DEFINING MOMENTS
In a career heavy on heroics, we pick Papi’s top 10 . . . so far
From his first year in Boston in 2003 to his farewell 2016 season, David Ortiz’ legendary Red Sox career has been filled with unforgettable moments — almost too many to count.
The craziest part? More very likely could be added to the list as Ortiz and the Red Sox get ready for the postseason, where the slugger has made his reputation with clutch hits and timely performances.
As we wait for possibly his next wave of heroics, here’s our take on the top 10 moments of Big Papi’s Red Sox career:
10 April 27, 2003 A sign of things to come
Before he became the greatest clutch hitter in team history, Ortiz foreshadowed what was to come. Ortiz pinch-hit for Jeremy Giambi in the 14th inning of a tie game vs. the Angels and sent a Mickey Callaway offering over the wall for his first Red Sox home run. Naturally, it was the game-winner.
9 Sept. 12, 2015 Joining the club
It’s a testament to Ortiz’ loaded resume that this barely makes the cut. For some, joining the 500 home run club might rate as a signature moment, but for Ortiz, it’s almost a footnote. Big Papi became the 27th player in baseball history to reach the milestone with his fifth-inning shot off Tampa Bay’s Matt Moore at Tropicana Field — his second of the game.
8 May 14, 2016 Signature farewell moment
Ortiz’ farewell tour has been one for the ages. The 40-year-old is having an MVP-caliber season that almost nobody saw coming. This has led many to question whether he should actually retire at the end of the season.
Perhaps no moment better illustrated his run than an early season game against the Astros at Fenway Park. The Sox trailed 5-4 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Ortiz — who’d already homered in the third — smoked a game-tying triple that scored Mookie Betts. In the 11th, Ortiz hit a shot into the triangle for a gamewinning double. It was the 600th two-bagger of his career, and Ortiz grabbed his milestone base and walked off the field in a truly epic scene.
7 Oct. 7, 2004 Just getting started
Ortiz’ legend wasn’t yet formed when he hit a walkoff homer against the Angels to complete an ALDS sweep. The 10th-inning blast over the Green Monster came off Jarrod Washburn and set the foundation for his memorable 2004 playoff run.
6 Sept. 21, 2006 Setting the record
Ortiz etched his name into the Red Sox record books with his 51st homer of the season, breaking the team’s single-season record set by Jimmie Foxx in 1938. Ortiz finished with 54 home runs that season, a total that has proven to be his career high. What’s more, the record-setting blast came against his former team, the Twins.
5 The 2013 World Series Inspiring another title
Ortiz didn’t just inspire his teammates with his bat, but also through his words. That much was evident in the 2013 World Series, when after the Red Sox lost Games 2 and 3, Big Papi rallied his teammates with a passionate dugout speech during Game 4 in St. Louis. It fueled a turnaround. Ortiz practiced what he preached, batting .688 in the Series and named MVP in leading the Red Sox to victory over the Cardinals in six games, clinching their third championship in 10 years.
4 Oct. 13 2013 Turning the tide
On the long list of Ortiz’ clutch hits, this might have been the most pressure-packed of all. Facing a 1-0 series deficit and in real danger of going down 2-0 against the Tigers in the ALCS, Ortiz came to the plate with the bases loaded and the Sox trailing 5-1 with two outs in the eighth. Against Tigers reliever Joaquin Benoit, Ortiz laced a linedrive grand slam that just barely made it over the right-field wall, sending outfielder Torii Hunter tumbling into the bullpen — and Boston policeman Steve Horgan into Sox lore with his touchdown signal from the ’pen. With that one swing, Papi changed the course of the series. The Sox went on to win in six games.
3 April 20, 2013 ‘This is our (expletive) city’
Ortiz has always been timely with his performances at the plate, and when his city needed it the most in 2013, he delivered again. Five days after the Boston Marathon bombings, the Red Sox returned to Fenway for the first time. In a pregame ceremony honoring the victims and heroes of one of Boston’s darkest days, Ortiz took the mic and delivered a quote that served as a rallying cry for the city’s resiliency. “This is our (expletive) city,” Ortiz said, as he raised his fist to the air. “And nobody’s gonna dictate our freedom. Stay strong!”
2 Oct. 18, 2004 The encore
Less than 24 hours after his astonishing heroics in Game 4, and with the Red Sox’ season again on the line, Ortiz proved his penchant for clutch hitting is no accident. With runners on first and second base and two outs in the 14th inning, Ortiz blooped Esteban Loaiza’s pitch into center for a single. Johnny Damon came around from second to score and force a Game 6. “Damon running to the plate,” Fox play-by-man Joe Buck said, “and he can keep on running to New York.”
1 Oct. 17, 2004 ‘We’ll see ya later tonight’
There might never be a more clutch period of 24 hours than what Ortiz delivered on the nights of Oct. 17 and 18. After Dave Roberts’ pivotal steal of second base helped tie Game 4 of the ALCS, Ortiz came to the plate in the 12th inning and breathed new life into the series. His two-run walkoff inspired Buck’s memorable call: “We’ll see ya later tonight.” As it turned out, it sparked the greatest playoff comeback in baseball history, culminating in the Red Sox’ first championship in 86 years.