Infant Baseball Caps

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!

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