Ramon Manon--1990
Coming off a stellar 1989 season
for the Yankees Advanced-A ball
club in Ft. Lauderdale, Ramon
Manon was a wanted man in the
Rule 5 Draft. Stingy in the minor
leagues, allowing just 91 hits in 122
innings in A-ball, the lanky right-
hander caught the eye of a Texas
Rangers scout who thought he was
big league material.
Selected in the Rule 5 Draft, Manon
twirled in the bigs for the Rangers
in one game. Then like a ring of
smoke from the puff of a cigar, his
big league career dissipated almost
as quickly as it formed.
It was April 19, 1990 and the
Brewers unleashed the dogs on the
Rangers, rattling starter Bobby Witt
for five runs in four innings courtesy
of seven hits and three walks,
highlighted by home runs off the
bats of Greg Vaughn and B.J.
Surhoff.
Brian Bohanon offered no relief as
Milwaukee plated three more runs
in two innings. Down 8-0 in the sixth
and with Brewer hurler Chris Bosio
cruising; Rangers manager Bobby
Valentine motioned to the bullpen
for Manon to enter the game.
After getting All-Star Dave Parker to
bounce out to first base, Manon
walked Greg Brock, allowed a
double to the hot-swinging Vaughn,
then issued another walk to all-or-
nothing slugger Rob Deer. With the
bases jammed, Manon induced
shortstop Edgar Diaz to ground
weakly to short, while Brock plated
a run. Catcher Charlie O’Brien
followed with a single to the hole at
short to drive in Vaughn. The righty
got weak-hitting Billy Bates, batting
just .158 at the time, to ground out
to second for the final out of the
inning.
Given another shot at the Brewers,
Manon saw Surhoff fly out to left
before losing his command again
by issuing his third walk of the day;
this time to Darryl Hamilton. Parker
was a different story the second
time around as the designated
hitter laced a double to left to bring
home Hamilton. Manon settled
down to retire both Brock and Mike
Felder on infield ground balls that
didn’t allow for a pinch-running
Terry Francona to score.
In the end, the 22-year-old allowed
three runs on three hits and three
walks in his lone two innings of
work. Down 11-0, Valentine brought
in 25-year-old Kenny Rogers to
close out the game.
Manon lasted another eleven days
in the bigs before being returned to
the Yankees on April 30. He would
resurface in big league camps the
next few springs, but never again
found his way to a big league
mound.
Besides a 13.50 career ERA,
Manon did draw the honor of a
baseball card as a keepsake for his
one game in the big leagues.
(2/26/10)
for the Yankees Advanced-A ball
club in Ft. Lauderdale, Ramon
Manon was a wanted man in the
Rule 5 Draft. Stingy in the minor
leagues, allowing just 91 hits in 122
innings in A-ball, the lanky right-
hander caught the eye of a Texas
Rangers scout who thought he was
big league material.
Selected in the Rule 5 Draft, Manon
twirled in the bigs for the Rangers
in one game. Then like a ring of
smoke from the puff of a cigar, his
big league career dissipated almost
as quickly as it formed.
It was April 19, 1990 and the
Brewers unleashed the dogs on the
Rangers, rattling starter Bobby Witt
for five runs in four innings courtesy
of seven hits and three walks,
highlighted by home runs off the
bats of Greg Vaughn and B.J.
Surhoff.
Brian Bohanon offered no relief as
Milwaukee plated three more runs
in two innings. Down 8-0 in the sixth
and with Brewer hurler Chris Bosio
cruising; Rangers manager Bobby
Valentine motioned to the bullpen
for Manon to enter the game.
After getting All-Star Dave Parker to
bounce out to first base, Manon
walked Greg Brock, allowed a
double to the hot-swinging Vaughn,
then issued another walk to all-or-
nothing slugger Rob Deer. With the
bases jammed, Manon induced
shortstop Edgar Diaz to ground
weakly to short, while Brock plated
a run. Catcher Charlie O’Brien
followed with a single to the hole at
short to drive in Vaughn. The righty
got weak-hitting Billy Bates, batting
just .158 at the time, to ground out
to second for the final out of the
inning.
Given another shot at the Brewers,
Manon saw Surhoff fly out to left
before losing his command again
by issuing his third walk of the day;
this time to Darryl Hamilton. Parker
was a different story the second
time around as the designated
hitter laced a double to left to bring
home Hamilton. Manon settled
down to retire both Brock and Mike
Felder on infield ground balls that
didn’t allow for a pinch-running
Terry Francona to score.
In the end, the 22-year-old allowed
three runs on three hits and three
walks in his lone two innings of
work. Down 11-0, Valentine brought
in 25-year-old Kenny Rogers to
close out the game.
Manon lasted another eleven days
in the bigs before being returned to
the Yankees on April 30. He would
resurface in big league camps the
next few springs, but never again
found his way to a big league
mound.
Besides a 13.50 career ERA,
Manon did draw the honor of a
baseball card as a keepsake for his
one game in the big leagues.
(2/26/10)
