PAPI’S TOURNEY A BIG HIT
Ortiz rakes in $1.2M for charity with golf event
When it comes to charity, Big Papi goes, well, big.
Former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz just wrapped up his 10th annual Celebrity Golf Classic in his native Dominican Republic, and it had quite the lengthy guest list.
Taking place at the Casa de Campo in La Romana, the slugger’s event attracted more than 400 folks for four days of fundraising fun and ended up raising $1.2 million for the David Ortiz Children’s Fund.
To state the obvious, there were plenty of Red Sox players, past and present. Spotted at the star-studded outing: designated hitter Hanley Ramirez, former first baseman/DH Mike Napoli, along with free agents Robbie Ross and Chris Young.
There was also a number of other current MLB players in the crowd, including Yankees pitcher Dellin Betances; Rangers (and former Red Sox) third baseman Adrian Beltre; Indians first baseman and DH Edwin Encarnacion; Rays pitcher Chris Archer and free agent Danny Valencia.
And let’s not forget the fellow retired legends whom Ortiz welcomed: Johnny Damon, Tim Wakefield, Jim Rice, Barry Larkin, Mariano Duncan, Gary Sheffield, Fred McGriff, Vladimir Guerrero, Andres “The Big Cat” Galarraga, George Bell and Placido Polanco.
Hollywood sent a host of representatives, including comedian Chris Tucker, actors Anthony Mackie, Glynn Turman, Dascha Polanco and Richard Lawson with his wife/mother to Beyonce, Tina Knowles.
For entertainment, the Caribbean affair featured a performance from rapper Jim Jones, along with beats from JAMN 94.5FM’s DJ Pup Dawg and famed Latino disc jockey Alex Sensation.
The marathon fundraiser was capped by an awards ceremony, where local restaurateur Nick Varano and Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones were named this year’s MVPs for their ongoing support for the Ortiz Children’s Fund.
Local funnyman Lenny Clarke, who emceed the ceremony, also landed a surprise honor: the award for the “Worst Golf Score.”