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Hall of Fame broadcaster Rafael "Felo" Ramirez, who served as the Spanish radio voice of the Miami Marlins since their inaugural season, died on Monday at the age of 94, the team announced. Ramirez had been hospitalized since April 26 after he hit his head while falling off the team bus in Philadelphia.
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Ramirez, who joined the Marlins as the team's Spanish announced in 1993, was enshrined in Cooperstown after receiving the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters in 2001.
"The entire Marlins organization is deeply saddened by the loss of a great friend, Hall-of-Fame broadcaster and community icon, Felo Ramirez," the team said in a statement. "Since our inaugural season, he brought home practically every magical moment in franchise history to generations of fans. A true broadcast legend, Felo lent his voice to over 30 World Series and All-Star Games and his extensive contributions to our game will never be forgotten.
Luis Quintana, his broadcast partner for the last 16 seasons, went a step further.
"There's never been anybody in Spanish broadcasting who has called as many games as he has. He's dedicated his life to baseball," Quintana told the Miami Herald. "When the season ended here in the United States, he would go call games in Venezuela, Puerto Rico. He would call winter league games -- even juvenile games.
"His life is baseball, and there isn't a broadcaster in Spanish radio today who isn't influenced by Felo."
