A grateful No. 1 fan
We’ve needed Big Papi’s magic in so many ways.
Growing up in the shadow of the 1986 Red Sox, who almost won it all, I still remember being a despondent fan. David Ortiz erased that.
His clutch hitting in 2004 finally brought me and the entire Red Sox Nation joy with a World Series victory. He helped expel the “Curse of the Bambino” forever.
Yet, the incredible moments he provided in the 2004 season pale in comparison to the inspiration and empowerment he gave Boston in just five simple words.
“This is our (expletive) city!” he told the Fenway fans on April 20, 2013. “Nobody’s going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong,” he said.
It was just a day after the Boston Marathon bombings manhunt ended.
We needed his magic more than ever that day. He helped lift the spirits of the city after a week of terror, which directly affected me, my family and the entire community.
I had faith in that 2013 team. I know 2012 was a tough season, but I believed starting in April, after Ortiz’ famous speech, that something special was in the air. I think we all did. He personified the perseverance of a city and a team.
Ortiz delivered. He became the new Mr. October and powered the Sox to their third World Series title (and counting) of his tenure.
In a few years, everyone in Boston will claim to have been at that series. Ortiz helped the city heal. It was triumph surrounded by tragedy, and he truly hammered home the World Series title.
I’ll definitely miss Ortiz’ personality, on and off the field. He is outspoken, funny, and he brought his own sense of style to the ballpark.
I had the honor of attending the White House ceremony with the Red Sox following their World Series win that year. I was part of the crowd for the collective sigh and jaw-dropping that happened when he took the famous selfie with the president. That was a moment I will never forget. I got to reenact it with him on Opening Day, along with other marathon survivors, at the start of the next season.
We like winners. We like hard hitters. And we like people who do it in style. We will all miss Big Papi. Thank you for the memories, for breaking the curse and for speaking what we were all feeling in 2013.
But we’re always willing to offer you another contract.