When Boston Red Sox fans reminisce on the greatest Red Sox players in franchise history, Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz both come to mind quite quickly. They were instrumental in breaking the Curse and bringing the 2004 World Series title to Boston after nearly a century-long drought.
Martinez and Ortiz are both Hall of Famers and fan-favorites — the Red Sox haven't had two stars of their caliber at the same time since their retirement. Little did most Sox fans know, they never would've had one without the other.
In an interview with Bleacher Report and TNT Sports, Martinez explained his part in bringing Ortiz to Boston before the 2003 season — and it's significant. The two players saw each other at a restaurant in the offseason, the day Ortiz was released by the Minnesota Twins. Martinez then committed to making Ortiz a Red Sox.
"I ended up calling [Larry] Lucchino, Theo [Epstein] and everybody and everybody. And I couldn't get ahold of them. They were in the Winter Meeting trying to sign a first baseman," Martinez said. "I'm pushing the phone to see if I can get David in before they make a decision. I finally get ahold of the traveling secretary, Jack McCormick... I said... 'I just want the Red Sox to pick up David. He just got released and I don't want any other team to see him.'"
Pedro Martinez reveals that he recruited David Ortiz to Red Sox, beginning a legendary partnership
And, lucky for Boston, no other team did. After Ortiz's release from the Twins, Martinez helped him become one of the most iconic and clutch Red Sox players of all time.
Ortiz played six years in Minnesota before his move to Boston and he was hardly a household name. He slashed .266/.348/.461 with 108 doubles and 58 home runs over parts of six seasons. All 10 of Ortiz's All-Star nods and his seven Silver Slugger awards came after his move to Boston shocked his career to life.
Martinez in the interview said he saw Ortiz's potential after Ortiz took one of his cutters to the upper deck of the Metrodome. The Red Sox organization and Fenway Park helped Ortiz flex that potential like he never had before — he batted .290/.386/.570 with 524 doubles, 483 home runs and 1,530 RBI over his illustrious 14-year career in Boston. He earned MVP votes in eight of his 14 years with the Sox. He was impossibly clutch, carrying Boston to two more World Series wins without Martinez.
But maybe there is no "without Martinez." If over two decades ago two of the most legendary Red Sox in franchise history didn't happen to be in "the right place at the right time," as Martinez said, the Curse might still be active. Ortiz could've been an icon of a different franchise, if he became one at all. Martinez has quite an eye for excellence.
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