MLB 21st century face of the franchise — Boston Red Sox: David Ortiz
With three World Series titles since 2004, the Boston Red Sox have had plenty of larger-than-life stars. But they’ve only had one Big Papi.
Acquired from the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2003 season, David Ortiz exploded on Boston, both with his bat and with his equally dominant personality. Savor the numbers between that trade and his retirement at the end of the 2016 season: 483 home runs, 1,530 RBI, a 54-home run season in 2006, 148 RBI in 2005, 10 All-Star game selections, and a total WAR of 52.7.
Between 2004 and 2007, Ortiz averaged 44 home runs and 135 RBI while leading his team to two its first two World Series titles in nine decades and fourth, second, third and fourth in the MVP balloting.
On Ortiz’s retirement, Sox owner John Henry called him “the one constant force underpinning what it means to play for this organization and making it fun.” Since leaving the game, Ortiz hasn’t forgotten the fun element, starring in a series of light-hearted retirement-themed promotions that played on both his power and his fan-friendly personality.
In the wings: It would take a lot to replace Ortiz in Boston, and many of the players who might have done it (think Xander Bogaerts here) have left. The obvious remaining possibility is third baseman Rafael Devers, six seasons deep into his Red Sox career, yet only just 25. Devers is signed through 2033.