Big Papi, Red Sox legend, No. 34 + Hall of Famer. No matter what you call him, Bostonians know the name David Ortiz.
ICYMI — Dominican Republic-native + baseball icon David Ortiz is making headlines again after being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The highly anticipated phone call from Cooperstown came through on Tuesday night.
Why is this a big deal? We’ll give you a play by play.
The Baseball Hall of Fame ballot started with 30 names, and this was the first time Ortiz made the coveted list. A player needs to earn 75% of the votes to be inducted, which doesn’t happen often, let alone the first time your name is thrown in the game. One might say he knocked it out of the park, again.
He was the only name to be selected for 2022, making him the first solo entrant since 2012. Ortiz is also the only designated hitter to get into the Hall on the first try.
The slugger was a part of the Red Sox team that ended the 86-year World Series drought, lifted the community after the Boston Marathon tragedy, and was selected as the MVP of the World Series in 2013.
Big Papi also has a big heart, establishing The David Ortiz Children’s Fund in 2007 to support children from Boston to the Dominican Republic and other causes.
What else has Ortiz achieved?
⚾ 541 home runs
⚾ 14 seasons with the Red Sox
⚾ 11 career walk-off home runs
⚾ 10 All-Star games
⚾ 3 World Championships
He will always be the MVP of Boston. Tune in on Sat., July 24 to watch the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
