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5 best moments from David Ortiz’s Fenway Hall of Fame ceremony

By Gabrielle Starr |
BOSTON, MA - JULY 26: Former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz is honored at Fenway Park following his weekend induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, prior to the game against the Cleveland Guardians on July 26, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 26: Former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz is honored at Fenway Park following his weekend induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, prior to the game against the Cleveland Guardians on July 26, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
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The Red Sox welcome David Ortiz back to Fenway Park for the first time since his Hall of Fame induction

David Ortiz returned to Fenway Park a new man.

For the first time, he came home as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, his visage immortalized in bronze and enshrined with the greatest to ever play the game.

Of course, Boston had to have its own celebration for the greatest clutch hitter of all time. So, on Tuesday, flanked by the three trophies he delivered, his family, former teammates, Red Sox legends who came before him, and thousands of fans, Ortiz soaked in the moment.

Here are the best moments from the evening’s festivities:

1. Big banners for Big Papi

The Red Sox opened the ceremonies by unfurling the three banners Ortiz’s bat brought to Boston.

Too bad they won’t be adding a 2022 banner to the collection.

Jul 26, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Former Boston Red Sox player Carl Yastrzemski congratulates David Ortiz “Big Papi for his induction into the Red Sox Hall Of Fame during a ceremony at Fenway Park before the start of the game against the Cleveland Guardians. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Former Boston Red Sox player Carl Yastrzemski congratulates David Ortiz “Big Papi for his induction into the Red Sox Hall Of Fame during a ceremony at Fenway Park before the start of the game against the Cleveland Guardians. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Carl Yastrzemski returned to Fenway to celebrate David Ortiz

Carl Yastrzemski’s appearances at Fenway are few and far between, and with the pandemic, the 82-year-old is staying home as much as possible. Boston’s living legend sat out the last few spring trainings, a loss for the Sox, whose minor-leaguers he mentors.

Yaz skipped the Cooperstown festivities over the weekend out of an abundance of caution but made the drive from his home in Andover, MA to honor Ortiz at Fenway. He took the field with fellow Hall of Famer Jim Rice, a fixture at Fenway and on Sox broadcasts.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1552085086631329792?s=20&t=XCTjCsQ4ZQlyO9PQumisMg

Pedro Martinez and Vladimir Guerrero Sr. were also on hand for the festivities. Along with Ortiz and Juan Marichal, they are the four Dominican-born players in the Hall of Fame.

Theo Epstein, John Farrell, and Terry Francona (conveniently in town managing the Cleveland Guardians) rounded out the contingent, and Ortiz addressed and thanked each of them in his speech.

3. David Ortiz addressed Red Sox Nation

Thousands of Red Sox fans made the trip to Cooperstown At the end of his speech, Ortiz addressed the Fenway Faithful directly, and sent a message to Red Sox Nation:

“I want to thank all the fans, all the Red Sox fans worldwide, because without you guys, trust me, this would never [have] happened. Thank you very much, Boston… I love you forever, thank you.”

He must know the feeling is mutual.

BOSTON, MA – JULY 26: Former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz reacts with former catcher Jason Varitek after throwing a ceremonial first pitch during a pre-game ceremony in recognition of Ortiz’s weekend induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Guardians on July 26, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JULY 26: Former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz reacts with former catcher Jason Varitek after throwing a ceremonial first pitch during a pre-game ceremony in recognition of Ortiz’s weekend induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Guardians on July 26, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

4. The first pitch to Jason Varitek

As a member of the coaching staff, Jason Varitek remains a familiar fixture at Fenway (try saying that five times fast). But it’s been years since the Captain stood at the dish, glove in hand, to receive a pitch.

Papi spent the bulk of his career as the DH and never took the mound. His former teammates, Tim Wakefield, Trot Nixon, Alex Cora, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Xander Bogaerts joined him on the field as he tossed one right down the middle to ‘Tek.

5. Papi took a ride in the bullpen cart

It only took 541 home runs and a Hall of Fame induction, but David Ortiz finally got to take a ride in the Fenway laundry cart.

And here’s the entire ceremony in all its glory:

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