Keller @ Large: David Ortiz A Symbol Of How Boston Has Changed
BOSTON (CBS) - David Ortiz is reportedly poised to announce that he will retire from baseball at the end of next season.
After the five-year waiting period, his induction into the Hall of Fame should be a no-brainer.
Read: Hurley: Ortiz's 10 Greatest Moments
He is indisputably the greatest clutch hitter in Red Sox history, and inarguably one of the best designated hitters ever. He was the essential ingredient in three World Series titles for the Sox, something Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and other Red Sox greats cannot claim.
Only the tiny brains of Hall of Fame voters who don't think a DH belongs there will keep him out of the Hall.
But after Big Papi is inducted and the memory of all his on-field exploits fades, another memory will linger – of how David Ortiz became a symbol of how much Boston has changed for the better.
Once upon a time, Boston had a well-deserved reputation as one of America's most racist cities. The greatest basketball player of all-time, Bill Russell, won eleven titles during the '50s and '60s, but neither he nor his black Celtics teammates were ever fully embraced here, and Russell had to deal with ugly bigotry.
The Celtics didn't start selling out the Garden regularly until later on when white players were the big stars, and the mostly black NBA was gaining wider acceptance. The Patriots had many great black players over the years, but none ever achieved truly iconic status.
And then first Pedro Martinez, then David Ortiz came along, capturing the imagination of an increasingly diverse and tolerant fan base. They showed us – and the world – how much we had changed, and how sweet that change was.
So, thanks Big Papi – for the memories, and for helping lead our city out of the wilderness.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
