won his first A.L. home run crown, connecting 43 times. He also led the league in slugging percentage (.613) and finished with 130 RBIs. But his absent-minded play kept skeptics wondering if he was really the guy to finally carry Boston to postseason glory.

A long lineage of great sluggers had tried and failed, from Jimmie Foxx to Ted Williams to Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice.

But it’s Ramirez who became a champion, earning every penny of that enormous contract. Now he has the MVP trophy every player really wants.