2001 Ford C. Frick Award Winner Felo Ramírez

Rafael "Felo" Ramírez, the Cuban-born radio voice of the Florida Marlins since the team's inception in 1993, was named the 2001 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award.

Ramírez first began calling sports action as a baseball announcer with Radio Salas in Havana, Cuba, in 1945.

He was been the play-by-play voice of professional baseball in Puerto Rico and Venezuela for over 30 years, calling action for the Caguas Natives, Santurce Crabs, San Juan Senators and Magallanes Navigators.

He has also broadcast more than 40 Caribbean World Series.

The energetic Ramírez often issued this warning on his broadcast – “If you have cardiac problems, back away from your radio now!”

Baseball wasn’t his only passion, as many believed he was just as good ringside when calling boxing matches.

He called fights for some of boxing legends such as Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.

For three decades, Ramírez shared the microphone with 1985 Ford C. Frick Award recipient Buck Canel on the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports.

It was a show broadcast over the largest network of Hispanic radio stations ever assembled.