Jose Ramirez Trivia Quiz

Answer: Miguel Tejada

All players listed as options were Dominican Republic born and raised, but Tejada was specific to Bani just like Jose Ramirez. Ortiz and Pujols were born in Santo Domingo, while Pedro Martinez hails from Manoguayabo.

Incidentally, Ramirez once recounted of a time, as a teenager, where Miguel Tejada hosted a clinic at a local Bani stadium where he distributed food and equipment to kids in need. Ramirez had grown up in strict poverty and was one of such kids. In 2022, Ramirez gave an interview where, even at the age of 31, he "never forgot it".

Ramirez would go on to prove Tejada's influence in more ways than just on the field. In 2023, Ramirez and the Guardians came together to fund Jose Ramirez Field, an all-turf baseball field situated in the largest Hispanic neighborhood in Ohio.

Answer: 2013

On the very first of September specifically is when Cleveland called Ramirez up to the majors. It wouldn't be for a little over a week though until he recorded his first base hit, doing so on September 9th against the Kansas City Royals.

Prior to his promotion, Ramirez had spent two years climbing his way up the Indians' system. He quickly succeeded at every level he was brought to, starting with the Arizona Indians, moving up in 2012 to play for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, and earning a mid-season promotion to join the Lake County Captains. Ramirez began the 2012-13 season with another promotion, this time playing for the Double A Akron Aeroes. He skipped the Triple A level entirely and earned his place on the Indians roster towards the end of the season.

Answer: New York Yankees

Yankees starter Brandon McCarthy successfully stymied the Cleveland offense on this day, with the exception of Jose Ramirez. With just one swing of the bat, Ramirez deposited a McCarthy offering firmly over the right field wall, scoring himself and Lonnie Chisenhall and giving Cleveland a 2-0 lead that would hold. McCarthy put together a pretty good outing, going 6.1 innings with just those two runs earned. But, it was that lone blemish which saddled McCarthy with his eleventh losing decision of the season with the Yankees taking a 3-0 defeat.

Answer: No

In 2015, Ramirez made the Opening Day Roster for the first time in his career. Ramirez had not begun to break out just yet, so he was not viewed as a critical contributor in the team's batting order. This was reflected by his positioning in the ninth spot, an indication that he was more valuable for his defense and fielding efforts.

Sadly, Ramirez would experience a little bit of regression during this season, with his batting average falling beneath .200. He was sent down to Triple A, funnily enough making his first appearance as a Columbus Clipper before his Cleveland Indian debut. He would serve in this capacity for nearly two months before being recalled in early August. It seems that time spent in Triple A did him well, as he was able to bring his average well over .200, while also setting his personal best for homers hit in a month with four each in September and October that year.

Answer: 4

Ramirez saw time individually at the second base, third base, shortstop, and left field positions. Prior to this, he was mainly viewed as a shortstop, as the Indians had traded standout player Asdrubal Cabrera the year prior. However, injuries to key players such as Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall pressed Ramirez into service.

He delivered with his first season batting over .300, his first season hitting double digit home runs with 11 and his first truly full professional season, one where he did not spend any time with any minor league affiliates.

Answer: Roy Hughes

When compared to Hughes' 1936 record, Ramirez hit for less power but attained more contact. During the nine game stretch, Ramirez hit three home runs, versus Hughes' six when he had his streak. However, Ramirez also batted .516 over this time, compared to Hughes' still impressive but less-so .444. For his efforts, Ramirez won AL Player of the Week honors on June 18th, which was his first time receiving this honor.

Answer: Home Runs and Stolen Bases

Ramirez was the first player to record 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in the same season since the legendary Mike Trout had done it six years prior in 2012. Ramirez was also just the third Clevelander to ever do it, with Grady Sizemore doing it ten years before him in 2008 and Joe Carter doing this in 1987. Part of what led Ramirez to his breakout campaign was a major adjustment to his approach at the plate. Ramirez stood at the very top of all the MLB in 2018, as the player who averaged the most pitches per plate appearance at nearly five.

This extreme focus on patience and discipline paid off in a major way.

Answer: Yes

Ramirez could have threatened MLB records for contract length and possibly compensation had he truly wanted it. Despite this, Ramirez would not sign one, but two extensions with the team after his second contract. Both extensions, per the standards of an MLB player, underpaid Ramirez quite significantly especially for his level of production.

In 2022, through his agent, Ramirez finally commented on why he had done this. Famously, he stated "$150 million or $200 million, my life is gonna be the same. I'm happier with $150 million in Cleveland than $200 million somewhere else."

Answer: Tim Anderson

According to Ramirez as well as manager Terry Francona, who had been ejected a week prior in another game against the White Sox, Anderson had been "disrespecting the game for a while." Specifically, the team believed Anderson was deliberately trying to hurt its players with harsher tags from his glove than were necessary. As well, prior to the altercation, per Francona, Anderson had "said some things he probably shouldn't have" after an umpire warned Anderson and Arias about an interaction they had previously.

Ramirez had just hit a hard line drive into right field to record a double. The throw on to second was nowhere close to beating him. Despite this, Ramirez slid onto the base, where he was met by Anderson. Anderson had apparently tagged him particularly hard, causing the two to exchange words. Before long, the pair squared up with one another, but the brawl did not last long. One swing from Ramirez sent Anderson onto his back before the pair could be separated and ejected from the game. For those who enjoy the broadcasting side of the MLB, you may know this game as the "DOWN GOES ANDERSON!" game, as per Indians play-by-play commentator Tom Hamilton's own words as he relayed what was going on.

Answer: Most games played in a Cleveland uniform

Between the franchise's name being the Cleveland Indians and then later the Cleveland Guardians, Jose Ramirez played his 1,620th game in a Cleveland uniform on this day. Though the team did lose to the Royals, the accomplishment shone much brighter than any one minor setback ever could.

Many, many great players have suited up for Cleveland over the years. It's not necessarily accurate to say Ramirez is the hands down, undebatable greatest Cleveland baseball player ever, but he at least belongs in the discussion. And in said discussion, playing more games than any of them will be one of Ramirez's selling points. The previous record was 1,619 games by Terry Turner, who played for Cleveland from 1904 to 1918.