The baseball world lost one of its most accomplished broadcasters Monday night, with the death Felo Ramirez, the longtime Spanish-language voice of the Miami Marlins and a recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He was 94 years old.
Ramirez called baseball games for more than 60 years, voicing iconic moments like Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series and Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run in 1974. When the Marlins launched in 1993, they brought about Ramirez to call their Spanish-language radio broadcasts, and he continued in that role until he fell while exiting the team bus in April.
“The entire Marlins organization is deeply saddened by the loss of a great friend, Hall-of-Fame broadcaster and community icon, Felo Ramirez,” the Marlins said in a statement Tuesday morning. “Since our inaugural season, he brought home practically every magical moment in franchise history to generations of fans. A true broadcast legend, Felo lent his voice to over 30 World Series and All-Star Games and his extensive contributions to our game will never be forgotten.”
Ramirez, who was born in Cuba, became an icon in South Florida, with a street named for him outside Marlins Park and a baseball field named for him at Miami’s Tropical Park. He has also been honored with a life-sized statue outside the National Sports Museum in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
On Tuesday morning, after reports of Ramirez’s death, Latin Americans, Miami residents and baseball fans in general toasted the broadcasting icon.
Baseball lost an important voice today. Felo Ramirez was a pioneer, a Hall of Famer and one of the good guys in the game. #GraciasFelo
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) August 22, 2017
After more than 70 years of broadcasting, 2001 HOF Frick Award winner Felo Ramírez will be remembered forever. https://t.co/OAGyZktYyc pic.twitter.com/NHNOkyyv8R
— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) August 22, 2017
RIP Felo Ramirez. Thank you for your contributions to baseball and boxing.
— Tom Koehler (@TKREFRESH22) August 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/900014144438632451
https://twitter.com/AdrianaMonsalve/status/900024853197189120
The laughter has stopped. Felo Ramirez has died. He was the voice of baseball to so many Cubans, my beloved Abuelo included. My heart hurts. https://t.co/flRBpy12TS
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) August 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/CraigMish/status/899972176035684352
https://twitter.com/Erika__Carolina/status/899969346528784384
I loved this guy. What a warm and inspiring man. And what a career! Rest In Peace, the great @marlins HOFer, FeloRamirez. You are a legend pic.twitter.com/380n8dWJ0D
— . (@CraigMinervini) August 22, 2017
Here’s a clip of Ramirez calling Roberto Clemente’s 3,000th hit in 1972:
https://twitter.com/MLBPuertoRico/status/899993718530469888
And here is Ramirez’s 2001 acceptance speech at the Hall of Fame, delivered entirely in Spanish.
