WASHINGTON -- Two-time All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos had a Father’s Day to remember.
Following a 12-year Major League career, Ramos signed a one-day contract and retired as a National with his family looking on at a special pregame press conference prior to Sunday afternoon’s 3-1 loss to the Marlins at Nationals Park.
“I made this decision because I think it's time to spend time with them,” Ramos said. “My kids [are] growing up, and for me, it's time to teach them about life, about baseball, about what I did. So it's time to spend time with them. I lost a lot of time with them, so now it's time to be part of their life.”
Ramos, 37, played seven seasons with the Nats from 2010-16.
“I'm very happy to be here because I’ve got pretty good memories here,” Ramos said. “I spent most of the years of my career here, so very, very, very happy to be here again.”
During time in D.C., Ramos was behind the plate for some of the team’s biggest pitching moments. He caught all three of the Nationals’ no-hitters (Jordan Zimmermann, Sept. 28, 2014 vs. the Marlins; Max Scherzer, June 20, 2015 vs. the Pirates; Scherzer, Oct. 3, 2015 vs. Mets at Citi Field) and Scherzer’s 20-strikeout gem on May 11, 2016. Ramos also earned an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award.
“For me, it was the more important part of my job, be a catcher,” Ramos said. “If my pitcher’s doing well, it made me feel good all my career. When I was behind the plate, everything I did, it created more special things for me.”
Ramos, from Venezuela, was signed by Minnesota on July 7, 2004. His career spanned seven teams -- Twins (2010), Nationals (‘10-16), Rays (‘17-18), Phillies (‘18), Mets (‘19-20), Tigers (‘21) and Guardians (‘21). Ramos retired with a career .271/.318/.432 slash line, a .750 OPS, 946 hits, 151 doubles, 136 home runs, 534 RBIs, 362 runs scored and 15.3 WAR in 990 games.
“Wilson is one of those special characters that played this game for many years, played the game the right way,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “For him to come back and retire as a National means a lot to this organization and to the guys that’ve actually been around him, known him. He's an unbelievable human being -- he really is -- an unbelievable catcher and a hitter.”
Traded to the Nats from the Twins on July 29, 2010, Ramos became a clubhouse favorite. When he returned to Nationals Park this weekend with Adam LaRoche and Daniel Murphy as part of a 20th anniversary alumni event, they raved about his contributions to the team. Both former teammates attended his retirement press conference.
“I know he was a really good player and I know he could hit a ball a long way, but all I think about when I see him is just how good of a teammate that he is,” said LaRoche, who played with Ramos from 2011-14. “Just how well he treated -- you guys saw it -- clubhouse guys, employees here, superstars on the team. It didn't matter, he was the same every day. It’s all I think about when I see him is just the attitude he brought in every day and kind of his quiet leadership of just treating people really well.”
Said Murphy (teammate in 2016), “He was the best offensive catcher in baseball for the stretch I feel like I played with him. That first half he had, I bet he hit like .370. He just didn't get out. And big spots as well, too. Every time it felt like he'd come up with runners in scoring position, he'd get a big hit.
“What I loved about Wilson as well, too, is how powerful he was that we saw, but also he would be able to read the scoreboard and do what it asked of him, and be accurate and push the ball forward or take a walk when he needed to. And maybe lastly was, it sounded different off his bat. It was like a cannon when he hit the ball.”
While Ramos retired as a member of the Nationals, the door is still open if he wants to be involved with the organization in the future. Martinez said he has spoken to Ramos, who has known catcher Keibert Ruiz since Ruiz was growing up, about the possibility of visiting with the team at Spring Training.
“Outstanding gentleman, he really is,” Martinez said. “I’m happy that he retired as a National.”