Sunday, October 2, marked the end of a decorative career for Red Sox slugger, David Ortiz, also known as “Big Papi”. David Ortiz has been in the Red Sox organization for fourteen years. Eight of those years, the team has made the postseason, with three championships in 2004, 2007, and 2013. Off the field, Papi impacted the world by uniting Boston after the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 and through his charity, which helps children with heart problems. Ortiz decided to retire in November during the offseason and never looked back.
The Red Sox planned on honoring Ortiz in his three last games at Fenway. Friday night, the team honored Papi with the accomplishments he had off the field. They presented Ortiz with a limited edition painting by Peter Max. Copies of this painting are being sold to benefit the David Ortiz Foundation. Saturday night, the Red Sox honored him with the impact he had on the city of Boston. Boston sports icons from the Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins all joined him during a pregame ceremony. Finally, Sunday afternoon, the Red Sox honored Ortiz with a tear jerking hour-long pregame ceremony.
The ceremony began with a clip commemorating Ortiz’s career in Boston. Following the video, players from the 2004, 2007, and 2013 World Series teams, were welcomed on to the field. Two of Papi’s best friends were on these teams, former Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez, and slugger Manny Ramirez. Other notable players that joined them were Jason Varitek, Kevin Millar, and Curt Schilling. After these players greeted David at the pitcher’s mound, the gift giving began.
The Governor of Massachusetts and Mayor of Boston presented Ortiz with two signs. The first sign was a street sign saying “David Ortiz Street”. The street that connects Fenway to the Yawkey Way train station, will be named David Ortiz. The second sign read “Big Papi Bridge”. The bridge behind Fenway that goes over the Mass Pike, will now be called Big Papi Bridge.
Followed by two street signs, the Boston Red Sox organization and owners then gave Papi three gifts. First, the organization announced that next season, they will be retiring Ortiz’s number, 34. After fourteen years of being worn by one player, 34 will never be worn again by a Red Sox player. He is the first Red Sox player to have his number retired before being a member of the Hall of Fame. Thirty- four will rest with numbers 9 (Ted Williams), 4 (Joe Cronin), 1 Bobby Doerr), 8 (Carl Yastrzemski) , 27 (Carlton Fisk), and 6 (Johnny Pesky) out in the right field bleachers of Fenway Park. The other two gifts from the organization were checks for his foundation. The Red Sox organization gave Ortiz a $500,000 check. The owners then decided to match this and give $500,000 of their own. In total, the Red Sox donated a million dollars to the David Ortiz Foundation as it continues to grow and help children.
David was then given the moment to address the city of Boston. First, he thanked his mother, who has been looking down on him his entire career. Ortiz’s mother, Angela Aria, died in a car accident in 2002, before Ortiz joined the Red Sox. After that, she has been looking down on her son and leading him to a very successful career. Ortiz then thanked his dad for raising him into the person that he is today, then thanked his family for supporting him. He then ended his speech by getting down on one knee and thanking the fans of Boston by saying, “I want to thank you all, the fans.”
Papi was then surprised by two of his favorite celebrities, Mary J. Blige and the President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina. Blige rocked Fenway by singing the National Anthem. Meanwhile, Medina threw out the ceremonial first pitch which Ortiz caught. The game against the Blue Jays then started a little after 3:00 pm.
David Ortiz did not begin his career in Boston though. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1997 and went through their farm system including a stop with the New Britain Rock Cats. He played with the Twins until 2002 when he was released. The Red Sox then signed him after their star pitcher Pedro Martinez encouraged them to sign him. From then on, Ortiz made Red Sox and Major League history.
In 2006, Ortiz broke the Red Sox single season home run record with fifty-four homers. 2006 also marked the time where he was the first player in Red Sox history to have three consecutive seasons of thirty homers or more (2004-2006). Papi also has ten seasons of thirty or more home runs, 100 or more runs batted in (RBIs), and thirty or more home runs AND 100 RBIs, all of these are Red Sox records. Ortiz currently ranks seventeenth on the all time homerun record with 541. Papi is a ten time American League All-Star and won the Home Run Derby in 2010. Ortiz is one of the most decorated players in Red Sox history.
In his final regular season game the Red Sox, David Ortiz went hitless with two strikeouts. His final regular season hit was back on Saturday night, a single in the bottom of the 5th. Ortiz finished the season with a .315 batting average, 38 home runs, and 127 RBIs. At 40 years old, these are very impressive numbers to put up. Ortiz hit the most home runs by a player in his final season. Critics believe Ortiz had one of the best retiring seasons in all of sports. Especially compared to final seasons like Alex Rodriguez, Peyton Manning, and Kobe Bryant.
After losing Sunday night’s game, the Red Sox will now head to Cleveland for Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Indians. Rick Porcello will be on the mound for the Red Sox as David Ortiz leads his team into the postseason.
