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June 10, 2008
BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- Hall of Famer Eddie Murray stood at home plate tonight at Fenway Park and presented Manny Ramirez with a plaque to commemorate his 500th career home run. The Red Sox slugger reached the milestone on May 31 at Baltimore and entered tonight's game against the Orioles tied with Murray with 504 homers.
Ramirez told Murray before the game that he was planning on passing his former teammate -- they played together in Cleveland from 1994-96 -- in the career homer category. Either way Murray said he was honored to be part of the pregame ceremony.
"You knew once he learned to think with the pitchers and the catchers, this was something that was just going to happen," said Murray, referring to Ramirez’s 500 home runs. "He’s a hard worker when it comes to hitting."
Murray hit his 500th career home in September of 1996 at Camden Yards. Ironically, Ramirez’s landed in the same section in the right-field seats.
The days leading up to Ramirez’s milestone, he admitted he was thinking about it too much. Fans would ask him constantly when he thought he would hit 500. Murray admitted it’s tough to accomplish.
"It’s pain in the butt," Murray said. "I would walk up to the plate with my head down and then when I would look to see the pitcher, I would see a sea of orange. [The fans] think I can do this on command. That went on for about two or three long weeks. It’s a tough thing to do."
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