Manny Ramirez is unlike any other baseball player in the game. We’ve all heard the signature expression, “Manny Being Manny” and for good reason. The former George Washington High School star out of the Bronx has been doing things his way for 16 years tearing the cover off balls and taking a relaxed approach to the game like no other.

He’s a baseball superstar or as I like to refer to him as a baseball God. Yes. He plays for the enemy up in Massachusetts at Fenway Park (Pa—hk) starring for the defending champion Red Sox (Sa—hhhxxx). But who cares because this is one of the greatest ballplayers of our generation. Also one of the most misunderstood who lets fans in unlike other star players.

What I admire about Manny is he doesn’t care what others think and is going to do things his way. And who the heck would argue given the results in a brilliant career with the Indians and Red Sox which has seen the outfield slugger hit 498 career home runs- a couple within the magical 500 which you know is just a matter of time for the 36 year-old out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

But Manny is much more than those prodigious blasts along with his trademark flip of the bat and admiration which always seems to irk fans. This is a career .313 hitter who’s closing in on 2,300 hits entering today’s game needing 43 to reach that milestone. He has also knocked in over 1,600. Offensively, the man with the braids and customary bandana has hit 30-or-more home runs 11 times driving in over 100 in each of those seasons. Amazingly, he’s never won AL MVP finishing as high as third twice in 1999 and 2004 with Cleveland and Boston respectively. Oddly enough, those same two years he won the Hank Aaron Award.

The 11-time AL All-Star has never really gotten his due because of his awkward style. Most believe he’s lazy but not according to Boston teammates who vouched for the strong work ethic of their left fielder in a cool Ken Rosenthal piece. It turns out that Manny is still highly motivated looking to bounceback from an off 2007 which saw him hit underneath .300 with just 20 homers and 88 RBI’s while missing 29 games. So far this season, he’s done his part hitting .308 with eight long balls and 27 knocked in.

You just can’t keep a great player down. Especially one as carefree as Manny. He’s never been known as a great fielder but there are times where the kid from NYC makes good reads on balls and does the job. Such was a case a few days ago at Camden Yards when he robbed former buddy Kevin Millar of an extra base hit by making a great running catch at the wall. Best part was before he doubled up an Oriole baserunner at first, he had the presence of mind to slap a Sox fan five.

Only Manny. The 2004 World Series MVP has always beaten to his own drum. In looking at different clips of this fun star, I happened to like this one the best because it’s shot so well. Here, you get the level of excitement from his fans at Fenway rooting him on in the eighth inning of a game last year against Seattle. Plus even a diehard Yankee fan can admit that Fenway is great. I’ve been there before and it’s just awe inspiring. Glad to see it’s not going down anytime soon.

As for Manny, it’s nice also to know that he’s still around producing great ball and entertaining fans as only he can. Before I conclude, I still recall one time during a Yanks-Sox game where he had a water bottle in the back pocket of his pants while playing left field in front of the Green Monster (Mon—st—ah) one inning. Just comical.

It is who he is. Best part is it’s a future Hall of Famer. So, enjoy watching this unique individual for as long as he plays because there sure isn’t going to be another one anytime soon.

Thank you Manny.