Sep 12, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter
(34) celebrates as umpire Adam Hamari looks on after Ortiz hits his 500th home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
1) David Ortiz hits his 500th home run
While Pedro Martinez spent 2015 being inducted into the baseball hall of fame, his former teammate David “Big Papi” Ortiz spent it being inducted into the position of Mayor of Ding Dong City.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody in any way familiar with baseball, never mind the Red Sox. Ortiz has been the most clutch player in franchise history and favors contributing via the long ball when required. In 2006 he set the club record for homers at 54 for the year and has continued to produce consistently with 9 seasons of over 30 home runs each. This year fans went fishing in the stands some 37 times after a Papi at bat which actually, given how he started the year, is quite remarkable.
Chief of all though was the milestone reached this year that honestly many of us didn’t think was going to happen. Ortiz clubbed his 500th home run on September 12th against the Tampa Bay Rays, a game in which he also got his 499th. Another three dingers and many more extra base hits would follow before September was out. A September in which the Red Sox were the among the best teams in baseball and certainly the hottest. Papi’s revival part way through the season was the catalyst for a young and hungry team to go on a tear that kept our attention to the end and fuels our thirst for what 2016 will bring.
Next: Final Thoughts