There were some anxious moments leading up to the phone call that David “Big Papi” Ortiz had been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The video posted by the Red Sox shows Pedro Martinez behind the nervous, straight-faced Ortiz as he received the call from Baseball Writers Association of America Secretary/Treasurer Jack O’Connell. “The baseball writers have elected you to the Hall of Fame…” The eruption of emotion from Ortiz was something Red Sox fans have grown to love and expect. In that one moment, you could feel the relief and joy jump at you through the screen. Just the 59th player to be elected into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot, David Ortiz will be forever enshrined in Cooperstown on July 24th.
Most of what I’ve read and seen about David’s potential election to the Hall of Fame the past few weeks has been about two topics: his position as DH and his potential link to steroids. If you’re here for that content, you’ll be disappointed. I’m not going to get into a pissing contest with all the trolls and headline-grabbers who just like the sound of their own voice (the irony that I’m writing my opinion on my own blog is not lost on me). I’m also not going to argue the absurdity of who votes and how they vote for the Hall of Fame, because that’s a MUCH longer conversation I’ll save for another day. If you want that content, there are dozens upon dozens of better places for you to find it. I’m going to focus on what I know best: my favorite David Ortiz moments.
In no particular order, my favorite Big Papi moments:
Really liked reliving the special moments. Thanks! Appreciate your outlook by sticking to the bright side and why he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame as a player and a person.