Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) salutes the fans after the loss against the Cleveland Indians in game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) salutes the fans after loosing to the Cleveland Indians 3-4 in game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
Relive the greatest moments of David Ortiz’s career ahead of his number retirement.
It’s now been nearly eight months since David Ortiz‘s legendary career came to an end. In his final regular season game, the Red Sox gave him an illustrious show to celebrate his contributions to one of the game’s most storied franchises. On Friday, June 23, the Red Sox will once again celebrate him through the retirement of his number 34.
Once complete, Ortiz will join a list of names that include:
All of the above names have plaques in Cooperstown. While Ortiz isn’t yet eligible for induction, he’ll surely be the next player to enter the Hall wearing a Red Sox cap.
Big Papi’s career numbers jump off the page. A .280/.380/.552 slash line, 541 home runs, 1,419 runs, 1,768 RBIs, a 140 wRC+, and 50.5 career WAR. Among Red Sox players, he has the most seasons with 100+ RBIs (10), the most seasons with 30+ home runs (10), owns the single-season home run record (54), is the only player in team history to hit 40+ homers in three straight seasons, and is one of just three to hit 40 or more in any three seasons.
David Ortiz may not have been the absolute best player in club history – that distinction still goes to Ted Williams – but he was undoubtedly the most important. Over the past week, we’ve heard countless recollections of what he’s done for the franchise off the field, how big a presence he was in the clubhouse, his playoff heroics, and how influential he was in the team’s three World Series titles. Rather than rehash them all, I’ve decided to condense that list. So in honor of the Large Father, here are the Top-5 Moments of David Ortiz’s career.
The Dugout Phone
Like any player, Ortiz has been known to get a little angry when he takes particular objection to a call on the field. Maybe even a little too angry. He’s had his fair share of ejections, he’s been in the center of brawls, he’s even broken a bat over his head. But how many players can say that they’ve destroyed a dugout phone the way he did.
His First With The Red Sox
Before Ortiz joined the Red Sox, he was a relatively unknown 1B/DH with the Minnesota Twins that was cut prior to the 2003 season. So it’s no surprise that he started his Red Sox career as a part-time player. But on April 27, 2003, during a night game in Anaheim, that started to change. Called in as a pinch-hitter in the 14th inning, he took a pitch to the opposite field for his first in a Red Sox uniform, and the rest was history.
Home Run #500
Needing 34 home runs at the onset of his age 39 season, Ortiz wasn’t exactly a lock to reach the 500 career home run mark. Sure, he’d finish with 35 but not many expected a player of his age to play the way he did down the stretch. Then again, they didn’t think he’d do it again in 2016 and we all know how that turned out. Number 500 was far from his last, but it was a memorable moment nonetheless that also gave us an iconic Don Orsillo call.
Passing Teddy Ballgame
Only 19 players in the entirety of Major League Baseball’s history have hit more home runs than Ted Williams, arguably the greatest hitter to ever live. One of those men is David Ortiz. Considering how important Williams and Ortiz have been to the franchise, this moment is one that fans will remember for a long time.
He also passed a pair of other Hall of Famers in Frank Thomas and Willie McCovey with homer number 522. Not bad at all.
His Final Season
Not to be outdone by age, Ortiz had the single greatest season by a 40-year-old in MLB history. Better than Barry Bonds, better than Ted Williams, better than Mickey Mantle. He hit .315/.401/1.021 with 38 home runs, 127 RBIs, and 48 doubles. No other player hit as many home runs, drove in as many runs, or posted as high a slugging percentage as Ortiz did in his age-40 season. He said goodbye to the game better than anyone ever had.
5. The Red Sox All-Time Single Season Home Run Record
For 67 years, Jimmie Foxx held the Red Sox single season home run record. Other greats like Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Wade Boggs, and Manny Ramirez have tried to pass that mark but only one has. On September 21, 2006, Ortiz blasted his 51st of the season, passing Foxx and solidifying himself as one of the greatest power hitters in team history.
To this day, he holds just two single-season club records – this and most hits – making the feat all the more important. He also took Johan Santana, one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game at that point, deep past the bullpens in right-center to reach the record. Ortiz would end the season with 54 home runs, finishing second in AL-MVP voting.
4. The 2013 World Series
The 2013 World Series is up there with 2004 for the most important Commissioners Trophy in franchise history. After the tragedy of the Boston Marathon that year, the city was in need of a win and Ortiz helped deliver just that. He hit .668 with two home runs and six RBI, going 6-for-7 in the crucial Games 4 and 5 that shifted the series back to Boston. Amazingly, he reached base in 19 of 25 plate appearances.
The stats speak for themselves, but let’s not forget the leadership he provided that guided the Red Sox back from a 2-1 series deficit. Tied at 1 in the sixth inning of Game 4, Ortiz called a team meeting and urged his players to take in the moment and play loose. His speech obviously worked, as Jonny Gomes hit a three-run homer later that inning to put the Red Sox up for good. They would go on to win Games 5 and 6 as well, sealing their eighth World Series title in team history.
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If you were to envision one swing to define Ortiz’s career, this may be it. Down 5-1 in the bottom of the eighth, the Red Sox managed to collect a pair of hits off Max Scherzer, forcing Tigers manager Jim Leyland to go to the bullpen. Joaquin Benoit came into the game, gave up a single to Dustin Pedroia, then had to face Ortiz with nowhere to put him. On the first pitch, he sent an 86 mph changeup over the bullpens in right field to make for one of the biggest moments in playoff history and one of the most iconic photos in Red Sox history.
The Red Sox would win 3 of the next 4 to book their ticket to the World Series.
2. The 2004 ALCS
If you don’t know how it happened by now, I don’t know what you’ve been paying attention to over the last 13 years. The Red Sox are down 0-3 to the Yankees in Game 4 and trail 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth; Kevin Millar walks to put the tying run on, Dave Roberts pinch runs and steals second, then Bill Mueller singles to bring him in. That inning set the stage for Ortiz’s coming out party as the greatest clutch hitter in baseball history.
Game 4 – Ortiz came up with Manny Ramirez on first and a chance to extend the series. He would promptly send a ball over the bullpens in right field (he did that a lot), sending fans home with the hope that their team could come back.
Game 5
– “Later that night,” Ortiz would hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth to bring the Red Sox within one of the Yankees. After they tied it in the ninth, he had another chance to play hero in the 14th – delivering a two-out single to drive home
Game 7 – The Red Sox would win Game 7 10-3 to solidify the greatest comeback in sports history, but it was Ortiz that got the rout started with a key homer early in the game. Up 1-0, he delivered a solo home run to extend the Red Sox lead, silence the Yankee Stadium crowd, and instill more doubt in the minds of the Yankees players.
His clutch performance earned him ALCS MVP honors and more importantly, helped the Red Sox end the proverbial “curse.”
1. This Is Our… City
This moment can’t be quantified the way the others on this list can. It wasn’t all the big home runs, dominant series, or career milestones that will stand out when people reflect upon David Ortiz’s career. Which isn’t to say that they weren’t impressive. Instead, it’ll be his place in the fabric of Boston’s long history that defines his career.
His words on April 20, 2013, days after the Marathon bombings that shook the city and nation to its core, took his stature as a Boston icon to another level. His status as a sports legend had already been established but in that moment, he became the hero the city needed.
He didn’t know he was going to speak until moments before the ceremony. He didn’t have a speech planned. And he didn’t really think through what he was saying. But everything worked out perfectly.
“This is our f****** city,” is a phrase that will be engrained in the minds of Red Sox fans and Bostonians for decades. The F-word, while not eloquent, perfectly captured the resilience the city displayed in the days after the tragedy and the attitude its citizens held in the days following. In fact, the moment was so poignant that the FCC decided against fining NESN for airing it without censor.
