by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND–Rafael (Felo) Ramírez, was born in Bayamo, Cuba on June 22, 1923. I recently spoke with “Felo” (as we the Spanish speaking broadcasters affectionately call him) during the Marlins visit to Angels Stadium in Anaheim at the end of August. Felo is 91 years old, travels on the team charter, and still is the Spanish play by play voice for all Miami Marlins games of the National League.

I had the privilege of working with Felo during the National League Championship Series in 1998, between the Padres and the Braves, for the old (LBC) Latino Broadcasting Company for the hundreds of stations in the United States and Latin America. Since then LBC was acquired by ESPN Deportes. Felo told me in Anaheim he feels fine, and still loves to come to the ballpark.

We shared a pregame meal at Angel Stadium and we spoke, and the memories were incredible. For me (also Cuban-born) he feels like familia to me.

I remember prior to the first broadcast I did with Felo during that 1998 National League Championship Series before the first game at Atlanta, I asked him if it was correct for me to say over the air, that I used to listen to him in Cuba, when I was 9 years old during the old Cuban Professional Winter League. He said “desde luego que si” – of course you can. And I did, and it was a real treat for me to work with Felo, my mentor. Next year, 1999, I also worked together with Jaime Jarrin of the Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish radio network, another (Hall of Famer) during the Mets-Braves National League Championship Series.

I couldn’t ask for more during those two postseasons. Rafael (Felo) Ramírez (Cuba) Miami Marlins and Jaime Jarrí (Ecuador) Los Angeles Dodgers are the only two living Spanish play by play announcers to have won the Ford C.Frick Broadcasters Award of the Hall of Fame. The other one was Buck Canel, (deceased) who won it in 1985 and was the Spanish play by play announcer for the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.

Felo has been the only Spanish Voice for all Marlins games, since they began play as the Florida Marlins in 1993. He also called the two World Series titles for the Miami club in 1997 and 2003. Rafael (Felo) Ramírez is the undisputed senior announcer in Major League Baseball. Milo Hamilton is currently the play by play announcer for the Houston Astros, born in 1927, Milo is 87 years of age and has worked as play by play announcer for seven (7) different Major League teams.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig named Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully a recipient of the Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award on Friday during Selig’s farewell tour stop at Dodger Stadium. Scully and Jackie Robinson’s wife, Rachel, are the only non-players to be recognized with the award. Scully was emotional.

“Wow, I’m deeply touched,” he said quietly. The great Vin Scully was born in 1927; he is 87 years of age and last month announced he will be back for an incredible 66th season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Vin, Felo, Milo and Jaime all are recipients of the Ford C. Frick Broadcasters Award.

Prior to the last game of the Angels vs Marlins series in Anaheim, to be exact, on Wednesday August 27, and prior to that game, I gave Felo a hug and told him “nos vemos pronto” with his inimitable wit he responded slowly and looking at me: “si no nos vemos, no es por mi culpa” trans: “If we don’t see each other again, it would not be my fault” Enough said.

Amaury Pi-González is the Spanish play by play announcer on the radio for the Oakland Athletics, and on Fox Spanish television in Los Angeles with the LA Angels and does News and Commentary each week on http://www.sportsradioservice.com