Ramirez

CLEVELAND -- If this was his way of saying goodbye, Manny Ramirez gave Cleveland fans quite a farewell kiss.

Ramirez, eligible for free agency after the World Series, hit a 452-foot home run in what may have been his final at-bat for the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

With one final swing, Ramirez ended his season and maybe his eight-year stay in Cleveland.

"That's Manny," said third baseman Travis Fryman. "He is the most talented hitter that I've ever seen. And you know what the scary thing is? I guarantee you Manny was trying to hit a home run right there."

Sensing they might be seeing Ramirez for the last time with the Indians, the fans at Jacobs Field rose to give the All-Star right fielder a standing ovation as he came to bat in the bottom of the seventh with the Indians leading 8-3.

With the crowd still cheering and chanting, "Man-ny! Man-ny!", Ramirez fell behind 0-1 to John Frascatore before hitting the next pitch 452 feet to center field for his 38th homer.

"A lot of us on the bench were calling the shot," said Omar Vizquel. "With one swing, he said to the fans, 'I love you guys, too'. He let his bat do the talking."

As Ramirez rounded the bases, fans sitting behind home played looked up at owner Larry Dolan's suite. Dolan's five-year, $75 million offer was rejected by Ramirez and his agent, Jeff Moorad.

Dolan has promised to make one more attempt at signing the 28-year-old Ramirez, who last season became the first player in more than 60 years to top 160 RBI.

"That was great theater," Dolan said.

Despite missing 44 games this season with a hamstring injury, Ramirez still managed to put up amazing numbers. He batted .351 with the 38 homers and 122 RBI in 118 games.

While he was out, the Indians went 22-22 and watched the Chicago White Sox pull away in the AL Central.

"Everybody knows what he has meant to this team in the second half. Everybody knows what he means to this organization," catcher Sandy Alomar said. "He's the best hitter there is."

Alomar, who is also eligible for free agency, doesn't think Ramirez is going anywhere.

"He has everything good here," Alomar said. "Manny's not a fool. I think he'll be back next year."

Jim Thome came up through the Indians' organization with Ramirez.

"Baseball is a business and Manny has to do what he has to do," said Thome. "But I really hope he comes back. I really want him back. I really enjoy hitting ahead of him or behind him. He's awesome."

Ramirez rarely talks to the media and he declined several interview requests during the weekend.

After Sunday's game, as some of his teammates packed their travel bags or gathered around TVs to watch Seattle play, Ramirez was the first Indians player to dress and leave the clubhouse.

He jumped in a golf cart and was driven to his car.

On the way, he was asked about his homer.

"I was just lucky," he said with a shrug and a smile. "So long."