David Ortiz, better known as Big Papi to baseball fans, celebrated his last regular season game at Fenway Park in Boston on Oct. 2. Prior to the game, Ortiz was honored by fans and the Red Sox organization. The Red Sox announced that early next season they will retire Ortiz’s No. 34, making Ortiz the first Red Sox player to have his number retired prior to joining the Hall of Fame, according to ESPN. The pregame ceremony lasted 40 minutes. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina were all in attendance.
Ortiz was born Nov. 18, 1975 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He attended Estudia Espillat High School, where he played basketball and baseball. Ortiz’s father, Enrique “Leo” Ortiz, played in the Dominican Professional Baseball League. Leo Ortiz was a huge influence for his son. David Ortiz was never able to see his father play baseball, though, as his father quit playing when David was born to find a steady job, according to grunge.com. Leo Ortiz, while a talented fielder, couldn’t hit for anything. Fortunately, David Ortiz could do what his father could not, and became one of baseball’s most talented designated hitters.
Ortiz was originally signed by the Seattle Mariners, playing four years for their minor league teams before being traded to the Minnesota Twins. He played his first major league game on Sept. 2, 1997 against the Chicago Cubs. His first hit of the major leagues was a double off of the Cubs’ Mark Piscottia Sept. 3, 1997. Ortiz hit his first major league home run off Julio Santana of Texas on Sept. 14, 1997. This home run would be just the beginning of the record-breaking talent possessed by David Ortiz. His first full year in the major leagues was 2000. His last season for the Twins was 2002. He was released at the end of the season due to injuries and a sharply increasing salary.
Ortiz finally joined the Boston Red Sox in 2003. The Red Sox already had a designated hitter and a first baseman, and only signed Ortiz as a favor for fellow Dominican, Pedro Martinez, whom Ortiz looked up to as a kid. Ortiz finished third in the American League during the 2003 season with a slugging percentage of .592. Ortiz has played for Boston ever since and has won numerous awards.
Ortiz is one of only four major league baseball players to have finished a career with more than 500 home runs and three or more World Series titles. The only other players to have accomplished this feat are Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson and Babe Ruth. In 2011 Ortiz was the recipient of the Roberto Clemente award. This award “recognizes the player who best represents the game of baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions, both on and off the field,” according to mlbcommunity.org.
Ortiz’s talents are not limited to the field. Coaches, players and administrators alike applaud Ortiz’s ability to make people feel important and welcomed.
In an interview with ESPN, Mike Lowell, a former teammate of Ortiz, said, “The fact that he is someone from another country that endeared himself to learning English and being able to express himself, I think he was able to really bridge a gap. He already had that relationship with the Latin players, but I think it really extended to guys from everywhere. When you’re that good and you still make other people feel important, I think that’s a pretty special quality.”
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred called Ortiz “transformational” and said that he “changed the course of this franchise” and “changed the city.” Following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Ortiz helped lift up the city by making an expletive-filled speech during a game shortly, noting that the Red Sox uniforms read “Boston” instead of their usual “Red Sox” to help unite the city. It’s no doubt that Ortiz is beloved by Red Sox and baseball fans everywhere. His impact on the game is unparalleled.
Ortiz has played professional baseball for the last 19 years, and will retire after this year at the age of 40. Although it’s sad to see a legend step off the field, Ortiz will continue to inspire players young and old for generations to come.
In an interview with Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated, Ortiz was asked what he was most proud of in his career.
He answered, “I got to say the relationships that I have built with everybody around. You guys — the media — my teammates, the fans, the opposition. I think people are going to remember me more for that than what I had done on the field.”
Photo from http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/10/david-ortiz-retirement-speech-boston-red-sox-mlb
