Watching a former star athlete age in any sport is a sad and melancholy experience. Fans must acknowledge that the athlete’s better days have passed. It’s about remembering everything they’ve done in their career, and granting them a respectful and thankful send-off. Michael Jordan scored only 15 points in his last NBA game and Hank Aaron had only 10 home runs in his final season. However, the three latest and greatest farewell tours ended very differently. Derek Jeter had a walk off base hit in his final game that brought tears to my eyes (and I hate the Yankees), Peyton Manning went out with his second Super Bowl ring, and Kobe Bryant went for 60 points in his final game. All three of these legends seemed to sputter to the finish line of their careers because of injuries. But for the curtain to fall upon them after a heroic final performance, it almost makes it alright to say goodbye. Clearly the trend seems to be taking a turn. Athletes now seem more determined to go out with storybook endings. And this brings us to David Ortiz’s final season.
It is something Red Sox fans have long known would occur; Big Papi would have to retire someday. He would get standing ovations at away games mixed first with cheers, but followed by boos if he has a good game against them. Other than the retirement announcement itself, there hasn’t been a lot to be sad about. Ortiz has chosen to follow in the footsteps of Jeter, Manning, and Bryant and go out on top of his game. In 2015, Ortiz hit 37 home runs at 39 years old, the fourth highest mark in one season for his career. He finished with the ninth most home runs in the American League, fifth most RBI, and sixth most walks. He even punched his ticket into the 500 home runs club; something only 27 players have ever accomplished.
This season, Ortiz has 9 home runs and 12 doubles in his first 31 games--an incredible start, especially for someone 40 years old! He is leading the Red Sox in both of those categories as well as RBIs, walks, and on-base percentage. And to top it all off, he has been crushing the Yankees so far this season. Five of his nine home runs this year have come against the Yankees. This includes a go-ahead two-run shot into the Monster seats April 29th—his first ever hit off of the fearsome Dellin Betances—to propel the Red Sox to the victory. He hit another home run the very next night and the Red Sox went on to sweep the Yankees in a three game series. The Red Sox and Yankees played three more games this past weekend. Ortiz hit three more home runs during this series, two of those three on Sunday night. With each plate appearance, Big Papi is quickly ascending the record books in home runs; passing baseball legends with every swing. And there is still five months left in the season.
Ortiz’s game winning homer on April 29th may have ruined the Yankees’ night, but it made the night of a young Red Sox fan named Maverick Schutte. Maverick is a 5-year-old boy suffering from a congenital heart defect. Ortiz told Maverick before the game that he would hit a home run for him—and he did. Ortiz explains in this article as saying that, as a baseball player, that’s what you say to kids. You tell them that you’re going to hit a home run for them so they know that they are loved and that people are thinking about them. But when it actually works out that way, it almost seems like magic. Magic definitely exists inside Big Papi, as it does the whole Red Sox team this year. It just feels like his teammates are stepping up their game to give him one last chance at a championship--something he's already won three times. I tend to have a premonition about these things; there really seems to be something special about this team. And if the Red Sox continue down the path they’re currently on, Ortiz’s incredible career might be due for a storybook ending to rival that of Jeter, Manning, and Bryant.
