Growing up my grandfather would always have the Red Sox game on, no matter if they were winning or losing. He was the biggest Red Sox fan and he got me into the game of baseball. My dad also had a huge impact on my love for the game and the team. Whenever I would come downstairs from my bedroom there were either one of two things on the television in the spring and summer: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" or the Red Sox. If the Red Sox were losing he would yell at the television but only when they did something he didn’t like.
One man stood out to me on the field in about the third grade and it was David "Big Papi" Ortiz. Big Papi is one of the best players that I have seen and I always wanted to be just like him. Growing up I played softball, so when I would watch Big Papi on the television I would watch how he would play. I would try to mimic his batting stance and make it into my own. Ortiz spits on his batting gloves before he went up to bat and I remember doing the same thing growing up. This was just the beginning of my love for Big Papi.
Off the field, my love for the Big Papi was unreal. I was such a tomboy growing up so I asked my dad one day if I could paint my room navy blue and red (the Red Sox colors). He said yes and we proceeded to make my room Red Sox themed. In my room, I had a picture of Fenway Park and huge photograph of Big Papi which I hung up on the wall next to my bed.
My love for Big Papi grew even more when I went to my first Red Sox game in 2007. He stepped up to the plate and his first at bat he struck out. Big Papi did not this get him down because his next at bat was a home run! This taught me that just because you strike out once does not mean its over and you have to let that go.
As I got older, Big Papi became a figure that not only myself but for Red Sox fans as well. Throughout his career he went on to hit over 500 homeruns and have over 1,600 RBI's in 19 years of play and 14 of them were with Boston. In those 14 seasons with Boston, he helped the Red Sox break the curse in 2004 by winning a world series and then went on to win two more in 2007 and 2013. These numbers do not compare to the personality that he has brought to Boston to make fans enjoy going to games.
In the last 14 years, I have looked up to Big Papi as an idol on the field but also off the field. One of my favorite moments of him would have to be his speech after the Boston Marathon. He did not prepare a speech and he winged it. By him winging this speech, it gave Boston the motivation they needed. Another favorite moment was when I went to the game on April 15, 2016. His first hit of the game was a double and he then got walked in the seventh inning. Papi then proceeded to steal second base. No one knew this was happening and when it did the whole crowd went crazy!
2016 is Big Papi's last season in the MLB. I knew this day would come and it will be a very sad day in my life. Even though he is retiring from baseball and the Red Sox, Big Papi will always be my sports idol and a huge part of Red Sox history. Thank you, Big Papi, for the last 14 years and you will truly be missed.
Sincerely,
All Boston Red Sox Fans
