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Ramona Gardens Athlete Headed to the Major Leagues
Noe Ramirez isn’t afraid to be a role model to low-income youth.



By Gloria Angelina Castillo, EGP Staff Writer

Just as he had done thousands of times before, Noe Ramirez, 21, threw a baseball in the Ramona Gardens baseball diamond where he played as a child. However, last Friday was no ordinary day.

Ramirez was pitching the ball to his father at the request of residents and community members who gathered to celebrate his signing by the Boston Red Sox.

Ramirez, the son of Mexican immigrants and the fourth of six children, was born and raised in Ramona Gardens public housing development and attended Murchison Elementary School, Fremont Middle School and Alhambra High School. He is currently a third year student at Cal State Fullerton where his baseball pitching skills caught the attention of mayor league baseball recruiters.

The community celebration began in the Ramona Gardens gym with a video showcasing images from his athletic career. It then moved to the baseball field where he was honored for being the first Ramona Gardens resident to join a professional sports team. The homage was coordinated by residents of Ramona Gardens and members of Legacy LA, an organization that provides gang prevention and intervention services.

Ramirez was presented with a Boston Red Sox baseball cap and jersey, and a trophy. He threw the first pitch for the Legacy Rays vs. Ramona Gardens Blue Jays game, composed of 8- and 9-year-old players who more than once mobbed Ramirez with requests for his autograph.

“This is an exciting time for our community, we are happy for our community, we are happy for the Ramirez family and we are happy for you, Noe,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar (CD-14). “This is not only a great achievement for everybody who plays in the major leagues but we come from the Eastside of Los Angeles—whether we come from Boyle Heights, whether we come from Ramona Gardens—we know that we are proud of where we come from and despite all the obstacles before us, to have someone like Noe go to the major league means a lot.”

Huizar said there are many Dodger fans in the area, but Ramirez will make Red Sox fans out of them. Huizar congratulated him on behalf of the city of Los Angeles, choosing not to recall the area’s past bad reputation as a dangerous, gang-ridden place.

“You show all these people, you work really hard to realize your dreams, those dreams can come true,” Huizar said. “Boys and girls: Noe Ramirez made it, you can too!”

Rafael Ramirez, Noe’s father, said his son’s achievement comes after 15 years of hard work and dedication to baseball. His older brother inspired his interest in baseball, the older Ramirez said.

“He picked up a baseball glove and never let it go,” even though I tried to interest him in soccer, said Noe’s father.



Noe Ramirez poses for a picture with Isaac Fajardo, the grandson of Ramona Gardens’ manager. (EGP photo by Gloria Angelina Castillo)


Both of Noe’s parents are avid soccer fans. His mother told EGP she had been recruited to play professionally for a team in Jalisco, Mexico.

“We tried soccer with our oldest son, but his coach told him to play baseball because here it’s all about baseball. That’s how he began, and as he watched his older brother, the little brother [Noe] at 2 or 3-years of age, after every game would run the bases on the baseball diamond,” Mrs. Ramirez said.

“He didn’t start with Tee Ball, off-the-bat he began learning to play baseball.”

Martha Ramírez, Noe’s older sister, said her brother’s talent was noticeable even as an infant.

“Literally, before he could walk he was throwing a ball. He was in his walker… throwing his meatballs across the room. We knew he was going to be special,” she said laughing.

Martha and the rest of the family credited their father with being their in-house baseball coach and for developing Noe’s potential.

Read this story IN SPANISH: Joven Nacido y Crecido en Ramona Gardens Ingresa a las Grandes Ligas

The soon-to-be Red Sox member thanked the community and his family for support.

“A lot of this would not be possible without the community’s support behind me. It’s definitely a great feeling. I’m thankful to have so many people behind me!” he said.

The event organizers drove the message home to the children present that they too have the potential to achieve great things.

“We hope that [Noe] is not the last child who is able to get ahead,” Ramirez senior said.

Mrs. Ramirez also had a message in mind. “Just like we were able…you can all do it. Unite as a family…” she said. While parents always complain they are too busy, that shouldn’t be an excuse, she added. Playing a sport is one of the best gang prevention alternatives parents can offer their children, she told EGP.


June 16, 2011 Copyright © 2011 Eastern Group Publications, Inc.

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