Chicago Cubs: The Heroes of Wrigley Series presents Aramis Ramirez

From raw potential to superstar fruition, Ramirez helps led the Cubs into the postseason and proves a valuable asset for the future.

With the Chicago Cubs having a magical 2003 season, which saw them deadlocked with the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals for NL Central supremacy and legitimate contender hopes, Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry pulled off one of the greatest deals, and steals, in baseball history.

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The Cubs managed to acquire the 25-year-old Ramirez, along with speedy veteran and Chicagoland native, Kenny Lofton, in exchange for aging infielder Jose Hernandez, minor league outfielder Matt Bruback and a player-to-be-named-later, which would eventually be infielder Bobby Hill.

Ramirez flourished with his new club, becoming a valuable member of a team that captured the Central Division title and fought their way to the National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins.  Ramirez drove in 10 runs throughout the ’03 postseason, adding four home runs.

His most dramatic moment for the young third baseman came in Game 4 of the NLCS on the road in Florida.  He drove in six runs and belted two towering home runs, one of which a grand-slam off Dontrelle Willis, as the Cubs took a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

Ultimately, the magical 2003 Cub season ended in heartbreak as the team fell just short of reaching their first World Series in 58 years.  But the Cubs and the rest of the league took notice of Ramirez as he proved to be a valuable asset for the future of the franchise.

Ramirez really blossomed in 2004, his first full season with the Cubs.  With a .313 average, he belted 36 home runs and drove in 103 RBIs, proving to be a legitimate clean-up hitter in the league.  He finished 10th in the National League MVP voting.

He earned his first career All-Star appearance in 2005 and, in just 123 games, hit 31 home runs, knocked in 92 RBIs and had a .302 batting average.  He continued his triumphs in 2006, enjoying his best power performance of his career, crushing 38 home runs and driving in 119 RBIs.

After the season, Ramirez became a free-agent, potentially the biggest one on the market.  Many fans feared the worse, expecting Ramirez to cash-out on a lucrative deal elsewhere.  However, Ramirez remained loyal to the team, determined to win in Chicago, telling his agent he wanted to remain on the North Side.  He took less money, electing to stay a Cub, becoming a darling and a fan-favorite from there on forth.