Boston Red Sox: David Ortiz Becomes Oldest Player to Hit 30 Home Runs in a Season
The Boston Red Sox’ David Ortiz has added yet another accomplishment to his impressive resume.
In his final season before retirement, David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox has set yet another record. His 30th home run, slugged off Matt Andriese in last night’s loss, made him the oldest player to hit 30 home runs in a season at the ripe age of 40 years, nine months, and six days. The blast also gave him the honors of becoming the only player to reach 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in each of the past four seasons, as Sam Blum of MLB.com reported.
For Ortiz, this is just another milestone in what has been an incredible season. Through 117 games, he has provided the Boston Red Sox with one of the best bats in the major leagues. His 30 home runs are among the most in the American League, and his weighted runs created plus of 169 ranks behind just Jose Altuve for the best mark in baseball.
The current season has seen the lefty display mindboggling results for any player, especially one of his age. While most 40-year-olds have either retired or are simply hanging on to pass a milestone, Ortiz has been an everyday contributor for a good team. It is very rare for a player of his caliber to retain his power into his 40s, but that is one of the things that makes him so special.
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All in all, this is just another great season from a great player. David Ortiz will surely make it into the Hall of Fame, and achieving this accolade will simply strengthen his credentials. His 533 home runs are the 19th most for a player in baseball history, and he is in striking distance of several players. Should he stay healthy and productive, it is entirely within the realm of possibility that he could end the season in 16th or 17th place all-time.
Given his early-career scuffles, his ranking will be a great story for future generations of baseball fans. The Minnesota Twins famously released the youngest after the 2002 season when they could not find any takers for his services. The Boston Red Sox then scooped him up out of free agency, and he has played several pivotal roles in their franchise history.
Ortiz was one of the better players during the Sox’ 2004 World Series championship season. With a .301 batting average and 41 home runs, he helped to drive the Red Sox into and through the postseason. He also played a crucial role in their return to the championship in 2007, when his .449 weighted on-base average was the best mark in the game.
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2007 was probably his best season in what has been a fantastic career, but he has never been a true burden to the Boston Red Sox. His bat has always played as average or better, and even his down seasons came with rebounds. This season has been his best in nearly a decade, and combining it with this record will surely add one more story to his legacy.