Manny Being Manny

Ramirez had one hit in 17 at-bats
with the Rays in '11.

Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Manny Ramirez is calling it a career. Ramirez, who signed a one-year deal with the Rays this offseason, was batting .059 in five games with the team in 2011.

This does not come as a surprise with his recent struggles at the plate, but what does come as a shock is the reason why Ramirez is retiring.

According to Major League Baseball, there is a problem with Ramirez and the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Ramirez has chosen rather than completing and continuing the process under the Program to retire from baseball.

Ramirez, then with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was suspended 50 games by baseball in 2009 after testing positive for a female fertility drug. Even though the drug was not considered a steroid, it was commonly used by steroids users to restore their testosterone levels back to normal.

It is unclear what Ramirez has done to violate the Major League Drug Policy, but in any event Ramirez has opted for retirement.

A former first-round pick of the Cleveland Indians back in 1991, Ramirez quickly gained the reputation of one of the game's most feared hitters. In 19 seasons, Ramirez was a 12-time All-Star with a career batting average of .312. Prior to the start of the 2001 season, Ramirez left Cleveland, signing a eight-year $160 million deal to join the Boston Red Sox.

In 2002, Ramirez won the American League batting title with an average at .349. In 2004, Ramirez led the Red Sox to first World Series title in 86 years, being named the series' Most Valuable Player. His 555 career home runs ranks him 14th on the all-time list and finishes with 1831 career runs batted in.

Ramirez will always be remembered for his playful, yet sometimes idiotic antics. Which have commonly been know as 'Manny being Manny'. With Ramirez calling it a career we can finally look back on a wonderful, yet controversial career.

The 38-year-old outfielder is forever linked to performance-enhancing drugs, his numbers always tainted and now will begin the debate, will Manny ever be inducted in Cooperstown? We'll let you decide.