David Ortiz indeed represented Big Papi well on Opening Day 2016 for the Red Sox. The slugger finds himself amongst some lofty company on the all-time home runs list, having tied the great switch-hitting Eddie Murray on Tuesday afternoon.
The Boston Red Sox were supposed to make their 2016 debut on Monday at Progressive Field in Cleveland, but inclement weather nixed that. Instead, David Ortiz and his squad suited up today and started the season in style with a 6-2 win over the Indians. They were largely aided by new ace David Price‘s arm and an old, all too familiar bat.
In the top of the ninth inning with one on and one out, Big Papi took Trevor Bauer deep. It was the 504th such instance of the left-handed slugger besting the opposing pitcher in the ultimate fashion possible. With Ortiz’s blast, he tied Hall of Famer Eddie Murray for 26th on the all-time list.
Assuming Ortiz maintains his health through the course of the season, he will have the opportunity to leap frog a number of other prestigious men to play the game before him. Behind only Alex Rodriguez (687) and Albert Pujols (560) in active career home runs, Ortiz has legends like Eddie Mathews (512), Ted Williams (521), Jimmie Foxx (534) and Mickey Mantle (536) in his sights. At 39, Papi went deep 37 times in 2015. It was his highest home run tally since the 2006 season when he hit 54.
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Signed as an amateur free agent in 1992 by the Mariners, Ortiz was traded and played from 1997 to 2002 with the Minnesota Twins. He hit 58 home runs during his time there. It wasn’t until he was released by the Twins that he blossomed into a true Hall of Fame candidate. Much to the Twins dismay after releasing him, Ortiz hit 31 home runs and drove in 101 while hitting .288 in his 2003 debut season with the Red Sox.
Five AL MVP top five finishes, nine All-Star appearances, six Silver Slugger awards, 446 home runs and 3751 total bases later, here we are. While Ortiz won’t claim the franchise record in career home runs (held by Teddy Ballgame) when the 2016 season comes to an end, he could pass another Red Sox legend in Carl Yastrzemski. Ortiz is currently eight long balls away from tying Yaz on the franchise leader board.
For the better part of the 21st century, Derek Jeter was to Yankees fans what David Ortiz has been to Red Sox fans. The city of Boston has seen three World Series titles with Ortiz being a staple in the lineup. In terms of kodak moments, the slugger has had many. None proved more monumental than his walk off blast in Game 5 of the ALCS versus the Yankees. That home run set the stage for coming back from previously being down three games to zero, to eventually snapping the Curse of the Bambino by sweeping the Cardinals in the World Series.
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Cooperstown should find David Ortiz when he becomes eligible on the ballot. The Red Sox have retired seven numbers in the history of their franchise. If anyone is deserving of that honor, fan favorite and No. 34 in your programs certainly is.