Manny Ramirez to Throw First Pitch at NLCS Game 1

Manny Ramirez, a former Major League Baseball star, is set to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Game 1 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets. This event is scheduled to take place at Dodger Stadium on Sunday evening, as reported by Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News.

The presence of Manny Ramirez adds a nostalgic touch to the proceedings. Ramirez is a notable figure in baseball history, having been Major League Baseball’s all-time leader in playoff home runs, with 29 in total. He played a crucial role in the Boston Red Sox‘s 2004 World Series victory, earning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors in the process. During his career, he also spent parts of three seasons with the Dodgers, contributing significantly to their postseason runs in 2008 and 2009.

In this NLCS, both competing teams feature former Red Sox players on their rosters. The New York Mets have Jose Iglesias, J.D. Martinez, and Adam Ottavino, while the Los Angeles Dodgers include Ryan Brasier among their ranks. The Dodgers are also managed by Dave Roberts, who gained fame in Boston for his clutch performances during the postseason.

Ramirez’s association with the Dodgers began in July 2008 when Boston traded him to Los Angeles, a move that also involved a three-team deal bringing Jason Bay to the Red Sox from the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his time with the Dodgers, Ramirez achieved a .322 batting average with a .433 on-base percentage, .580 slugging percentage, and 44 home runs over 223 regular season games. In the postseason, he had a notable .386 batting average with five home runs.

The Dodgers, holding the top seed in the National League, will face the Mets in the opening game of the seven-game series, with the first pitch scheduled at 8:15 p.m. Eastern time. The winner of this series might encounter another of Ramirez’s former teams in the World Series, as Cleveland, his home for the first eight years of his career, competes against the New York Yankees for the American League pennant.