Authorized by the future Hall of Famer himself, and written by a clinical psychologist and an award-winning investigative journalist, BECOMING MANNY is the incredible story behind one of the greatest baseball sluggers of all time. Manny Ramirez ranks 17th in career home runs and eighth in career slugging percentage --- the only players above him on both lists are Barry Bonds, Jimmie Foxx, and Babe Ruth.

BECOMING MANNY brings an unusually thoughtful analysis to the territory of sports biography, examining Manny's life through the lens of larger issues such as mentoring and immigration, while also telling the story of a great career. Manny has perplexed the baseball world for years now with his amazing hitting and his unique approach to life and to the game. Incredibly focused at the plate yet carefree everywhere else, Manny has become a constant topic of discussion on national sports radio and television, on sports websites, and in print.

With unprecedented access, Jean Rhodes and Shawn Boburg have uncovered fascinating stories and family photos spanning Manny's early years to the present. This is an authorized inside look at the roots, development, and career of an individual and player on his way from the Dominican Republic and Washington Heights to the Hall of Fame.