With the 2016 Boston Red Sox season underway, I am excited to see how the team performs this year, especially with the acquisitions of players such as David Price, Craig Kimbrel, and Chris Young. But at the same time, I am dreading the end of the season. This is a time when the Red Sox and Major League Baseball will have to bid farewell to David Ortiz, also known as Big Papi, who is set to retire when the time comes. Ortiz spent 14 seasons with the team and 20 seasons in the league. As we thank him for the memories with the Sox, here are some of his most memorable moments since his first season with the team in 2003 (in chronological order).
1. His first home run in a Red Sox Uniform
Considering how much of an asset he has been to the Red Sox over the years, people rarely think of the beginning of his tenure when he was only a pinch hitter and occasional starting designated hitter. Here he is in the April 27, 2003 game against the then Anaheim Angels. He came in to pinch hit in the top of the 14th inning and hit an opposite field go-ahead home run that ultimately lead to the Red Sox winning the game. Little did anyone know at the time that this moment would be the first of many game changing instances for Ortiz.
2. His first walk-off home run with the Red Sox
Here is the first of many walk-off home runs for Big Papi. In the bottom of the 10th inning of the September 23, 2003 game
against the Baltimore Orioles, Big Papi sent Fenway Park home happy as
he clobbered the baseball into the Green Monster to give the Red Sox the
victory.
3. His first major postseason moment
In game four of the 2003 ALDS, the Red Sox were trailing in the series 2-1 against the Oakland Athletics. Ortiz stepped to the plate in the bottom of the eight with two on and two outs. He hammered a double to the right field bullpen wall off of Keith Foulke (who would coincidentally become his teammate the following season) and put his team on top. This would prove to be a crucial play because the Red Sox not only won to force a fifth game, but they also won said fifth game to advance to the ALCS.
4. His 100th career home run
On May 28, 2004, Big Papi unloaded the bases with a grand slam off of Joel Pinero of the Seattle Mariners that would be his 100th career home run.
5. His walk-off home run in game three of the 2004 ALDS
Entering game three of the 2004 ALDS, the Red Sox were already leading the series 2-0 and needed to win one more game to clinch the series. Ortiz helped the Red Sox get that win in walk-off style in the bottom of the 10th inning by smashing the baseball over the Green Monster.
6. His walk-off home run in game four of the 2004 ALCS
Red Sox fans will always remember game four the 2004 ALCS.
This game was, without a doubt, the most nail biting game of the series. The Red Sox had saved themselves from being swept by the Yankees thanks to Dave Roberts' stolen base and Bill Mueller's subsequent RBI to tie the game at four in the ninth inning. After fighting to break the 4-4 tie for three more innings, David Ortiz stepped up to finish the job. With Manny Ramirez on first, Ortiz belted a two-run walk off home run to right field.
"We'll see you later tonight!" - Joe Buck, Fox Sports Broadcaster
7. Game five of the 2004 ALCS
David Ortiz may have bought the Red Sox some time in the 2004 ALCS, but he wasn't done there.
Game five went into extra innings as well, and the Red Sox season was once again on the line. It was the 14th inning. The game was stuck with a score of 4-4.
Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez had both reached base by way of the walk
and there were two outs. David Ortiz had another opportunity to save the
season and he did not disappoint. He hit a single up the middle to
send Damon to home plate and the series back to New York, where the Red
Sox would come back from 3-0 series deficit and win the series. Talk
about CLUTCH!
8. His 2006 season
9. His 300th career home run
On July 9, 2009, Big Papi added on to his home run milestones, hitting his 300th career home run off of Luke Hochevar of the Kansas City Royals.
10. Winning the 2010 Home Run Derby
On July 12, 2010, Ortiz represented the Red Sox in the 2010 Home Run Derby and won his first title. He hit 32 home runs total in the competition, defeating Hanley Ramirez in the final round.
11. Becoming the fifth Red Sox player to reach 300 home runs in the uniform
On May 21, 2011, Ortiz joined Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice and Dwight Evans as the one of five players to hit 300 home runs in a Red Sox uniform.
12. His 400th career home run
On Independence Day in 2012, Big Papi joined the 400 career home run club with a dinger off of A.J. Griffin of the Oakland Athletics.
13. "This is our f****** city"
On April 20, 2013, which was five days after the tragic Boston Marathon bombings, David Ortiz returned to the Boston Red Sox for the first time in eight months after suffering an Achilles Tendon injury. But before the game, the Red Sox honored the victims and survivors, and Ortiz touched the park with some unforgettable words.
14. Smashing the telephone
Sometimes, our anger just gets to us.
Ortiz was ejected several times throughout his career, but this ejection is probably the most entertaining one. He was ultimately not suspended for this incident, but he was fined $5,000.
15. Picking at Mike Napoli's beard
Oh, how I miss the 2013 Red Sox beards.
16. His grand slam in game two of the 2013 ALCS
Game two of the 2013 ALCS, bottom of the eighth inning, the Red Sox trailing by four runs, bases loaded, two outs, and Big Papi at the plate. Would you like to take a guess at what happened?
I had lost faith in this game and shut the television off. That was by far the worst decision I have ever made in my life.
17. His performance in the 2013 World Series
In the 2013 World Series, Ortiz hit 11-for-16. This calculates to a .688 series batting average and a 1.948 on base plus slugging percentage. These statistics included two home runs and six RBIs. What is most amazing is that the rest of the Red Sox hit only .169 garnered a .484 OPS, and there were only two home runs by other players.
You can't stop this guy in the month of October. You just can't. It's not possible. It's no wonder why he earned himself more nicknames: Senor Octubre and Cooperstown.
18. Getting hit by a pitch from David Price
The reason I'm including this moment is because I find it extremely ironic how David Price and David Ortiz are now teammates. In this regular season game on May 30, 2014, Price plunked Ortiz, who subsequently said he had lost respect for Price. Now, almost two years later, Ortiz and Price have hugged it out.
This really goes to show how devoted of a teammate David Ortiz is.
19. His 400th career home run in a Red Sox uniform
David Ortiz once again made Red Sox history on August 16, 2014, when he joined Ted Williams and Carl Yastremski in the 400 Red Sox home run club.
20. His 500th career home run
"Big Papi, the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history, adds to his resume with number 500!" - Don Orsillo, former NESN broadcaster
Ladies and gentlemen, the 27th player in MLB history to reach this milestone, David Ortiz. He accomplished this feat on September 12, 2015, in a game where he hit home runs #499 and #500.
21. His home run on his final Opening Day game
You really thought David Ortiz was going to play his last Opening Day game without hitting a dinger? Think again!
At 40 years old, we all knew that his time was coming soon, but this means he will be able to finish his career on a strong note. Maybe I will be able to add more to this list by the time his final season is over.
Thank you, Papi.
