A guest post from our friend Daisy Letendre:
It was reported this week that Boston Red Sox designated hitter and face of the franchise, David Ortiz, will retire at the end of the 2016 season. As a proud (probably too proud) member of Red Sox nation, reading this news nearly knocked the wind out of me – not that I’m surprised, after all Big Papi does turn 40 on November 18 and 2016 is the last year of a contract he signed in 2014. But Ortiz is to the Red Sox as Jeter was to the Yankees and so much of the success that Boston has experienced in the last 13 seasons is thanks to signing him in 2003.
2016 will be Ortiz’s 20th season as a major leaguer and his 14th season with the Sox. Seeing as his tenure in Boston is nothing short of spectacular, what better time than now to remember Big Papi’s top ten moments in a Red Sox uniform.
- Ortiz Sets Red Sox Single Season Home Run Record – 2006
In September of 2006 David Ortiz hit his 51st home run of the season and passed Jimmie Foxx for most in a season by a Red Sock. Ortiz would go on to hit 54 home runs in the 2006 season.
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- Red Sox win the 2007 World Series
While Ortiz wasn’t quite the hero he’d been in 2004 or the MVP as he would be a few years later, Big Papi still carried the team to this World Series win over the Colorado Rockies. During the 2007 postseason he hit .370/.508/.696 with three home run and 10 RBIs. Not bad.
- Ortiz hits go-ahead double in Game 3 of the 2003 ALDS
2003 is a year that a lot of Red Sox fans like to pretend never happened, and for good reason. But Papi’s go-ahead double, which scored Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra in the bottom of the 8th in front of a home town crowd at Fenway, give us a glimpse at the future greatness the Fenway faithful would witness from Ortiz for years to come.
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- Big Papi becomes the 14th Red Sox to win 3 World Series Rings
This one is pretty self-explanatory and puts Papi on the same list as Babe Ruth. #NBD
- 2013 World Series MVP
In 2013 the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series. This was the third October classic for Ortiz and it wouldn’t have happened without him. The slugger’s batting line was unreal, coming in at .688/.760/1.188. He also hit two home runs, drove in six runs and walked twice.
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- 2010 Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby has lacked some luster in the past (2015’s was absolutely fabulous, but that’s a different story for a different day.) However, in 2010, David Ortiz stole the show. At 35, the veteran hit 32 home runs to beat Hanley Ramirez. His longest homerun was just annihilated, travelling 478 feet.
Read MLB’s Coverage of the 2010 Mid-Summer Smash
- 500th Career Home Run
As 2015 playoff hopes got away from the Red Sox, Ortiz’s quest for his 500th four-bagger took center stage. Number 500 (and 499) would come on Sept. 12 against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Trop. The milestone solidified the slugger’s place in both Boston and MLB history as he was just the 27th player to join the half-grand homer club.
- 2004 ALCS Game 5 Walk-Off Hit
It’s hard to write about 2004 without immediately pressing play on ESPN’s 30 for 30: Four Days in October so I’ll do my best to summarize. It’s October 18, 2004 – Game 5 of the ALCS, the Yankees lead the series three games to one; if the Red Sox win tonight the series goes back to the Bronx. Ortiz is up to bat in the bottom of the 14th with the bases loaded and two out, he gets a pitch up and over the center of the plate and drops it into center field; Johnny Damon comes in to score from third. The Sox live to play another day.
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- 2004 ALCS Game 4 Walk-Off Home Run
If this isn’t the greatest round-tripper in the history of baseball, I don’t know what is. Bottom of the 12th, game tied 4-4, runner on first with no outs in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Yankees. Red Sox attempting to do what literally no team has ever done and come back from a 3-0 deficit in a seven game series. Ortiz wastes no time and crushes a two-run jack, “Dirty Water” by the Standells blasts over the merriments in Fenway, the rest is history as the Sox would go on to win the next three games (thanks again to Papi in game 5 as aforementioned,) and then go on to sweep the Cardinals in the October Classic.
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- “This is Our Fucking City”
This one seems incredibly important because it shows most accurately what David Ortiz means to the City of Boston. Following the Boston Bombings, the Red Sox and the sport of baseball helped the city heal. When the Sox returned to Fenway for the first time after the tragedy David Ortiz exclaimed to a boisterous and proud Boston crowd, “This is our fucking city. Nobody is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong.” Fenway erupted in an embrace of Papi’s words. While 2016 will be the last season Ortiz suits up for the Fenway Faithful, his place in Boston’s sports history books is guaranteed.
Thanks for all the wins and walk-offs, David, but it’s not over yet – one more year to earn ring #4 for Red Sox Nation.
-Daisy Letendre
