“The game is not over UNTIL THE LAST OUT.” -David Ortiz, 1999 DAVID ORTIZ COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE 2 PROVIDENCE JOURNAL | DAVID ORTIZ TRIBUTE ORTIZ JOURNAL | DAVID PROVIDENCE | October 30, 2016 Sunday, David Ortiz celebrates a three-run homer with Victor Martinez in 2010. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TABLE OF CONTENTS Bill Reynolds: From humble beginnings, he Bill Doyle: Boston media weigh in on Ortiz’ The fi nal season: Even at age 40, Ortiz 2007 World Series: He helped a franchise became an icon // Page 3 legacy // Page 6 never slowed // Page 10 shed its underdog label // Page 18 Kevin McNamara: There was no shortage Place in the community: He made big Timeline: How the “player to be named 2013 World Series: One of the greatest of special moments // Page 4 impact off the fi eld // Page 7 later” became a legend // Page 13 performances in history // Page 20 Bill Ballou: No DH has been elected to Designated hitter: Ortiz may be the last of 2004 World Series: Papi produced at plate, Before the Red Sox: The Twins gave up, but Cooperstown; it’s time // Page 5 his kind // Page 8 and at fi rst // Page 16 Ortiz never did // Page 22 COVER: PHOTO ILLUSTRATION. PHOTO BY PROVIDENCE JOURNAL PHOTO/ BOB BREIDENBACH LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. LOCAL NEWS. IN YOUR FEED. AS IT HAPPENS. 3 BECAME ORTIZ A BOSTON ICON When Boston was angry and sad and still in shock in the TRIBUTE ORTIZ JOURNAL | DAVID PROVIDENCE | October 30, 2016 Sunday, days after the Boston Mara- thon bombing, it was David Ortiz who took the micro- phone and proclaimed “This is our ... city!” in a defiant show of pride and strength. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES/MICHAEL DWYER By Bill Reynolds Boston with the Red Sox, this man @breynolds401 who forever will be remembered for as long as they play baseball in he best thing about Boston, he was just another kid from David Ortiz? the Dominican Republic chasing the The best thing about baseball dream. this large man with the He was signed by the Seattle Mari- even bigger heart? ners. It was 1992 and he was known The best thing about as David Arias then. He played for a Tthis man who grew up in the Domini- Mariners farm team called the Wis- And all of sudden David Ortiz can Republic and became one of the consin Timber Rattlers until 1996. He became one of he all-time great Red David Ortiz, on the field before the 2013 most admired and well-liked people was traded to Minnesota and that was Sox stories. World Series, says helping others makes in the long history of New England when he informed the Twins that he That first year, after playing spar- him feel good. THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / sports? prefered to be known as David Ortiz. ingly behind Jeremy Giambi for the KRIS CRAIG The best thing about this man who He was up and down with the Twins first two months of the season, just is going to be remembered for as long for the better part of six seasons, play- another guy nobody seemed to know a It’s an impressive list. as they play baseball in Fenway Park? ing 455 major-league games and hitting whole lot about, Ortiz found his fate. Maybe no one owned the moment in The very best thing? 58 home runs and driving in 238 runs. He finished the year with 31 home those sad days after the Boston Mara- It has all come out of nowhere, like These are the hits, runs, and errors runs and 101 RBI. And then the next thon bombing in 2013 more than David some unexpected gift that shows of his early years, and suffice to say year he found his slice of Red Sox Ortiz, that sun-splashed afternoon in up on your doorstep on Christmas there was really no reason to believe immortality, helping to lead the Sox Fenway, the wounds of a city still open morning. he would become what he became. to their first World Series title in 86 and incredibly raw, and said “This is Remember? Ortiz seemed like just another big years. our ... city.’’ Winston Churchill it was Ortiz never was some phenom with kid from the Dominican who seemed And ever since? not. Powerful and galvanizing it was. “can’t miss’’ stamped all over his lucky to have been in the big leagues He has become a New England Then again, Ortiz always has forehead, never was someone whose at all. icon, one of the all-time great Red instinctively known that being a Red destiny seemed to be the Hall of Fame Then he came to Boston as a free Sox players, complete with a person- Sox superstar is more than just what and baseball immortality. agent, the place where he found his ality as big as the Green Monster. In you do on the field. In the beginning, back before all destiny, the place where he became a city that’s had more than it share A superstar he is. the cheers and all the acclaim, back “Big Papi.” of sports icons, Ortiz has somehow Big Papi. before his unbelievable career in It was 2003. managed to make his way up that list. One of a kind. 4 PROVIDENCE JOURNAL | DAVID ORTIZ TRIBUTE ORTIZ JOURNAL | DAVID PROVIDENCE | October 30, 2016 Sunday, David Ortiz celebrates as he rounds first base after hitting the game-winning home run in the 12th inning against the New York Yankees, during Game Four of the 2004 ALCS at Fenway Park. AP FILE/AMY SANCETTA There was no shortage of special moments from Papi By Kevin McNamara the end of his career, maybe the most trick. After smacking the Angels twice Schilling (bloody sock) in Game Six, @KevinMcNamara33 important is this: He’s one of four in Anaheim, the Sox returned home for Ortiz gets Game Seven off to a quick players with at least three World Series Game Three and Ortiz sent everyone start with a two-run shot that nearly It’s like picking your favorite few titles and 500 homers to his name. Babe home happy with a homer over the hit me in the nose in the auxiliary press songs by U2, Springsteen or Nirvana. Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jack- Green Monster with two outs in the seats in the right-field bleachers. The It’s selecting a top Italian eatery on son are the others. bottom of the 10th inning. End of game, Sox never looked back and completed Federal Hill in Providence, the nicest “It’s mostly confidence,” Ortiz said end of series. the comeback for the ages with a 10-3 beach in South County or Cape Cod, or back in 2006. “If you go up there think- win. Ortiz finished the seven-game a preferred watering hole in Newport. ing you might not get it done, you’re 2: The 2004 ALCS vs. Yankees. We’ll passion play with a .387 average with You can’t pick just one, right? Just out already. I know I’m going to hit rank three dramatic hits in this epic three homers and 11 RBI. like you can’t pick only one David Ortiz you.” series together in a treasure trove of career highlight. Big Papi simply has We’ve decided to select a top five memories. Trailing, 3-0, and on the 1: Game Two, 2013 ALCS vs. Tigers. too many to choose from. all-time Big Papi blasts, not necessarily verge of embarrassment, Ortiz helps Down one game and trailing, 5-1, in When you’ve carved up American home runs:. rescue the Sox in Game Four with a the eighth inning, the Red Sox looked League pitching for 20 years, smacked home run off Paul Quantrill in the 12th doomed. But Ortiz blasted the only 541 home runs and done so with a flair 5: On April 27, 2003 in Anaheim, Ortiz inning. Just 16 hours later, the teams postseason grand slam in his career, a for the dramatic, there are moments cracks a pinch-hit, go-ahead homer in squared off again. This time Papi cut moment in which I swear Fenway Park that everyone who follows the Red Sox the 14th inning of an eventual win. It is down the Yankees twice. Trailing, shook. will never forget. the newcomer’s first home run as a Red 4-2, in the eighth inning, Ortiz got the The Tigers were cruising with closer If Jerry West is the “Mr. Clutch’ Sox and helps him win the job as the ball rolling with a home run to lead off Joaquin Benoit on the mound but fell of the NBA, David Ortiz should have club’s full-time designated hitter. against Tom Gordon. The Sox went into trouble with two outs and the the same nickname in baseball. Since on to scratch out a run off Gordon and bases loaded. Ortiz then hit a long line the big man first came on the scene 4: Game Four, 2003 ALDS vs. A’s. Mariano Rivera and force extra innings. drive to right that floated down from in Boston in 2003, he has personified Down, 4-3, in the eighth inning and In the 14th inning things finally the dark October sky and over the bull- clutch, not only coming up big in the facing elimination, Ortiz finally stroked ended. This time Johnny Damon and pen wall. As Torii Hunter fell into the late innings but also serving as the Red his first hit of the series when he lined a Manny Ramirez walked and the Yanks pen, Boston policeman Steve Horgan Sox resident Mr.