Boston's David Ortiz rips a two-run homer run in Game 2 of the World Series against St. Louis. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)
For much of its storied past, the Boston franchise — and its loyal fan base — was left to wonder what might have been after former owner Harry Frazee sold arguably the best player in baseball history and an American icon, Babe Ruth, to the rival New York Yankees.
Although there is no way of ever knowing what the Red Sox could have achieved with the charismatic Ruth in the white, red and midnight navy for his entire career, rest assured the franchise would have likely been better with him than without him considering it won three World Series titles with “the Sultan of Swat” in tow.
But as sure as some franchises are well-documented for the move or moves that went awry, the present-day Red Sox will forever be known for a relatively obscure move that went right. Just like in the winter of 2003, when Boston signed a little-known injury-plagued slugger named David “Big Papi” Ortiz.
After being used primarily as a pinch-hitter with the Sox early in the year, Ortiz was inserted into the lineup by manager Grady Little on June 1 in place of DH Jeremy Giambi and the first of many chapters in a Boston uniform officially began to unfold.
Ortiz ended the season with a .288 average, 31 home runs and 101 RBIs and finished fifth in the American League Most Valuable Player voting that year. He also proved his mettle in the postseason by slugging two home runs and driving in six against New York in a series that went seven games.
The following season, Ortiz and the Red Sox broke the “Curse of the Bambino” by knocking out the Anaheim Angels in the ALDS, rallying from a 3-0 deficit to stun the Yankees in the ALCS and sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. Big Papi’s walk-off homer in Game 4 and walk-off single in Game 5 against the Yankees helped him earn the ALCS MVP award, which was the first time in baseball history that a DH had earned that distinction in the postseason.
‘’I can’t think of a player who contributes in so many ways,” said then-Sox general manager Theo Epstein after signing Ortiz to a contract extension in 2006. ‘’David embodies what we want a Red Sox player to be. It was just an easy decision for us that David as a player and David as a person is someone we want to commit to, and commit to for a long time.”
After playing a large role in Boston winning another World Series title in 2007, Ortiz continued to post huge numbers and deliver big hits while cementing his place among the greatest players — and most beloved — in Red Sox history. And never was that more apparent than in the surprising 2013 season.
Right out of the gate, Boston looked like a different team than the one that finished in last place in AL East in the disastrous 2012 campaign. After opening the season on the DL due to a nagging Achilles’ heel injury, Ortiz contributed to that hot start by hitting .500 with three home runs and 15 RBIs as the Red Sox jumped out to a 19-8 record in April.
But baseball’s opening month also brought sadness to Beantown after the April 15 Boston Marathon bombings shook the city — and the nation. Members of the Red Sox, including Ortiz, felt it was on them to help the citizens of Boston in the healing process by playing their tails off the rest of the way.
“This is our (expletive) city, and no one is going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong,” Ortiz said in a pregame ceremony at Fenway Park prior to playing Kansas City on April 20.
Just like he’d done during his entire Boston career, Ortiz came through with a clutch RBI single to tie the game 1-1 in just his third at-bat of the year. Boston went on to win, 4-3, and the “Boston Strong” mantra was born.
“I have been in a lot of great moments here in Boston and a lot of emotional situations, but I think today was different, because we haven’t been through what we had this past week,” Ortiz said following the game. “And driving around and looking around and just looking at people’s faces, it was a very emotional day here. Just looking at those guys that were injured by this bomb going off and watching the news pretty much every day about the whole situation, it’s painful. It’s painful.”
As the year went on and Boston’s wins piled up, Ortiz, who finished the season hitting .309 with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs, got healthier and continued to pad his already impressive career numbers. In a win over San Diego on July 2, he recorded the 500th double of his career. In an 11-4 win over Seattle on July 10, he surpassed the great Harold Baines as the all-time DH leader in hits. On September 2, he recorded his 2,000th hit when he doubled off Al Albuquerque in the sixth inning of a 20-4 rout of Detroit.
But in the postseason, Ortiz’s hitting prowess and leadership took center stage as Boston claimed its eighth World Series title in franchise history.
In the ALDS win over Tampa Bay, Ortiz hit .385 with a double, two home runs and three RBIs. He also walked five times. In the ALCS against Detroit, Ortiz’s Game 2 eighth-inning grand slam off Tigers closer Joaquin Benoit opened the door for a walk-off win.
“I knew I put a good swing on it,” Ortiz said. “I got my boy Torii (Hunter) chasing everything out there, nine-time Gold Glove [Award winner], you never know, he almost caught that ball. But thank God it went in the bullpen.”
In the Fall Classic, Ortiz saved his best for last. Big Papi hit an eye-popping .688 with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs en route to being named the World Series MVP. He also cemented his status as one of baseball’s best-ever clutch performers.
“This is for you Boston; you guys deserve it,” Ortiz said. “For all the families that have been through the struggles, this is for you.”
The slugger then added: “I want to thank God for keeping me healthy. And I want to thank my teammates and the fans, the best fans in baseball.”
Entering 2014, Ortiz, 38, is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, he’s being counted on once again to anchor a powerful Red Sox lineup that is among the best in baseball.
But with each World Series ring, Ortiz’s legend continues to grow, and the “Curse of the Bambino” continues to fade in the distance. And if this season is anything like last season, Ortiz will play a major role in the Red Sox competing for a second consecutive world championship. Not bad for an under-the-radar signing. Not bad at all.
