Hall of Famer
Yesterday, there was some big news in New England:
For my money, Ortiz was a no-brainer. Very few other players dominated his era like he did. It goes beyond raw numbers. He was the definition of clutch. Now, I know, “clutchiness” isn’t a real measurement of a player. It’s more of a feeling. From 2004-2013 there was no one I wanted more to come up to bat for the Sox in a big moment than Ortiz. His results speak for themselves:
I still get chills watching that highlight. The way the crowd explodes when that ball crosses the 380 mark in right sends shivers up my spine. This moment didn’t win anything, other than the game. The Sox were still down in the series 3-1. They’d need more magic if they were going to win the ALCS. Luckily, they had a magician in the clubhouse. 24 hours later, Ortiz did this:
It’s not a monster home run but it did the trick. After 14 innings, Ortiz delivered a clutch single to push the game in the Red Sox favor. Look at how different the teams react. The Red Sox are overjoyed, ecstatic in yet another last-minute victory. The Yankees? Dejected. Their body language signals their defeat. I really believe that this is the moment that broke those Yankees.
Nine years later, with the Sox being pummeled by a Detroit Tigers team that seemed to be on the verge of burying them, Ortiz came up to bat in the 8th inning, bases loaded. And what did he do? He delivered.
That grand slam didn’t win the game but it sparked the Red Sox into winning later that night and then sweeping the rest of the games with the Tigers. The sight of Torii Hunter flipping into the bullpen while Sully the Cop raises his arms is a classic. Once again, Ortiz would not be denied. There are plenty of other moments I could highlight from his career but my favorite clip of him all-time has nothing to do with his prolific hitting.
Patriot’s Day is a special day in Massachusetts, especially in Boston. It’s a day off for most people. Since 1897, it’s also been the day of the Boston Marathon. And since 1959 the Red Sox have also hosted a home game. It’s a time of hanging out, watching sports, cheering on runners, and having fun. It is a sacred day for Massholes. In 2013, two dickhead asswipes decided to set off some bombs and kill 3 people while injuring hundreds of others.
Big mistake. The city and surrounding communities were so appalled and offended (and pissed) that they had attacked something as special as Patriot’s Day, they basically shut down for two days while police looked for them. Everyone understood what needed to be done. Stay home, keep watch, and let’s get these bastards. One of them was killed not long after the police released their photos. The other was pinned down like a rat in a boat and arrested, bleeding and terrified (as he should have been).
The city would not be broken. Sure, it had been bloodied by terrorist assholes but it takes a lot more than that to keep a Bostonian down. Five days after the attack the Red Sox had another home game where they honored the first responders who saved so many lives that day. Ortiz, probably the biggest name in Boston sports outside of Foxboro, gave a short, powerful speech. In it, he delivered what is perhaps my favorite Ortiz moment of all time.
"These jerseys that we wear today, it doesn't say Red Sox, it says Boston...This is our fucking city and nobody is going to dictate our freedom.''
Nobody cared that he dropped an f-bomb on TV. He said what everyone felt. He understood Boston like no other athlete ever has. We appreciated everything he gave to us over the years and he appreciated us right back. Boston was his home and would be until he retired, unlike some other local legends who flew south for the winter.
David Ortiz earned his way into the HoF and I’m glad he was enshrined in his first year. I don’t care about some unverified leaked survey about PEDs. He was never caught legitimately. Hell, the Commissioner of Baseball even says it’s bullshit. Let us also not forget that Ortiz was nearly killed 3 years ago when he was ambushed by a gunman and shot. But like he did on the field, Ortiz pulled through and made a miraculous comeback.
I will always cherish my memories from his career. His personality, his determination, and most of all, that massive swing of his that seemed to make no sense from a physics perspective. With each swipe of the bat, he would nearly fall over, hitting the ball as if it owed him money. He’s a legend and I’m grateful that he’s joining his rightful spot within the hall.