When Hanley Ramirez found out that the Florida Marlins have a fairly strict on-field appearance policy, he was not happy.  No long hair or jewelry is permitted for Marlins players as of Spring Training 2009.  It wasn’t a Manny Ramirez dreads-well-past-you-shoulders situation, although Hanley was wearing some Tracy Chapman-style mini-dreads for a while.  It was about his jewelry.  Hanley Ramirez loves his diamond jewelry, and is photographed wearing it any time he is not in uniform. 

To placate his batting champion this year, Marlins team owner Jeffrey Loria gave Ramirez an amazing gift.  To commemorate his franchise-record .342 batting average, Loria had a pendant designed for his shortstop.  On a thick white-gold chain hangs 394 diamonds totaling 8-10 carats,  forming a huge “342” in white diamonds with the decimal point made of a single rare teal diamond.  Diamonds are also set into the pendant to spell out “HR 2” for the number of home runs he hit—not bad for a shortstop—and “Hanley Ramirez 2009 N.L. Batting Champion”.  That’s a lot of diamonds.  On the back, the piece is engraved with the words “Marlins” and “Congratulations!  Jeffrey Loria”. 

Ramirez is the first Marlin to win a batting title, and will receive a trophy in a pre-game ceremony before the Marlins’ home opener on April 9.  “Hanley did something magnificent last year,” Loria said.  “I know he gets the trophies and the accolades that come with it.  We don’t wear jewelry on the field, but I know Hanley likes it off the field”.  Ramirez did, in fact, drape the pendant around his neck immediately following Saturday’s game.  “I’m going to keep it forever,” he said.  “It’s going to be something for life”. 

It is an unusual relationship between a team owner and a player.  Evidently, Ramirez approached Loria at some point and asked if he was getting anything for winning the batting title.  Loria jokingly asked him his shirt size.  When Loria presented the gift to Ramirez, it was carefully wrapped in a shirt-sized box to throw the shortstop off.  Loria also told him that if he hits .394 this season, the gift will be even better.

When it comes to Hanley Ramirez, it’s all fine as long as it’s all diamonds.

Related Articles: