Big Papi breaks Ted William’s Red Sox record for most 30/100 seasons
At least the Red Sox fans are getting a little excitement nearing the end of a season in which their team won’t be going to the postseason and it was provided for them by none other than Big Papi.
David Ortiz already had 30 home runs going into Friday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles, he just needed one RBI to surpass the legendary Ted Williams to set a new Red Sox record.
Big Papi now has eight season with the Boston Red Sox in which he has hit at least 30 home runs and driven in 100 runs.
Williams still holds the number of seasons with 100 RBI with nine so Ortiz, 38, will have to play another year and play well to even tie that record. Hall of Famer Jim Rice and Big Papi are tied for second most seasons with, you guessed it, eight.
Ortiz had two more hits on the night, a single in the sixth and hit a two-run shot in the tenth that ended up being the game winning hit. It gave the Red Sox a 5-3 lead over the Orioles.
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Although the win did not really count for much as the Orioles have already locked down the A.L. East Division title and the Red Sox have been eliminated from the possibility of playing in the post season.
Ortiz didn’t say too much about holding yet another Red Sox record but I guess that’s just what happens when you’re now called “Super Papi.”
"“Just another season,” said Ortiz. “Too bad we are in the situation we are in, but just like I always say, just a compliment when your name is attached to a legend like Mr. Williams. Something that is based on a lot of consistency and work.”"
Then he added,
"“They call me Super Papi. That’s right. Put it down like that. What else?”"
You have to love it. That’s classic Papi for you.
Ortiz is the oldest player to have a 30/100 season since, one of the newest member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Frank Thomas did it at the age of 39 in 2006 as a member of the Oakland Athletics.
He finished the night hitting .264 with 35 home runs and 102 RBI on the year.