In Boston, he was influential in being one of the key players in ending their 86-year World Series drought. He further went on to win two more World Series with the Red Sox in 2007 and 2013, getting awarded the 2013 Most Valuable Player of the League award. David Ortiz was subsequently inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Even if his fans weren’t surprised, he himself was. The man affectionately known as Big Papi talked about his humble beginnings and how tough it was for someone like him to succeed on the world stage.
He said:
What made David Ortiz’s selection so legendary?
Although it was quite expected of the man to be inducted into the HOF, his selection was a huge feat considering his origin. His selection was done on the 77.9% of ballot votes he received, clearing the 75% threshold required. Ortiz also became just the 58th player in baseball history to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.
David Ortiz was one of the most well-known faces in the first two decades of the 21st century. His wonderful smile brought him closer to his fans but his presence on the plate brought fear to the minds of the pitchers. He managed a career total of 23 game-ending hits, with three of them coming in the historic Boston Red 2003 postseason.
He was the fourth Hall of Famer from the Dominican Republic, joining the likes of Juan Marichal, Martinez, and Vladimir Guerrero.
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