Felo Ramírez

Rafael "Felo" Ramírez (22 June 1923 – 21 August 2017)[1] was a Cuban-American Spanish language sports announcer, most notably for the Miami Marlins.

Felo Ramírez
Born
Rafael Ramírez Arias

(1923-06-22)22 June 1923
Bayamo, Cuba
Died21 August 2017(2017-08-21) (aged 94)
Miami, Florida, US
Occupation(s)Baseball play-by-play announcer, boxing analyst
Years active1945–2017
EmployerMiami Marlins

Born in Bayamo, Cuba, Ramirez was also a boxing expert, having broadcast fights for Latin American radio and television audiences since 1949 along with other Spanish-language broadcasters such as Buck Canel and, Pancho Pepe Cróquer when the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports, aired through NBC Red Network, extended their Spanish programming activities to Latin American countries, where it was known as the Cabalgata Deportiva Gillette.[2]

Career

Ramirez called more than 40 Caribbean World Series. He served as a broadcaster for nine years in his native Cuba, before leaving for Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. From 1993 until April 2017, he was the Spanish radio announcer for the Miami Marlins.[3] He called many baseball moments in his career, including Don Larsen's perfect game, Roberto Clemente's 3,000th Major League hit, and Hank Aaron's 715th home run.[4]

As a Marlins broadcaster, Ramirez called both the 1997[5] and 2003 World Series.[6] He has also called numerous boxing matches, including many involving Muhammad Ali.[7]

During the mid-1980s, Ramirez and Puerto Rican sportscaster and boxing promoter Ivonne Class co-hosted a weekly, Saturday nights boxing television show on Tele-Once,[8] the returning television channel that had once been one of Puerto Rico's most seen TV stations, featuring live telecasts of Class-promoted bouts and also recorded fights of the past, like Muhammad Ali-Bob Foster.

Personal life

Ramírez was born in Bayamo, Cuba, and was commonly known as "El Orgullo de Bayamo" ("The Pride of Bayamo") by many fans and colleagues.[9] A longtime resident of Puerto Rico, he was inducted in the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame and has been honored by the local legislature.[9]

Death

Ramirez was hospitalized after a fall in April 2017.[10] He died on August 21, 2017, at the age of 94.[11]

Awards and honors

In 2001, Ramirez received the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His speech, delivered entirely in his native Spanish, was translated by Jaime Jarrin.[4] In 2003, he was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2007 the music of billo's caracas boys of magallanes y susana is they appeared Luis Enrique Arias y Carlos González (periodista deportivo).

In 2012, Ramirez received a recognition in Valencia, Venezuela. The Magallanes organization honored his career of more than 60 years as a sports play by play announcer.

References
  1. "El legendario narrador de béisbol Rafael "Felo Ramírez cumplió 90 años". El Huevo Herald (in Spanish). 23 June 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  2. Sandomir, Richard (2017-08-24). "Felo Ramirez, Enduring Voice of Baseball in Latin America, Dies at 94". The New York Times.
  3. "His calling: Broadcast legend and Frick Award winner Felo Ramirez saw it all".
  4. "His calling: Broadcast legend and Frick Award winner Felo Ramirez saw it all". Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  5. "Spanish Broadcast Is Heard In Cuba". Articles.sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  6. "93-year-old 'Voice of the Marlins' gets a field he can finally call his own". Miami Herald.
  7. "Hispanic Heritage Month: At 91, Latino Broadcaster Lives for Baseball | Fox News Latino". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2016-11-10.
  8. "Felo Ramírez, la voz celestial de los Marlins - South Florida Sun Sentinel - South Florida Sun-Sentinel".
  9. Alvarez-Galloso, Roberto. "A Tribute To Felo Ramirez". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  10. "Marlins baseball broadcaster Felo Ramirez hospitalized after fall". Miami Herald. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  11. "Legendary broadcaster 'Felo' Ramirez, 94, dies". 2017-08-22. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
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