What do you think?
Rate this book
Becoming Manny: Inside the Life of Baseball's Most Enigmatic Slugger
Authorized by the future Hall of Famer himself, and written by a clinical psychologist and an award-winning investigative journalist, Becoming Manny is the incredible story behind one of the greatest baseball sluggers of all time. Manny Ramirez ranks seventeenth in career home runs and eighth in career slugging percentage -- the only players above him on both lists are Barry Bonds, Jimmie Foxx, and Babe Ruth.
Becoming Manny brings an unusually thoughtful analysis to the territory of sports biography, examining Manny's life through the lens of larger issues such as mentoring and immigration, while also telling the story of a great career. Manny has perplexed the baseball world for years now with his amazing hitting and his unique approach to life and to the game. Incredibly focused at the plate yet carefree everywhere else, Manny has become a constant topic of discussion on national sports radio and television, on sports websites, and in print.
With unprecedented access, Jean Rhodes and Shawn Boburg have uncovered fascinating stories and family photos spanning Manny's early years to the present. This is an authorized inside look at the roots, development, and career of an individual and player on his way from the Dominican Republic and Wash-ington Heights to the Hall of Fame.
Becoming Manny brings an unusually thoughtful analysis to the territory of sports biography, examining Manny's life through the lens of larger issues such as mentoring and immigration, while also telling the story of a great career. Manny has perplexed the baseball world for years now with his amazing hitting and his unique approach to life and to the game. Incredibly focused at the plate yet carefree everywhere else, Manny has become a constant topic of discussion on national sports radio and television, on sports websites, and in print.
With unprecedented access, Jean Rhodes and Shawn Boburg have uncovered fascinating stories and family photos spanning Manny's early years to the present. This is an authorized inside look at the roots, development, and career of an individual and player on his way from the Dominican Republic and Wash-ington Heights to the Hall of Fame.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2009
8 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 22, 2013
In the book "Becoming Manny" by. Jean Rhodes, is a good book because of the excitement and the wonders of what might happen next in his life. Even, though its an auto biography it seems like a fictional story because what he has been threw and how he started from bottom and he made it to the big's.
this book takes place in Washington Heights were he grew up and played baseball at. Then Kingston,north Carolina were he started minor league baseball. After, he went to Dominican Republic to play winter ball, during the off-season. Finally made it to the big leagues in Cleveland, Ohio. Then later traded to Boston, Massachusetts. Then towards the end of his career he got traded to Los Angeles.
I recommend this book for all the sports lover's out there,athletes, and all the people who don't like many. For the people who don't like Manny, this book will tell what he has been threw and how hard he had to work to get where he is now.
I give this book "4" stars because this books makes you want to read more and it's an fantastic book. But I mean you can't really rate an auto biography because then that means you are rating that persons life.But how it's written though, it's very good for high schoolers because not very many words that are difficult but still can be a good book for older adults.
After reading this book manny became one of my role models because what he had to go threw and how he also had to face discrimination and lack of knowledge he had and still made it to the Major Leagues.
this book takes place in Washington Heights were he grew up and played baseball at. Then Kingston,north Carolina were he started minor league baseball. After, he went to Dominican Republic to play winter ball, during the off-season. Finally made it to the big leagues in Cleveland, Ohio. Then later traded to Boston, Massachusetts. Then towards the end of his career he got traded to Los Angeles.
I recommend this book for all the sports lover's out there,athletes, and all the people who don't like many. For the people who don't like Manny, this book will tell what he has been threw and how hard he had to work to get where he is now.
I give this book "4" stars because this books makes you want to read more and it's an fantastic book. But I mean you can't really rate an auto biography because then that means you are rating that persons life.But how it's written though, it's very good for high schoolers because not very many words that are difficult but still can be a good book for older adults.
After reading this book manny became one of my role models because what he had to go threw and how he also had to face discrimination and lack of knowledge he had and still made it to the Major Leagues.
Currently reading
May 23, 2009OK..so Manny Ramirez is a big baby and disgraced himself with his female hormone usage resulting in his loss of 7.7 mil this year. The book is still fun to read so far..
April 18, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “TOTAL DEDICATION… SHYNESS & GOOFINESS… IS WHAT MAKES MANNY BE MANNY!”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first thing any potential reader should be made aware of is that Manny Ramirez *AUTHORIZED” this biography. So many “star” based biographies are written without the subjects’ approval and assistance. The reclusive Manny participated in the creation of this book… even though he was late… or missed… some of the meetings. There are in depth interviews with Manny’s Grandmother, Mother, sisters, teammates, coaches and managers… and so much of the subject matter revolves around Manny’s greatest confidant… his friend to this day… and former Little League coach, Carlos Ferreira… known by all who know and love him… as “Macaco”… Spanish for “Little Monkey”. As all baseball fans know… Manny is a surefire Hall Of Famer… and perhaps the greatest right handed hitter of all-time. His complete baseball career from Little League to YSL to George Washington High School in New York… to his meteoric rise through the Cleveland Indians farm system… to his Major League All Star career with the Indians… Boston Red Sox… and Los Angeles Dodgers… is all covered within these pages. But what makes this book so much more than simply a baseball book… is the outstanding in- depth look… at this world-renowned player… who is so well described by the phrase: “THAT’S JUST MANNY BEING MANNY!”… when he’s off the field.
Manny’s family’s story… before he became a baseball star… could just as easily been about any of the hundreds of thousands of other Dominican families that immigrated to New York. The authors peel back the character traits that now define Manny… and dig deep… historically… culturally… and environmentally… and the reader… perhaps for the very first time… learns how Manny “really” became Manny. Most fans probably don’t realize how shy and timid Manny was. Among other things… the language barrier… heaped on top of his natural shyness… made him stand offish. His Mother worked all day in a factory… and his Father was not an instrumental part of his life. And this next statement will probably make most baseball fan’s head snap back… Manny didn’t have any confidence in himself. Even when he was a teenager with scouts saying he was the greatest player they ever saw. Most of today’s fans just see the funny and controversial Manny. Some wonder how he hits so well? After reading this book… no one will have even the slightest doubt… as to why he’s so successful. MANNY WORKS HARDER… AND IS MORE DEDICATED… THAN ALMOST ANY PLAYER I’VE HEARD ABOUT IN MY LIFETIME… and he’s been that way since childhood. Living amidst the poverty… in Washington Heights New York… he would get up 4:30 in the morning… rain… shine… or snow… and run up Snake Hill… DRAGGING A TIRE FROM HIS WAIST! “Snake Hill rose more than two hundred feet from the western edge of Washington Heights, near seal level, to one of the highest points in Manhattan.” If he had a game at 5:00pm… he was there taking hitting practice at 10:00am. Every coach and manager he has had throughout his career… said he was the hardest worker they ever had. Manny would beg his coaches to work with him after games.
In 1991 when Manny was nineteen he was named New York City Public School High School Player of the Year. His family didn’t even know. It wasn’t until 1993 when Manny was playing for the Canton Indians, Double-A team… that his Mother and three sisters ever saw him play baseball. As one former manager said: “MANNY SPENT HOURS HITTING BALLS. THIS GUY WAS DRIVEN. UNBELIEVABLY DRIVEN TO SUCCEED, FROM DAY ONE. BUT INCREDIBLY HUMBLE. HE ALWAYS DEFLECTED PRAISE AND ATTENTION, AND WANTED TO PRACTICE WHEN NOBODY WAS AROUND.”
The true baseball fan will enjoy the discussions of the All-Star Seasons… the Championships won… and yes the base running blunders… and the fielding mishaps… but the true essence… of the experiences… of Manny’s personal life… is what will deeply permeate… your heart and soul. This is where you will truly learn… and appreciate… why… *Manny is just being Manny!*
P.S. As a true-fanatical-statistical-baseball-fan… one thing that disappointed me is the mistake that was made on the page near the end of the book dedicated to Manny’s lifetime statistics. It listed his lifetime batting average as .341 instead of the correct .314.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first thing any potential reader should be made aware of is that Manny Ramirez *AUTHORIZED” this biography. So many “star” based biographies are written without the subjects’ approval and assistance. The reclusive Manny participated in the creation of this book… even though he was late… or missed… some of the meetings. There are in depth interviews with Manny’s Grandmother, Mother, sisters, teammates, coaches and managers… and so much of the subject matter revolves around Manny’s greatest confidant… his friend to this day… and former Little League coach, Carlos Ferreira… known by all who know and love him… as “Macaco”… Spanish for “Little Monkey”. As all baseball fans know… Manny is a surefire Hall Of Famer… and perhaps the greatest right handed hitter of all-time. His complete baseball career from Little League to YSL to George Washington High School in New York… to his meteoric rise through the Cleveland Indians farm system… to his Major League All Star career with the Indians… Boston Red Sox… and Los Angeles Dodgers… is all covered within these pages. But what makes this book so much more than simply a baseball book… is the outstanding in- depth look… at this world-renowned player… who is so well described by the phrase: “THAT’S JUST MANNY BEING MANNY!”… when he’s off the field.
Manny’s family’s story… before he became a baseball star… could just as easily been about any of the hundreds of thousands of other Dominican families that immigrated to New York. The authors peel back the character traits that now define Manny… and dig deep… historically… culturally… and environmentally… and the reader… perhaps for the very first time… learns how Manny “really” became Manny. Most fans probably don’t realize how shy and timid Manny was. Among other things… the language barrier… heaped on top of his natural shyness… made him stand offish. His Mother worked all day in a factory… and his Father was not an instrumental part of his life. And this next statement will probably make most baseball fan’s head snap back… Manny didn’t have any confidence in himself. Even when he was a teenager with scouts saying he was the greatest player they ever saw. Most of today’s fans just see the funny and controversial Manny. Some wonder how he hits so well? After reading this book… no one will have even the slightest doubt… as to why he’s so successful. MANNY WORKS HARDER… AND IS MORE DEDICATED… THAN ALMOST ANY PLAYER I’VE HEARD ABOUT IN MY LIFETIME… and he’s been that way since childhood. Living amidst the poverty… in Washington Heights New York… he would get up 4:30 in the morning… rain… shine… or snow… and run up Snake Hill… DRAGGING A TIRE FROM HIS WAIST! “Snake Hill rose more than two hundred feet from the western edge of Washington Heights, near seal level, to one of the highest points in Manhattan.” If he had a game at 5:00pm… he was there taking hitting practice at 10:00am. Every coach and manager he has had throughout his career… said he was the hardest worker they ever had. Manny would beg his coaches to work with him after games.
In 1991 when Manny was nineteen he was named New York City Public School High School Player of the Year. His family didn’t even know. It wasn’t until 1993 when Manny was playing for the Canton Indians, Double-A team… that his Mother and three sisters ever saw him play baseball. As one former manager said: “MANNY SPENT HOURS HITTING BALLS. THIS GUY WAS DRIVEN. UNBELIEVABLY DRIVEN TO SUCCEED, FROM DAY ONE. BUT INCREDIBLY HUMBLE. HE ALWAYS DEFLECTED PRAISE AND ATTENTION, AND WANTED TO PRACTICE WHEN NOBODY WAS AROUND.”
The true baseball fan will enjoy the discussions of the All-Star Seasons… the Championships won… and yes the base running blunders… and the fielding mishaps… but the true essence… of the experiences… of Manny’s personal life… is what will deeply permeate… your heart and soul. This is where you will truly learn… and appreciate… why… *Manny is just being Manny!*
P.S. As a true-fanatical-statistical-baseball-fan… one thing that disappointed me is the mistake that was made on the page near the end of the book dedicated to Manny’s lifetime statistics. It listed his lifetime batting average as .341 instead of the correct .314.
July 15, 2019
The once-prestigious, dread-locked slugger Manny Ramirez authorized the 2008 biography “Becoming Manny: Inside the Life of Baseball’s Most Enigmatic Slugger”, which emulated the featured athlete in his perpetual reluctance to share much of anything about himself for the benefit of the media or his fans (even though this book’s premise promised to go “inside the life” of Manny once and for all). Instead, both Manny and this book simply let his bat and statistical accumulations do the talking.
Though the co-author’s unique perspective of the (likely) mental makeup of Manny and other professional baseball players was interesting, it was underwhelming how Manny’s professional career was presented. Each season had its own chapter, which often centered on the team’s performance and postseason run, with Manny, his gaudy batting statistics (and occasional fielding or base running gaffes), and occasional injury (both real and implied) as only supporting details.
I did learn quite a bit about what Manny’s childhood and upbringing was like, but possibly due to Manny’s own private nature and failure to give the authors much new material, much of this information was based on secondary sources. Also, many pages were devoted solely to fleshing out the background of members of Manny’s social circle, both former and current. I’m guessing that an author only goes down that route when the principal character has so little subject matter to offer, such as Manny Ramirez. Though another biography will probably never be published following Manny’s fall from grace after his multiple positive performance-enhancing drug tests, I really wish Manny had been more involved in the writing process to set the record straight; either that, or don’t authorize a book to begin with, as a good portion of your fans would likely feel let down by discovering that this biography never reached its full potential, all because of Manny’s consistent desire to be left out of the spotlight.
Though the co-author’s unique perspective of the (likely) mental makeup of Manny and other professional baseball players was interesting, it was underwhelming how Manny’s professional career was presented. Each season had its own chapter, which often centered on the team’s performance and postseason run, with Manny, his gaudy batting statistics (and occasional fielding or base running gaffes), and occasional injury (both real and implied) as only supporting details.
I did learn quite a bit about what Manny’s childhood and upbringing was like, but possibly due to Manny’s own private nature and failure to give the authors much new material, much of this information was based on secondary sources. Also, many pages were devoted solely to fleshing out the background of members of Manny’s social circle, both former and current. I’m guessing that an author only goes down that route when the principal character has so little subject matter to offer, such as Manny Ramirez. Though another biography will probably never be published following Manny’s fall from grace after his multiple positive performance-enhancing drug tests, I really wish Manny had been more involved in the writing process to set the record straight; either that, or don’t authorize a book to begin with, as a good portion of your fans would likely feel let down by discovering that this biography never reached its full potential, all because of Manny’s consistent desire to be left out of the spotlight.
June 6, 2014
It's about Manny Being Manny. What else could you ask for?
The best thing this book does is shed light on Manny's early years and the events that formed him. It makes Manny slightly less enigmatic. We get some more explanation on his personality and how he become the savant of hitting. The only true disappointment I had with the book is the lack of Manny talking for Manny. If you are a Manny fan, you are going to know all about the major league chapters of the book. The author makes no excuses for Manny's character flaws which is a crucial aspect of Manny's story. You have to note the darker side of Manny at times. I'm glad to author included his flaws among his, for the most part, fun-loving personality.
Overall, a great read if you like Manny or the Red Sox.
The best thing this book does is shed light on Manny's early years and the events that formed him. It makes Manny slightly less enigmatic. We get some more explanation on his personality and how he become the savant of hitting. The only true disappointment I had with the book is the lack of Manny talking for Manny. If you are a Manny fan, you are going to know all about the major league chapters of the book. The author makes no excuses for Manny's character flaws which is a crucial aspect of Manny's story. You have to note the darker side of Manny at times. I'm glad to author included his flaws among his, for the most part, fun-loving personality.
Overall, a great read if you like Manny or the Red Sox.
June 5, 2015
I thought Becoming Manny was a great book. Not only did it inspire me as a baseball player but it was also a very good read. Going through Manny Ramirez's life as he lived in the Dominican was a exciting and surprising way to see how baseball players are molded there. Overall Becoming Manny was a great read and I'd recommend it.
August 30, 2019
Really entertaining book for baseball fans.
July 21, 2012
A compelling book about a compelling person who is now sadly out of the game.
September 22, 2011
Manny is so good at hitting.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews