American Sportscasters Association
Mourns the Loss of
Rafael "Felo" Ramirez
Legendary Spanish Voice of the
Miami Marlins

by
Lou Schwartz
ASA President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 23, 2017 - Rafael "Felo" Ramirez, Spanish Voice of the Miami Marlins since the team's inception in 1993, died on Monday, August 21, at the age of 94. The Hall of Fame announcer fell and struck his head as he was getting off the team bus on April 26 and unfortunately never recovered. Prior to his accident, the broadcasting pioneer born in Bayamo, Cuba was still calling all Marlins games, both home and away, on Spanish radio, and held the distinction as the oldest active sports announcer.

Much has been written about his illustrious past. However, I believe a personal note sent to me from longtime ASA member, Spanish Voice of the LA Angels of Anaheim and friend of Ramirez, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, captures the feelings that we all have about the death of this not only great sportscaster, but this wonderful and compassionate human being.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez wrote:
“On August 21, 2017 a piece of me died, as Rafael(Felo)Ramirez died at the age of 94. With him my memories of Cuba's baseball during the old Cuban Winter professional League. The best play by play announcer I have ever met. We were lucky to have him for 94 years on this earth.

“I considered Felo a part of my family, my youth listening to him in Cuba in the late 1950's before the terrible communist revolution that had him leaving the island, like so many of us born in Cuba. I talked with him when we crossed paths at the ballparks, and always via telephone during the Christmas Holiday.

“In 1998, I had the privilege of sharing the microphone with Felo during the NLCS for the Caracol International Radio Network. Until this season he was still the play-by-play man in Spanish for the Miami Marlins. An accident while he was in Philadelphia with the club stopped his sensational and incredible career.

“Memories engraved in my brain forever, a great Cuban, a great professional and a great man.

“Rest in Peace my friend.”

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