Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz teamed with actor John Krasinski for a generous gesture for Boston healthcare workers to thank them for their efforts.
David Ortiz has a long history of making Boston Red Sox fans smile with his heroics on the field but his generosity off the field is equally admirable. His playing days are behind him but the future Hall of Fame slugger hasn’t stopped giving back to the city he called home for the majority of his career. Ortiz recently took the time to reward healthcare works in Boston for their efforts with the help of actor John Krasinski.
Krasinksi, a Massachusetts native who rose to fame as one of the stars of “The Office” and has gone on to find great success as an actor and director in films such as “A Quiet Place,” started a web series called “Some Good News” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The news tends to be cluttered with too much negativity, particularly during these challenging times. Krasinski’s goal is to spread some of the good news from around the world to brighten our days.
In his latest episode, Krasinksi spoke with healthcare workers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The five-person team from the hospital’s COVID unit were treated to a surprise when Ortiz joined the conversation via webcam. As if a virtual meeting with Big Papi wasn’t enough, Ortiz generously donated four seats at Fenway Park for the workers at Beth Israel to see Red Sox games “for life.”
Krasinksi, a lifelong Red Sox fan, joked that he’s been on the waiting list to get tickets for 16 years but hasn’t been fortunate enough to get the “Big Papi treatment.” That line drew a laugh from Ortiz, who assured Krasinski that he’d hook him up with some tickets – but not before rewarding Boston’s healthcare professionals for their hard work in treating patients ailing from the coronavirus.
The group then boarded a duck boat to transport them from the hospital to Fenway where they had the opportunity to walk on to the field. A video message from Ortiz greeted them to the park, which included appearances from Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Governor Charlie Baker, and several Red Sox players.
The group of hospital workers also gathered together on the mound to throw out the unofficial “first pitch” of 2020.
They also ran around the bases and when all five crossed home plate, Krasinski cracked that the Red Sox had taken a 5-0 lead over the Yankees.
While only a handful of works made the trip to Fenway, Krasinski wasn’t done spreading good news. He revealed that AT&T would cover the cell phone bills of every doctor and nurse in the country for three months!
Red Sox fans have long known Ortiz as a superstar talent with a big heart. Krasinski has risen to a similar level of fame yet remains a down to Earth guy who will never forget his roots from growing up in Newton. I had the chance to meet Krasinski a few years ago at a screening of “The Hollars,” which he directed and starred in. He’s as genuine as he appears on screen and was more than willing to answer questions from his fans.
These heartwarming gestures from Ortiz and Krasinski will brighten anyone’s day. After all, who couldn’t use some good news right now?