Bobby Ramos

Roberto Ramos
(Sugar Bear)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 208 lb.
• High School Miami Jackson High School
• Debut September 26, 1978
• Final Game September 9, 1984
• Born November 5, 1955 in Calabazar de Sagua, Villa Clara, Cuba

BR page

Biographical Information

Bobby Ramos was a back-up catcher for six major league seasons, getting his start with the Montreal Expos, who had drafted him in the 7th round of the 1974 amateur draft, in 1978. The Expos were looking at various catchers within the organization to serve as a back-up to Gary Carter and called up Bobby after Jerry Fry, their AAA catcher that year, was injured during his September call-up, opening a spot. He had spent most of that year in AA with the Memphis Chicks, hitting 265 in 109 games. He did not return until 1980, after the Expos had used veterans Duffy Dyer and John Tamargo in 1979. Tamargo started 1980 as Carter's back-up, but he was a better hitter than defensive catcher, and Bobby was called up in mid-season to serve as a defense-first third string catcher. In 1981, he was Carter's main back-up, hitting .195 in 26 games with his first major league homer.

Heading into the 1982 season, the Expos signed Tim Blackwell as free agent to back up Carter, and at the end of spring training traded Ramos to the New York Yankees in return for Brad Gulden, another catcher with a similar profile. Neother got to play much for their new major league team after the trade, with Bobby going 1 for 11 in 4 games in pinstripes, although his sole hit was a homer. Most of the year was spent in AAA with the Columbus Clippers. After the season, the two teams basically re-swapped the two catchers, although the transactions are listed as purchases. In 1983, even though Blackwell was still around, Ramos made the team as a third-string catcher, and on the rare days that Carter got a rest, he outplayed the veteran who was released mid-year. He had his best season that year, batting .230 in 27 games. In 1984, he returned in the same role and got a few more opportunities to play as manager Bill Virdon decided to give Carter an occasional rest by giving him some starts at first base. He hit 193 in 31 games. Carter was traded to the New York Mets after that season, which resulted in a competition for playing time in spring training in 1985, with no experienced catcher around. Mike Fitzgerald, acquired in the Carter deal, came out on top, but Ramos lost out to Steve Nicosia for the back-up job, and he was handed his release on March 28th. He was soon signed by the California Angels, but spent all of that season in AAA with the Edmonton Trappers, hitting .269 in 96 games. In fact, he never made it back to the majors, also spendng the following three seasons in AAA with three other organizations, with his batting average falling progressively to .244 with the Iowa Cubs in 1986, .169 for the Omaha Royals in 1987, and .181 for the Phoenix Giants in 1988. Eben for someone considered a good defensive backstop like him, it was not enough to earn a ticket back to the Show.

In 1989, he played for the Gold Coast Suns of the Senior Professional Baseball Association. He batted .313 in 49 games for the team.

After his playing career ended, Ramos was a coach for the Columbus Mudcats in 1989 and Osceola Astros in 1990-1991, then was the Houston Astros' minor league catching instructor in 1992. He then became a minor league manager from 1993-1999 and coach with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Anaheim Angels. He was the Devil Rays' and Rays' bullpen coach from 2006 to 2011.

Bobby is one of only four players born in Cuba to make their debut in the 1970s along with Minnie Mendoza, Oscar Zamora, and Orlando Gonzalez.

Year-By-Year Minor League Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1993	Asheville Tourists	South Atlantic League	51-88	14th	Houston Astros
1994	GCL Astros	Gulf Coast League	41-18	2nd	Houston Astros	League Champs
1995	GCL Astros	Gulf Coast League	32-26	8th (t)	Houston Astros
1996	GCL Astros	Gulf Coast League	31-28	7th	Houston Astros
1997	GCL Devil Rays	Gulf Coast League	25-35	12th (t)	Tampa Bay Devil Rays
1998	GCL Devil Rays	Gulf Coast League	36-24	2nd	Tampa Bay Devil Rays	Lost League Finals
1999	Princeton Devil Rays	Appalachian League	25-45	9th	Tampa Bay Devil Rays