The Many Memories Of David Ortiz
BOSTON (CBS) -- He's a first ballot Hall of Famer.
David Ortiz will end up in Cooperstown some day, there's no little doubt about that. And, if the writers put aside their antiquated thinking, Ortiz will be a first ballot inductee.
Closers are now welcomed into the Hall and they really only have one job (and most times, it's only one inning). David Ortiz is a designated hitter. It's not his fault that all he does is hit. He's arguably the best DH of all-time with 500-plus home runs.
Perhaps my favorite Ortiz stat is the list of players in baseball history that have 500 or more home runs and three or more World Series titles:
Babe Ruth
Mickey Mantle
Reggie Jackson
David Ortiz
It's a no-brainer to me. And for those who continue to hold it against him that his name was leaked as a player who tested positive for PED use back in 2003, Ortiz continues to ask (with no answer) what he tested positive for. He's been tested countless times since then, with no positive results.
With that said, I have covered David Ortiz from the first day he arrived in Boston through today. Here are some memories I have of covering the guy John Henry deemed "the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history":
- Fern Cuza, David's longtime agent, told me how Pedro Martinez was responsible for bringing Ortiz to Boston. Cuza said Pedro called Larry Lucchino in the 2002 offseason to recommend acquiring David, who was just released by the Twins. Larry said it was the first time a player himself had actually called him on another player's behalf. Larry said he would let Theo Epstein know (apparently Pedro left Theo a voicemail too) and Epstein signed him. Ortiz was thrilled, but began the season on the bench with Jeremy Giambi penciled in as Boston's starting first baseman. After 20 games or so, Ortiz called Cuza frustrated because he wasn't getting any at-bats. Fern called Theo about it and the Ortiz camp was told to sit tight and be patient. Two days later, Giambi was released and the rest was history. Shows you how the little things can alter baseball history.
- In 2006, Manny Ramirez pulled a disappearing act and missed numerous games in August and September with some type of injury. As the Sox were desperately trying to stay in the playoff race, I remember Terry Francona telling me that Ortiz was begging Manny to play. Ortiz asked Manny to just stand in the batter's box so that David had a presence in the lineup around him. Tito told me David wanted to win so badly that he went to Manny's apartment trying him to convince him to play. To this day, Ortiz carries that burning desire to win.
- Speaking of that desire, who can forget Ortiz gathering his teammates around him in the dugout in the fifth inning of Game 4 of the 2013 World Series for a pep talk. The Sox trailed the Cardinals 1-0 in the game and 2-1 in the series, and then rallied in Game 4 and won the next three games to capture the title.
- No one will ever forget arriving at the ballpark on April 20th, 2013. There was a sadness and nervousness around Fenway as the Sox played their first game at Fenway since the Boston Marathon bombings. Dr. Charles Steinberg put together a wonderful ceremony honoring the victims and their famines as well as the first responders, police officers, firefighters, FBI agents and those that pulled did such heroic things during an incredibly trying week.
Ortiz was asked to say a few words before the game, and when he walked up to speak he had no idea what he was going to say. With that, he uttered the now infamous words, "The is our F$&%^ City!" The place erupted, the Sox won on a late three-run homer from Daniel Nava and that season proved to be something special.
- I loved talking baseball with David. He would always be talking hitting, what a pitcher was throwing, what he would see on video, etc. He always had a plan when he went up to hit. He was relentless in his preparation too. And sometimes when you would ask him about an at-bat where he homered, he would smile and say, "I just swung from my a&$!!!!"
- You think David Ortiz, you think clutch. I had the privilege of standing with the Fenway ushers near the Sox dugout for each one of David's big hits in the 2004 ALCS comeback. First there was his two-run bomb off Paul Quantrill in Game 4, in the wee hours of the morning when we all thought we'd be watching the Yankees complete a sweep. And then, Game 5 when he delivered the game-winning RBI single off Esteban Loaiza in extras as we all sat in shock, amazed that we'd be heading back to New York for Games 6 and 7. It was just awesome to watch.
As for David. He just went into a zone, was relaxed, and delivered.
- One image I'll never forget is after the heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Yankees in the 2003 ALCS. We waited outside the Sox clubhouse for what seemed like forever before we were finally let in. The players were in shock and the place was silent for the longest time. I remember seeing Ortiz laying on his side on the floor next to a couch, just looking down in disbelief. He stayed that way for several minutes. Tim Wakefield finally got up to talk and others followed, but it was as down as I'd ever seen David and his teammates.
- One of the things I've always liked about David is the way that he treats the people who work at Fenway. The clubhouse workers, grounds crew, community relations folks, security, media -- everyone. Ortiz always had a smile on his face and always had time to talk to not one, but all.
- I remember going to watch Ortiz play in a Winter Ball game in the Dominican Republic. What struck me was how the stadium was the nicest that his team played in. In fact, it was old and dilapidated, and the area surrounding the park wasn't that nice either. Ortiz? He stood out as he pulled up in his Cadillac Escalade, with his signature gold chains around his neck, with not a care in the world. He was laughing and joking and having a great time as he took BP and then eventually had a couple of at-bats in the game. Big Papi was always the center of attention.
- Center of attention. That's what I think if when I covered all those All-Star games over the years. Ortiz was The Man. Everyone wanted a piece of David. All the players wanted to talk to him and he loved every minute of it. Whether it was the Home Run Derby, media day, the parade or any event, Ortiz loved -- absolutely loved -- being the center of attention.
- Family. It meant a lot to David. He lost his Mom in a car crash in 2002 in the Dominican Republic and it hit him hard. He always had his family around and whenever his Dad was with him, he always made sure everyone said hello to him. We also know how much his son, D'Angelo, means to him. We've seen a lot of him in the clubhouse and on the field, having just as much fun as his dad.
- Ortiz was always quizzing me. What's going on with the team? What are you hearing? What do you think of this player? What do you think we'll do at the trade deadline? He always had lots of questions and I always took it as a sign of how much he cared about his team.
- There were plenty of other things we'll never forget about David.
His hearty belly laugh. His sense of humor. His unique routine at the plate. His unhappiness with umpires and the strike zone. His love of the game.
He was always quick to remind us how good of a fielder he was when he needed to be. He also claimed the "red seat" marking Ted Williams' longest homer at Fenway was "BS," because there was no way anyone could ever hit one that far.
--Ortiz has always told me that he would be different, and he would know when it was time to say good-bye to the game. The game has taken a toll on him both physically and mentally, and he also told me that he wasn't going to just "hang on." When it was time to go in his mind, he would know and he would be "out." It appears he knows that time has come.
I'm looking forward to 2016 and watching every last at-bat of a Hall of Fame career for the best DH to ever play the game. When it's all said and done, David Ortiz will be remembered as one of the greatest hitters to have ever put on a Red Sox uniform.
