The Boston Red Sox began the process of saying goodbye to one of the most iconic Massachusetts’s player of all time at his final regular season game. 19 years after making his Major League Baseball debut, David Ortiz’s time as a MLB player is coming down to its final days. Since the Red Sox clinched the American League East, there is still time to see one of the best offensive player play out his magic during the 2016 postseason. Prior to Sunday’s game, the Red Sox honored Ortiz with an unforgettable pregame ceremony. The organization washed him with gifts and brought in Dominican Republic president Danilo Medina to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to Ortiz. Former World Series champions and teammates of Ortiz, including beloved friend Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, came to say their final
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But off the field, Ortiz’s charismatic personality and his deep passion for the city of Boston did not go unnoticed. In the first game at Fenway Park after the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, Ortiz was a factor in the city’s healing process. With the words that only David Ortiz could say, he told the crowd of over 35,000, “This is our f****** city, and no one is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong." That same year the team went on to win the franchise’s eighth World Series Championship and he won his third.
And once again, Ortiz was a key factor in that world series run. Ortiz had 5 home runs and 13 RBIs while batting .353. In game 2 of the ALCS vs the Detroit Tigers, Ortiz hit a dramatic, game-tying grand slam off of reliever Joaquín Benoit in the bottom of the 8th inning, powering the Red Sox to victory. In the World Series, against the St. Louis Cardinals, Ortiz hit home runs in both games 1 and 2. In the series he had 6 RBIs and batted .688 as the Red Sox would win the series 4 games to 2. For his performance, Ortiz was awarded the World Series Most Valuable Player
But off the field, Ortiz’s charismatic personality and his deep passion for the city of Boston did not go unnoticed. In the first game at Fenway Park after the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, Ortiz was a factor in the city’s healing process. With the words that only David Ortiz could say, he told the crowd of over 35,000, “This is our f****** city, and no one is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong." That same year the team went on to win the franchise’s eighth World Series Championship and he won his third.
And once again, Ortiz was a key factor in that world series run. Ortiz had 5 home runs and 13 RBIs while batting .353. In game 2 of the ALCS vs the Detroit Tigers, Ortiz hit a dramatic, game-tying grand slam off of reliever Joaquín Benoit in the bottom of the 8th inning, powering the Red Sox to victory. In the World Series, against the St. Louis Cardinals, Ortiz hit home runs in both games 1 and 2. In the series he had 6 RBIs and batted .688 as the Red Sox would win the series 4 games to 2. For his performance, Ortiz was awarded the World Series Most Valuable Player