Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz is retiring, and MLB is losing one of the most prolific designated hitters in history. We will take a look back through his career and break down the top 10 David Ortiz moments.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the most clutch hitter in Boston Red Sox history has decided to hang up the spikes after the 2016 season. David Ortiz is in the midst of one of the greatest last seasons to ever be played in MLB.
But that’s no real surprise at all. After all, Ortiz has loaded his career, especially in Boston, with dramatic flare and heroic moments. He’s provided numerous historical moments for not just the city of Boston and the Red Sox, but for the entire MLB. Ortiz has altered the course of playoff races, World Series titles, MLB records, Red Sox records and the attitude of an entire city.
When legendary players retire, their careers can usually be summed up in a couple of words. For Derek Jeter, it was Respect. He was one of the classiest players in the game and was respected tremendously. I think the word that comes to my mind when speaking about Ortiz is beloved.
Sure, Yankee fans might not be the first to invite him over for Thanksgiving dinner, but for the most part fans and players alike love Big Papi. He’s this huge figure who is always smiling, laughing, or telling a joke. He’s the first on the field to talk and hug opposing players, and he’s the one guy at Spring Training to bring kids on the field with him.
To put it simply, a Boston legend is retiring, and a baseball Icon is hanging up the spikes. When David Ortiz takes his final at-bat, whether it be at Fenway Park or some other stadium, I think we all know it will be special. If it’s up to him, we know it will be.
Ortiz’s legacy is hard to measure, and it’s going to be a sad day when he announces his official retirement in November. So although we might not be able to give him a gift like a Lego statue of himself, we can honor him by breaking down the top 10 moments in his career.
Next: A One-Man Show