i'm assuming manny didn't get a call-up

just over four years ago, the chicago white sox put in a waiver claim on manny ramirez, and the dodgers let him go.  just like that, manny's brief dodger career was over.  what he did for them in 2008 after being acquired at the trade deadline was ridiculous - a 1.232 ops in 53 games?  2 homers, and a .500 batting average in the 2008 nlds?  2 homers, 7 rbi, and a .533 batting average in the 2008 nlcs? ridiculous, i say!  of course, he never did play a full season for the dodgers, thanks to injuries and suspensions, but we have mostly good memories and some nice baseball cards from his time in la.

here's a 2009 upper deck card showing him field his position in saint louis

in 2004, i traveled to boston to see the dodgers make their first appearance at fenway, and manny misplayed a fly ball in the 9th inning that, instead of ending the game, allowed the dodgers to tie the score.  of course, david ortiz hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the inning, so it was 'no harm, no foul' for manny.

here's his 2010 bowman chrome card

and a 2010 upper deck biography insert

manny hit a home run for the red sox the next day, but the dodgers won handily.  i saw eric gagne pitch in another non-save situation, and he struck out the side (including ortiz looking to end the game).  i never did see manny play for the dodgers.

after suiting up for the white sox, manny went to the rays for the 2011 season, but retired after playing in just 5 games.  he was also looking at a 100-game suspension due to a second violation of the mlb drug policy.  later that year, he applied for reinstatement, and signed with the a's prior to spring training in 2012.  his suspension was reduced to 50 games, but the a's didn't promote him to the majors once he was eligible, and manny asked for his release.  that resulted in this 2012 topps card of manny being rendered moot

kind of like the jose canseco cards featuring him as an angel and an expo.  manny played winter ball, and then went to china in 2013 to continue his comeback attempt.  he played well enough that the rangers signed him to a minor league deal, but he again missed out on a call-up when texas replaced the suspended nelson cruz with alex rios instead.  then, earlier this year, manny signed with the cubs to become a player-coach at triple-a.  i must admit i was/am hoping for him to be called up to the big club once rosters expanded, but he's hitting only .222 as of august 30 so i doubt that happened/will happen.  so, the 2012 topps card likely serves as his final tribute, with his complete career stats on the back.

of modern-era players, only barry bonds has a better career ops than manny's .996, although albert pujols is very close at .995, and he is currently 8th all-time in that category.  still, i am sure he wouldn't mind dropping behind pujols if it meant one more month in the big leagues.