Analyzing Manny Ramirez’s Hall of Fame Chances

Ramirez was in Boston for nearly eight full seasons, and made eight All-Star teams. He did not suffer a drop-off in production after signing a lucrative contract, and never seemed to be bothered by the attention surrounding him. He seemed to thrive in that environment.

He eventually left Boston in a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by short stints with the Chicago White Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays before calling it a career.

The main numbers that stand out for his Hall of Fame credentials are his 2,574 hits and 555 home runs. He has a career batting average of .312 spanning 19 total seasons in the league. His 12 All-Star Game appearances show how dominant he was throughout the mid-90s and the 2000s, while his 29 career postseason home runs show how consistent he was at all times of year.

The home runs and hits alone would usually be enough for any other player, but there is a glaring problem attached to Ramirez’s resume.