Whether or not we see David Ortiz back in a major league uniform in the near future, he is not the first to return from retirement. The success and failures of baseball’s “unretired” ballplayers increase the intrigue of Big Papi’s possible return.
Even after acquiring Chris Sale during the offseason, the Boston Red Sox still face the question of how to replace David Ortiz. While some believe it to be nothing, the Red Sox might not need to replace their beloved Big Papi since his recent Twitter activity possibly hinted at his comeback. After sending the Boston Globe a cryptic and vague tweet, Ortiz gave Red Sox fans a glimmer of hope.
— David Ortiz (@davidortiz) January 10, 2017
We are listening. You can tell us anything!
— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) January 10, 2017
If Ortiz does find his way back to the diamond, he would join a list of ballplayers who retired, only to return to the major leagues after leaving the game. While many failed, like Jim Palmer, and others never made it back to the major leagues, such as Rickey Henderson, there are a number of ballplayers who returned from retirement. In Barry Zito’s case, he merely took the year off to prepare for his comeback in 2015. Although many considered it a failure, it proved a sentimental moment for Bay Area baseball fans.
Here’s to you, Boston faithful and Ortiz fans. The following slideshow identifies the ballplayers who managed to reach the major leagues after retirement.