Chucho Ramos

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Jesús Manuel (Chucho) Ramos García (April 12, 1918 - September 2, 1977) became the third player to go straight into the Major Leagues with no Minor League experience, following Ted Lyons (1923) and Alex Carrasquel (1939). He also was the second Venezuelan player to appear in a major league game, behind fellow countryman Carrasquel. Ramos was born in Maturín, Monagas State, Venezuela.

Ramos was heralded as an outstanding defensive first baseman and outfielder with a light bat, but back problems shortened his career. He made his majors debut on May 7, 1944 with the Cincinnati Reds in the National League, and went 3-for-4 off Max Lanier of the St. Louis Cardinals. In his brief stint with Cincinnati, Ramos went 5-for-10 for a .500 batting average, hitting one double and scoring one run in four games.

Resuming his career, Ramos played for the Magallanes team in the Venezuelan Winter League (1946-1955), hitting .271 with 12 home runs and 162 RBI.

Notably, Ramos was one of the rare non-pitchers who threw left-handed but batted right-handed. Other such players include Rickey Henderson, as well as Eddie Gaedel, the midget who batted once for the St. Louis Browns in the 1951 season.

Ramos died of respiratory failure in Caracas, Venezuela, at age of 59.