LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers will create an individually numbered, limited edition
Mannywood poster featuring artwork from Wednesday night's victory that featured
Manny Ramirez's dramatic, pinch-hit, tiebreaking grand slam on his own sold-out
Bobblehead Night. The posters, compliments of KLOS, will be distributed to the
first 20,000 fans attending the game on August 5.
The grand slam, the 21st of Ramirez's career, elicited two curtain calls and
propelled the club to a 6-2 win, the Dodgers' fifth straight victory. Ramirez is
just two behind Lou Gehrig, who set the all-time record with 23.
The Dodgers are now a Major League-best 27 games over .500 for the first time
since the final day of the 1988 World Series championship season.
"It was one of the best moments of my career," said Ramirez of his first career
pinch-hit home run. "I'm just glad it happened here in L.A."
Ramirez's drive came on his only swing of the night and was his first to land in
"Mannywood," the section just fair of the left-field foul pole named for the
slugger. For $99, the same number as Ramirez's uniform, fans can purchase two
field level tickets and receive two Mannywood T-shirts at remaining Dodgers home
games.
After being hit by a pitch on his hand Tuesday night, Ramirez was not in the
starting lineup on Monday and was not expected to play in the game. He had not
taken batting practice or even hit off a tee when Dodgers manager Joe Torre
turned to him at a critical point in the game. Ramirez turned on the first
pitch, a 96-mph fastball, and crushed it over the wall, sending the capacity
crowd of 56,000 into delirium.
The Mannywood poster is the third in a series depicting great moments at Dodger
Stadium during the 2009 season. The initial poster, titled "The Cyclist,"
featured Orlando Hudson completing the first cycle by a Dodgers player in nearly
four decades, a feat which he accomplished on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, his
first home game in Los Angeles.
The second poster, titled "The Comeback Kids," depicted one of the Dodgers' nine
first-half, walk-off victories. Los Angeles has 25 come-from-behind wins this
season, including five in which they have erased leads of three or more runs.
All three posters feature original photography from longtime Dodgers team
photographer Jon SooHoo.
Fans have several options for purchasing tickets to Dodger home games this
season. They can purchase tickets online at dodgers.com, by calling 866-DODGERS,
or visiting the Dodger Stadium Advance Ticket windows or any Ticketmaster retail
outlet. Tickets for Mannywood can be purchased at dodgers.com/mannywood.
Source: MLB.com