Mario Ramirez, 1957-2013

[G-Fafif]

1980 utility infielder reportedly passed away this morning at 55. Spent Tide-marked year as a Met after coming up through their minors. His first hit came off Vida Blue during a game I listened to on the car radio on Flatbush Ave. en route to a doctor's appointment as my mother talked her way out of a traffic ticket by playing the "but officer, I'm just a dumb suburban housewife" card. Spoken hellishly highly of on UMDB. Drafted away Rule 5 by Padres same day John Lennon was murdered. Played for '84 N.L. champs. Sported a 'fro that just wouldn't quit. Never won't conflate him with Jose Moreno.

RIP.

[Edgy MD]

Wow, that guy's too young.

I link him to Sergio Ferrer Both from Puerto Rico (Sergio from Santurce, Mario from Yauco). Both noodle bats. Sergio rode the tidewater shuttle whenever an infielder went down in 1979. Ramirez rode it in 1980.

Only Ramirez had a magic afro, though.

Any available report? How and where did he die?

[G-Fafif]

Got it off a reliable (if in this case undetailed) Baseball Player Passings page on Facebook.

Ramirez and Moreno both saw a spate of playing time circa August 1980 when Flynn and Taveras (among others) each went down and took what was left of the season with them. Ramirez was 3. Moreno was 4. The Mets were doomed.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I still haven't been able to find any official confirmation of this.

Mario Ramirez has been getting a lot of UMDB hits over the last four days; somebody somewhere has gotten the news.

Has anyone found an online obituary, or news report of his death?

[G-Fafif]

En Espanol aqui. Translated here.

The president of the Baseball Federation of Puerto Rico, Dr. Jos� Quiles, expressed condolences to the family of former player in Major League Baseball, Mario "Nato" Ramirez, who died Friday after several health problems. "We deeply regret the loss of Nato Ramirez. Had the opportunity to share with him and his family this past Saturday at the inauguration of the new stadium of Yauco and Friday we learned of this sad news. We joined the grief felt by his family and we ask our Lord to give them a lot of strength and peace of mind in this difficult time, "said Quiles. Ramirez, 55 years old, was in poor health in recent months. At the opening of the new municipal stadium Yauco, Ramirez was honored by the team of Coffee Growers. The team yaucano retired the number 12, which he used in the major leagues from 1980 to 1985. Quiles ordered a minute's silence on Friday at all stages of the country in honor of Ramirez.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Thank you! (And if anyone comes across anything that indicates what town he died in, I'd appreciate a heads up.)

Mario Ramirez is now officially dead on the UMDB.

[G-Fafif]

A little bit of the Magic is gone, as Mario is, I believe, the first 1980 Met to pass on.