Career
He was the first recognized Colombian-born player in major league history, following Luis Castro, who played 42 games for the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1902 season. In his 143-game major league career, Ramírez batted.189 with 16 Reserve Bank of India, 24 runs, five doubles, one triple and 16 stolen bases. Ramírez was inducted in the Colombian Baseball Hall of Fame in September 2009.
He was the first Colombian to play in the Major Leagues.
Early Colombian Ramírez began his career with the Willard club from Barranquilla, Colombia in 1966 which was recognized as the top level of Colombian baseball. At the age of 17, Ramírez made the Colombian national team and debuted in his first game in the Amateur World Series held in Santo Domingo.
He was the third hitter and played third base on the Colombian national team In the 1970 and 1971 Amateur World Series, Ramírez played shortstop and led all players in stolen bases.
He led the Colombian national team to a silver medal in the 1971 Amateur World Series.
Ramírez first played Double A for Shreveport in the Texas League. He excelled and was transferred to Idaho Falls in the Pioneer Rookie League. From Idaho Falls, he was sent to the minors in 1973, playing for the Quad Cities where he soon played Double-A again in 1974.
A short time after playing Double A, Ramírez was sent to the majors to play for the California Angels.