Ortiz, Colon are Stars’ stars
Sauntering through the hotel lobby Monday wearing a black sports jacket and bright pink pants, with a heavy gold bracelet on his right wrist and a diamond-encrusted watch on his left, to go along with his customdesigned black shoes, David Ortiz didn’t need the fashion statement to be recognized.
While fans screamed his name and reporters pummeled him with questions, not even those dark sunglasses could hide the identity of baseball’s most popular All- Star.
The only real question might be who is more beloved, with Ortiz sharing the stage Tuesday with Bartolo Colon at the 87th All-Star Game, a night these two close friends might never forget.
This All-Star Game is being hyped for its youth moment — 27 players who are 26 or under and 30 who will be playing for the first time — but the real celebration is for the 40-year-old class from the Dominican Republic. They not only are surviving in today’s young game, after spending 39 years in the major leagues combined, but also flourishing after most of their contemporaries have long retired.
“It still seems strange not to see Derek Jeter here,” Ortiz said. “The player everybody looked forward to seeing at the All- Star Game was Derek and also Ichiro (Suzuki). I always looked forward to seeing them in the clubhouse, how much they brought to the game.
“But here I am for the last time, and I am so happy Bartolo is here to share with this me.”
If the stars are aligned right, or if All-Star managers Terry Collins and Ned Yost have a sense of nostalgia, we just might have a dramatic moment we’ll never forget in Ortiz’s final All-Star Game.
The matchup of 43-year-old Big Sexy vs. 40-year-old Big Papi.
“I would love that,” Ortiz said. “I know there would be a lot of laughs. Me and Bartolo are really good friends, and I think we would get caught up in the emotion of that moment.”
The first time Ortiz and Colon faced one another was Sept. 27, 1997, in the first game of a doubleheader between the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians. Colon came into the game in relief in the fourth inning that afternoon, replacing Jaret Wright. Ortiz grounded out to first base in his first at-bat off Colon and struck out the next time.
It’s been all downhill since for Ortiz. He’s hitting just .154 in his Hall of Fame career off Colon, with three extra-base hits, a .250 slugging percentage and two RBI in 57 career plate appearances.
“The first time I ever faced Bartolo, I was like, ‘ How can somebody throw that hard?’ ” Ortiz said. “Remember when I first got to the big leagues, you didn’t see guys throw 98-100 mph like Bartolo in Cleveland. Nowadays you see that on every team, but not back then.
“He was one of those guys who was so special, not only throwing hard, but throwing great, a Cy Young guy.”
Colon can’t remember the specifics of their first matchup but still remembers the last, with Ortiz hitting a double off him, and never feeling so good about giving up an extra-base hit in his life.
“We spent time together, and talked a lot (Sunday),” said Colon, who’s 7-4 with a 3.28 ERA for the New York Mets this year. “It’s special being here, especially knowing that this is his last one. I was telling him not to retire yet.
“He still has so much to give, especially how well he’s been playing. I don’t think he should go yet.”
That was the prevailing sentiment Monday by all of the AllStars, watching Ortiz hit .332 with 22 homers, a league-leading 34 doubles and 72 RBI, enjoying the greatest first half of his career with the Boston Red Sox.
“It’s a blessing to have the sea- son the one I’m having and having the opportunity to walk away on my own terms,” Ortiz said.
No matter how much everyone keeps trying to talk him out of retirement.
“We hope he stays another year. And a year after that. And a year after that. And a year after that,” Chicago Cubs All- Star center fielder Dexter Fowler says. “You don’t want to ever see a guy like that leave the game.”
It’s apparent the public doesn’t either, with Ortiz’s Red Sox jersey being the top seller in all of baseball, according to Major League Baseball.
Said Washington Nationals All- Star outfielder Bryce Harper: “When you say his name, you think of the postseason and all of those World Series rings. He’s everything we all want to be.”
Sure, it helps being on three World Series championship teams, ending the Red Sox’s 86year-old drought, but the key, Ortiz says, is that he simply has been true to himself.
The only All-Star whose popularity comes close, at least among their peers, is Colon.
“I think it’s because I’m always clowning around on the mound,” said Colon, who is 5-11 and 285 pounds. “People enjoy that. I’m always laughing out there, goofing off. I never look very angry, so I think they enjoying seeing me enjoy myself in the game.”
There’s not a pitcher alive in the big leagues who has more fun, whether it’s casually flipping balls in the air, throwing a ball to first base between his legs or, yes, even hitting the first homer of his career this season.
“He’s the definition of making baseball fun,” Texas Rangers AllStar pitcher Cole Hamels said. “His personality is bigger than life. It just brings you back into that fun stage, back when you were just playing baseball in the back yard.”
Back when he was, well, even a video image.
“I remember when I was very young, playing PlayStation, and I had a Bartolo Colon on my team,” San Francisco Giants AllStar pitcher Johnny Cueto said. “Let’s forward to now, now playing with him, against him, and now to be his teammate at the All-Star Game.
“And when you think of David Ortiz being here, too, how can it be better than that?”
Perhaps only one way, watching these two beloved players facing each other one final time.
“If the opportunity presents itself, it would be great to have that one last chance,” said Colon, who plans to retire after the 2017 season. “That would be special. Just one last time.”