Rememberin Ali Ramirez

[angel17]

Today is 12 years since the original Bleacher Creature and Founder of the Cowbell passed away. We each have fond memories of Ali. Let's share them with each other and then maybe the new comers can see how everything originated.

I remember when the ice-cream girl used to come up and scream Ice-Cream and he would imitate her and make up his own saying. There are many other stories but that one always sticks in my head You scream, I scream for ice cream.

RIP my friend.

[Chris]

I never knew Ali Ramirez...hell I didn't even know what "The Bleacher Creatures" were 12 years ago.

HOWEVER, I always like to take the opportunity to show my admiration for the phenomenon that is The Right Field Bleachers and The Bleacher Creatures of Yankee Stadium. I do not know what it was like in the bleachers "back in the day" and I barely know what it's like in the bleachers today.

As I've said many times before....I have sat in the Right Field Bleachers (various sections...37, 39, 41) about 5 or 6 times in my life...the first time being on exactly Sept 11, 2002 (actually, that might not be accurate...as a small boy my grandfather used to get one-dollar bleacher seats through his employment at Con-Ed and I attended many games in the bleachers...but this was late 70s and I have no recollection of the sections I sat in). I was astonished an impressed with the original way in which you all express your fan-hood of the NY Yankees, I was impressed to hell with the fraternity of friends out there, the hyjinx and everything that the Creatures have done to make attending a baseball game a standout experience for not only them, but for the outside observers like me.

The Bleacher Creatures are an experience unlike any other in sports (at least that I've observed) and for all the in-fighting, bitching and moaning about the salad days of the Bleachers, you should all be very proud of continuing the very very cool institution that Ali Ramirez started.

[MSBNYY]

Good work with the reminder. It's a shame so much time has passed that so few people who knew him, remain in the bleachers. But what a great legacy he has.

[$heriff Tom]

Yes, thanks for reminding us, Angel. Ah, so many memories of the man. I am one of the lucky few who got to know him pretty well, just by sharing a bench.

I typed this up already, hit post, my log-in had expired (6 hours) and now I am redoing it. I hope it comes across as genuine as I thought it did the first time around...

Ali had a playful side, dancing and flirting with the girls, patting kids on the head, doing jigs in the aisle on Sundays dressed in his Church duds. He was a wonder at breaking up fights and diffusing arguments, by clanging his bell to divert attention and start a party atmosphere. He had a naughty side, joking to me that he played the bell best when he was "high" - or cracking jokes about the stupid college kids that would come out and cause trouble.

When I was doing Scorecard Memories I got through almost the entire Ali era that I shared, from my start in 93 through the time of his passing in 96. I truly looked up to the man. He was kind, and liked me for some reason. That made me proud.

The night we found out we had lost him I passed around my scorecard and whoever wanted a turn at it left a message for him. It was a bulletin board of remembrance, which i still pull and look at here and there, and it wets the eyes. There was so much love for the man. I am happy I got to know him personally, and share some laughs with him, some talks of his days out there well before I had an inkling to join the fun.

God bless him, I miss him to this day, and he will always be considered the Father Figure to the Creatures in our eyes. Part of the reason I was so welcoming to people over the years was the welcome he showed to me.

[thecaptain15]

Tom thanks for having that picture up.......I met Ali a few times but I would not say he knew me well as I was not part of "the group" those days in the late 80's-early 90's (plus the group back then has had a lot of change over to the current cast of characters) plus I only came to a handful games a year out there per year back then. My one friend has a picture that as taken during a double header against the Tigers like in 91 or so of us with Ali along the rail and you can see all the beer stains on our shirts......I have been bugging him for a copy of that picture for years but have not been able to ever get it from him.......I celebrated Ali's anniversay today the way he would...I went to the game and not a game passes by that I go to that I don't glance at the plaque on his seat (since it is right across from my seat) think about him for a moment and smile.........there were two roses on his seat today that were already there when I got in that someone placed there....

[$heriff Tom]

It was Balls who thought of putting up the pic. I had forgotten that pic was out there. In fact, for years we struggled to locate any good shots of Ali. Back then we were not so "click happy" - I think we were too "sip happy."

Its great how he is remembered, with the plaques and these tributes that pop on his birthday, and what is otherwise a sad anniversary as today. Keep them coming, if you have em.

[sancho231]

Can't believe it's been this long I remember him for the first season of games i went to.i never rally talked to him much i was younger and didnt venture up the ramp to 39 much, but that bell was something. he really could stop just about any ruckus out there just by ringing it.shit , one time i think it was a late season boston game he got there late and nobody got a ticket for him, he was PISSED. he got in though how could burns not let him in.RIP Ali with out him there is no us

[massyanksfan]

I, too, had never met Ali, but as a Sunday regular (As well as a few assorted games here and there) wish that I cauld have been in the section just one time to meet him. I will toast him this evening. Cheers, and RIP.