Aramis Ramirez

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Ramírez was named an All-Star in 2005 and 2008. He was selected as a reserve for the 2008 All-Star Game. In 2007, he hit the longest home run of the season on September 21, at 495 feet.

In Their Own Story

The summer of 2003 brought Ramírez to Chicago with a mix of promise and defensive concerns. In his first game in the NLCS that year, during Game 4 against the Florida Marlins, he hit the first playoff grand slam in Cubs history off starter Dontrelle Willis. Although the team fell to the eventual World Series champions, Ramírez finished the series with three home runs, seven RBIs, and one triple. Years later, on June 20, 2008, he became a hero again in the bottom of the ninth inning during the first Crosstown Classic against the White Sox, hitting his second home run of the day for a walk-off victory before homering in each of the next two games of that series. Injuries and comebacks defined parts of his later years with the Cubs. On May 8, 2009, he dislocated his left shoulder while fielding a ground ball against Milwaukee. In 2010, he began slowly, batting .168 through his first 47 games before landing on the disabled list with a bruised thumb. Despite these setbacks, his power remained evident when he hit a walk-off home run in the 11th inning against St. Louis on April 18, 2009, and a two-run shot to reach 300 career homers on July 1, 2011. On July 10, 2011, he declined an invitation to replace Plácido Polanco in the All-Star Game due to family plans, even as he led the team with 93 RBIs and hit .306 that final season.

Reader's Guide

Ramírez played for the Chicago Cubs from 2003 to 2011. He was traded to the Cubs on July 23, 2003. He signed a five-year deal with the Cubs on November 12, 2006. He signed a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on December 12, 2011. On July 23, 2015, he was traded back to Pittsburgh.

Did You Know?

• Ramírez hit the first playoff grand slam in Cubs history during Game 4 of the 2003 NLCS.
• He became the 14th player in Major League history to have two different games with three home runs in a season (2004).
• Ramírez hit his 300th career home run on July 1, 2011 against the Chicago White Sox.