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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 24, 2022 19:16:15 GMT -5
David Ortiz Hall of Fame induction weekend is a reminder of Red Sox greatest Fenway days | Matt Vautour
Published: Jul. 24, 2022, 6:24 p.m.
By
Matt Vautour | mvautour@masslive.com
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — During the height of Pedro Martinez’s career with the Boston Red Sox, his home starts were a unique and special experience.
Not only because of how great he was, but on those days Fenway Park had an added energy. The infusion of added interest from Dominican New Englanders gave the old ballpark and sometimes stuffy game a distinct joy that drove interest and ticket sales. The red and blue cross flag of the D.R. stood out against all of Fenway’s green like Christmas ornaments. Fans wanted to not only watch Martinez pitch but feel the ballpark when he did.
The arrival of David Ortiz took that atmosphere and the Red Sox to another level.
This weekend the induction of Ortiz revived that atmosphere in Cooperstown.
Hall of Fame weekend always transforms baseball’s hometown into a satellite chapter. While there were a lot of Twins fans present for Tony Oliva and Jim Kaat, July 22-24, 2022 was unquestionably Big Papi Weekend. Thousands of Dominican fans and media made the pilgrimage from the Caribbean island to Northeast airports, while Boston fans flooded Route 90, coming together again in the Central New York village.
From the start of Hall of Fame Weekend events Friday, Dominican flags and Ortiz, jerseys, T-shirts, hats and banners decorated the town and souvenirs from both Red Sox players and Dominican ones sold briskly in the Hall of Fame’s official store and all the other souvenir stores up and down Main St.
Chants of “Papi! Papi! Papi!” rose up organically, before Saturday’s Legends Parade and during it, hours before the induction ceremony began and at any time his name was mentioned in the ceremony even before his speech. They reached a crescendo when he took the stage.
He split his speech between Spanish and English and drew cheers in both languages.
On the MLB Network broadcast, Harold Reynolds called the Baseball Woodstock of fans under pop-up shade awnings surrounding Cooperstown’s Clark Sports Center the biggest he’d seen in two decades of broadcasting it. The Hall of Fame officially estimated the crowd at the free event at 35,000.
While the Cooperstown Brewery produced a Big Papi Pilsner for this weekend, Ommegang Brewery, a farmstead brewery a few miles from the Hall of Fame, did one better. They’re hosting the after-party -- Cooperstown Dominican Latin Fest, which is billed as a celebration for “one of the greatest Latino players of all-time.”
They’re expecting a big crowd, with a max of 5,000. They might push that total after Ortiz encouraged people to show up at his pre-induction press conference Saturday.
The love for Ortiz is a reminder that induction weekend and the Hall of Fame need to evolve as many great Latino players will follow in years to come and their fans are likely to visit the museum. Fans from Latin America are infusing the Hall of Fame and the Central New York economy with them. It wouldn’t be hard to make the temporary signage, which is created anew each year, bilingual. The Hall could also place video screens in more places and include some with translations.
On behalf of the Dominicans who showed up and those who didn’t, Ortiz invited Americans to visit.
“Consider this an open invitation to visit my island,” he said. “We have a lot of good and happy people and beautiful beaches where you can go when it’s freezing here.”
It wasn’t freezing Sunday. Martinez reveled in the heat and the warmth of seeing the Dominican celebration.
“It’s a sense of pride. For all of us. It brings back memories of when I was inducted. I didn’t expect anything less,” he said. “I expected Dominicans would show up and support not only David, but everyone that’s here.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 24, 2022 19:20:23 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h David Ortiz taking every chance to drop 'Peewee' on Dustin Pedroia will never get old.
And of course, Pedroia -- despite the obvious size disadvantage -- likely still thinks he could take Ortiz out in a scrap.
Fine speech by David Ortiz at his Baseball Hall of Fame induction. Typically genuine and heartfelt.
#RedSox haven't had many people -- combination of player, character and leader -- like him.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 24, 2022 19:23:04 GMT -5
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 24, 2022 19:24:53 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 4h Nice moment as Ortiz thanks former traveling secretary Jack McCormick and former PR director and current player relations chief Pam Kenn.
Ortiz with thanks to Tito and John Farrell.
Ortiz’s speech one of heartfelt thanks. Shouting out many people.
“Jason Varitek … that man is serious! Love you, Cap.” Varitek is here, btw.
Ortiz thanking his father and recalling his late mother
Ortiz spoke for 18:12, jumping back and forth from English to Spanish and hitting all the points he wanted to make with great emotion in his voice.
They told him 10 minutes but you knew that wouldn't take.
Boston, he said, will always be in his heart.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 24, 2022 19:25:46 GMT -5
Bob Nightengale @bnightengale · 3h Hall of Famer Tony Oliva: Luis Tiant belongs in the Hall of Fame. He was one of the two or three pitchers in the American League.’
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 24, 2022 19:28:25 GMT -5
In a heartfelt Hall of Fame induction speech, Red Sox great David Ortiz hit it out of the park By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated July 24, 2022, 1 hour ago
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — They arrived with Dominican flags draped over their shoulders, Red Sox jerseys on their backs, and warm memories of championships past in their hearts, determinedly making their way to this small town to celebrate the career of David Ortiz.
Some towed wagons laden with lawn chairs and coolers, prepared as they could be for the summer sun. Others just sat on the grass, happy to have a spot on the rolling lawn facing the stage.
In all, an estimated 35,000 people gathered for the Hall of Fame induction on Sunday, the vast majority of them there to pay tribute to the player known as Big Papi.
In a 19-minute speech as emotional as one of his walk-off home runs, Ortiz rewarded their journey.
“Wow, Cooperstown!” Ortiz said.
With a Dominican flag pin on the lapel of his blue suit, Ortiz switched between English and Spanish in telling the story of his career going back to his first days as a professional and thanking those who had a role in propelling him to the Hall of Fame.
“I was just a kid playing ball in the Dominican Republic,” Ortiz said. “They saw something in me that they fought for.”
In all he named nearly 50 people, from his family to his first coaches in rookie ball in 1993.
Ortiz said later that he cried several times while preparing and rehearsing the speech but was able to hold it together while on stage.
The one time he came close to breaking down was while talking directly to his father, Leo, and paying tribute to his late mother, Angela.
“I thought it was going to be worse to be honest with you,” he said. “The emotions got under control.” As Ortiz spoke, in front of him were members of his family along with Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner, team president Sam Kennedy, a host of team executives, and many of his former teammates from the 2004 and ‘07 championship teams.
Ortiz smiled when he spotted Jason Varitek, who was given a day off from his duties on the Red Sox coaching staff to attend the ceremony.
“I can’t forget about Jason Varitek,” he said. “That man is serious. I love you, Cap.” Related: Shaugnessy: David Ortiz already achieved baseball immortality in Boston, and now the Hall of Fame has made it official
Ortiz singled out fellow Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, who was seated behind him along with 47 other Hall of Famers. Three of his four Red Sox managers, Grady Little, Terry Francona, and John Farrell, also were thanked.
“Tito, wherever you are, man, you know Papi’s got you. John as well,” he said.
Bobby Valentine, who managed the disastrous and dissension-ridden 2012 team, went unmentioned.
Ortiz also saluted late Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, a mentor during his time with the Minnesota Twins and the reason he wore No. 34 in Boston.
“My teammates always were there for me and that’s something that I’m always going to appreciate,” Ortiz said. “In life, remember, our teammates are our second family.”
Red Sox fans were on his mind as Ortiz recalled the emotions of the 2013 championship and his final game at Fenway Park in 2016.
“I will always be there for you, Boston. I love you, Boston,” he said.
There was bountiful appreciation from the crowd for the other honorees: Negro Leagues pioneer Bud Fowler, former Dodgers first baseman and Mets manager Gil Hodges, longtime pitcher Jim Kaat, White Sox great Minnie Miñoso, eight-time Twins All-Star Tony Oliva, and Negro Leagues player and MLB coach Buck O’Neil.
Fowler, Hodges, Miñoso, and O’Neil were inducted posthumously. Hall of Famer Dave Winfield represented Fowler, who died in 1913. Relatives spoke for the other three.
Irene Hodges spoke eloquently about her father, coming close to tears as she recounted his relationship with Jackie Robinson.
Oliva’s speech included a plea for the Hall of Fame to admit his friend and fellow Cuban Luis Tiant, the former Red Sox pitcher.
Oliva made the same point afterward when he discussed his speech.
“Luis Tiant belongs in the Hall of Fame,” he said. “He was everything.”
Ortiz is an inner-circle Hall of Famer, one of only 58 elected in his first year of eligibility by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
He received just under 78 percent of the vote despite a 2009 report by the New York Times citing anonymous sources who claimed Ortiz tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in 2003.
Ortiz denied knowingly using any PEDs. In 2016, commissioner Rob Manfred cast doubts on the scientific validity of the 2003 test, helping clear the way for Ortiz’s election and what was a memorable speech.
“If my story can remind you of anything, let it remind you that when you believe in someone, you can change their world. You can change their future, just like so many people who believed in me,” he said.
“To everyone that believed in me— from my family, to coaches, to teammates, to fans — know I could not have done this without you. My Hall of Fame plaque represents each one of you and I’m going to thank you guys for the rest of my life.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 24, 2022 19:30:40 GMT -5
David Ortiz already achieved baseball immortality in Boston, and now the Hall of Fame has made it official By Dan Shaughnessy Globe Staff,Updated July 24, 2022, 5:10 p.m.
COOPERSTOWN, N. Y. — David Ortiz, a man who forever changed the fortunes of the Boston Red Sox, is a Baseball Hall of Famer.
Already immortal in Boston sports lore, the beloved Big Papi was welcomed to the Hall Sunday, serving as the walkoff speaker on a sun-splashed afternoon after six other 2022 inductees were feted by the baseball world.
“I will always love Boston,” Ortiz said during a 19-minute speech in which he alternated between English and Spanish. “I will always be there for you, Boston.”
In front of an estimated crowd of 35,000 gathered on the lawn and hills in the cradle of baseball, the 46-year-old Ortiz was enshrined along with 83-year-old Jim Kaat, 84-year-old Tony Oliva, and four baseball legends who have already passed: Gil Hodges, Buck O’Neil, Minnie Miñoso, and Bud Fowler (who actually grew up in Cooperstown). Big Papi’s 21-year-old daughter, Alex Veda, performed the national anthem before the induction program.
Wearing a blue suit and red tie, Ortiz became the fourth player born in the Dominican Republic enshrined, joining Juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez, and Vladimir Guerrero Sr., all of whom were seated behind Papi on the stage at the Clark Athletic Center. Dominican flags peppered the fan seating areas.
A gracious Ortiz thanked God, the Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame players, his own family, the USA, his minor league managers, the Minnesota Twins, and a lot of folks who have helped him in his Red Sox years, citing managers Grady Little, Terry Francona, and John Farrell.
“I can’t thank you enough for building me up and supporting me through the years,” said Ortiz. “That [Red Sox] organization made me the man I am today.”
Red Sox lifers Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski were inducted in their first year of Hall eligibility, but Ortiz stands alone as a first-ballot Hall of Famer who won three championships with the Red Sox. He’s one of only four big league players to hit at least 500 homers and win at least three World Series (the others are Yankees Babe Ruth. Mickey Mantle, and Reggie Jackson).
There was a strong Boston flavor throughout Induction Weekend as Red Sox Nation planted a flag and many of Ortiz’s former teammates (Johnny Damon, Dustin Pedroia, Mike Lowell, Trot Nixon, Tim Wakefield, Kevin Youkilis, Kevin Millar, and Justin Varitek, to name a few), made the trek to Cooperstown.
“I don’t think I would have made it without their support and love,” said Ortiz, singling out Pedro, Pedroia, and Varitek as teammates he especially enjoyed.
One couldn’t help but note that Ortiz’s enshrinement came on the same date (July 24) as the Varitek-Alex Rodriguez home-plate dustup in 2004.
That was the year everything changed for the Boston Red Sox. After 86 years of frustration and multiple close calls, Ortiz was the man most responsible for Boston’s biblical, come-from-behind, Curse-busting ALCS against the Yankees.
It all started with the Sox down, three-games-to-zero, trying to stay alive in the bottom of the 12th inning of Game 4 at Fenway.
Ortiz’s after-hours blast into the Yankee bullpen at 1:22 a.m. made the Red Sox 6-4 winners in Game 4 and Fox’s Joe Buck told Baseball America, “We’ll see you later today.”
Exactly 15 hours and 49 minutes later, Pedro threw the first pitch of Game 5, which lasted five hours and 14 minutes over 14 innings and was won when Ortiz (who had already homered earlier in the game) fouled off six pitches before dumping a game-winning single to center off Esteban Loaiza.
Two games . . . both ending on the same day (Oct. 18) . . . consuming 26 innings over ten hours and 51 minutes . . . both won by David Ortiz.
The Sox went to New York and took two more, then swept the Cardinals in the World Series. Boston’s Señor Octubre had 19 RBIs in 14 postseason games and was suddenly rivaling Tom Brady as Boston’s most popular athlete of the 21st century.
Ortiz went on to win two more championships, rescuing the Sox with his eighth-inning grand slam in Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS against the Tigers (remember bullpen cop raising his hands as Torii Hunter went ass-over-teakettle?) then hitting an unbelievable .688 in the Fall Classic against the Cardinals.
That was the same year Ortiz personified Boston Strong, telling the world: “This is our [expletive] city and nobody’s gonna dictate our freedom.”
Brady, Ted Williams, Larry Bird, and Bobby Orr are four athletes who owned our town for most of the time they played. Bill Russell played his entire career in Boston and was the greatest winner the history of professional sports. All five Hub heroes started their careers in New England and enjoyed most of their success here.
Big Papi is different. First signed by the Seattle Mariners, he played parts of six big league seasons with the Twins before putting on a Boston uniform. He was released by the Twins at the age of 27 after hitting .272 with 20 homers and 75 RBI in 2002. That will always be something of a head scratcher, but along with Randy Moss and Kevin Garnett, Ortiz goes down as one of Minnesota’s greatest gifts to Boston.
After being released, Ortiz bumped into Pedro Martinez while dining at a restaurant in the Dominican Republic. Seizing an opportunity to take care of his countryman and help the Sox, Pedro called Boston traveling secretary Jack McCormick (the man who would later be knocked down by Manny Ramirez when McCormick couldn’t fill Manny’s ticket request) and McCormick called Boston’s rookie 28-year-old general manager, Theo Epstein.
“We already had David on our radar,” Epstein recalled this weekend. “But over the holidays Pedro ran into David and started calling everybody repeatedly. He had Jack Mack track me down. He tracked down Larry [Lucchino]. He just blew everybody up, going on and on, telling us what a great hitter David was, and how great he would be in our clubhouse.”
“That was unusual," recalled Lucchino. “I don’t ever remember ever getting a call from a player on behalf of another player. It was pretty powerful stuff."
On Jan. 22, 2003, the Red Sox signed Ortiz to a one-year contract for $1.25 million. It was not front page news in The Boston Globe. Not even Page 1 of sports. Announcing the signing, Globe reporter Gordon Edes wrote a short news story in which he chided the Sox for not being big spenders (sound familiar?).
“On a day that . . . cash-strapped Florida Marlins sprang for a $10-million, one-year deal for All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez, the Red Sox all but completed a winter of shopping at Wal-Mart yesterday, announcing the signing of free agent first baseman, David Ortiz.”
There was a lot of competition for a spot in the Sox lineup in 2003. In addition to Ortiz, Epstein acquired Millar, Bill Mueller, Todd Walker, and Jeremy Giambi. Meanwhile, Shea Hillenbrand was still a starter.
Ortiz played behind Giambi at the start of the season, sitting on the bench next to Doug Mirabelli, appearing in only 31 of the first 54 games. He had two homers at the end of May and teammates were calling him, “Juan Pierre” (a flyswatter outfielder who hit 18 homers in 14 big league seasons). Ortiz complained to Epstein, who told him to be patient. Epstein then traded Hillenbrand, which freed up a spot in the lineup. Ortiz wound up hitting .288 in 128 games with 31 homers and 101 RBI.
One year later, he became Big Papi and broke the Curse of the Bambino. Sox CEO Sam Kennedy has called Ortiz, “the most important player in the history of the Red Sox."
“When you do the things David did, you become a super hero," remembered Epstein. “He had authenticity and the way he’s unfiltered brought out the best in everybody. It really connected with the city."
“When I think about Boston, I definitely think about 2004, 2007, and of course, 2013, when our city was shaken by a Marathon bombing,” Ortiz said during his speech. “I have never seen a community bounce back and reunite like Boston.
“When I think about Boston I also think about the last game I played [in 2016]. Standing on that field, it felt like the whole city of New England and each one and every one of you was surrounding me and was showing me all your love.”
Big Papi.
Boston baseball’s Santa Claus.
Hall of Famer.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 25, 2022 2:56:44 GMT -5
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Post by Kimmi on Jul 26, 2022 7:39:00 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 4h Nice moment as Ortiz thanks former traveling secretary Jack McCormick and former PR director and current player relations chief Pam Kenn.
Ortiz with thanks to Tito and John Farrell.
Ortiz’s speech one of heartfelt thanks. Shouting out many people.
“Jason Varitek … that man is serious! Love you, Cap.” Varitek is here, btw.
Ortiz thanking his father and recalling his late mother
Ortiz spoke for 18:12, jumping back and forth from English to Spanish and hitting all the points he wanted to make with great emotion in his voice.
They told him 10 minutes but you knew that wouldn't take.
Boston, he said, will always be in his heart.
What a fine, fine moment for Ortiz. I'm very happy for him. Congrats! Congrats to Oliva and Kaat as well.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 26, 2022 18:12:41 GMT -5
Another great ceremony tonight for Papi at Fenway Alot of big names in this team was there, Pedro, Rice and Yaz came out for a hug Theo was there, Tito, and Farrell
I hope that folks don;t forget about Ortiz;s importance in Red Sox lore. This player, was beyond a clutch hit, very approachable, an ultimate team mate
My favorite Red Sox player of all time, wish him all the health and happiness.
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Post by Kimmi on Jul 27, 2022 7:16:39 GMT -5
Another great ceremony tonight for Papi at Fenway Alot of big names in this team was there, Pedro, Rice and Yaz came out for a hug Theo was there, Tito, and Farrell
I hope that folks don;t forget about Ortiz;s importance in Red Sox lore. This player, was beyond a clutch hit, very approachable, an ultimate team mate
My favorite Red Sox player of all time, wish him all the health and happiness. He had a great impact on Boston, both on the field and off. Besides being a great hitter, leader, and teammate, he seems like a genuinely very good person. I don't think he will be forgotten any time soon. The honor is very well deserved.
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Post by seabeachfred on Aug 14, 2022 16:59:14 GMT -5
I was there for the Hal of Fame Induction weekend and if any of my colleagues here haven't been to one---you need to go. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we're getting another Red Sox inductee anytime soon but just to be there to take it all in is worth the trip. Our group had one helluva time.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 14, 2022 21:16:46 GMT -5
I was there for the Hal of Fame Induction weekend and if any of my colleagues here haven't been to one---you need to go. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we're getting another Red Sox inductee anytime soon but just to be there to take it all in is worth the trip. Our group had one helluva time. I think Evans gets in next time. And I'm hoping one the nominating committees come to the realization that Reggie Smith has better career numbers than Evans did, as well as several other recent inductees. And I don't care for the logic of 'if so-and-so got in', but I think Tiant is better than Kaat.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 14, 2022 21:20:05 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 4h Nice moment as Ortiz thanks former traveling secretary Jack McCormick and former PR director and current player relations chief Pam Kenn.
Ortiz with thanks to Tito and John Farrell.
Ortiz’s speech one of heartfelt thanks. Shouting out many people.
“Jason Varitek … that man is serious! Love you, Cap.” Varitek is here, btw.
Ortiz thanking his father and recalling his late mother
Ortiz spoke for 18:12, jumping back and forth from English to Spanish and hitting all the points he wanted to make with great emotion in his voice.
They told him 10 minutes but you knew that wouldn't take.
Boston, he said, will always be in his heart.
What a fine, fine moment for Ortiz. I'm very happy for him. Congrats! Congrats to Oliva and Kaat as well. I was really happy that Oliva made it. He was about as good as anyone for 8 straight years. He had a 140 OPS+ for 8 years and a GG winner. Made the AS and got MVP votes in 8 straight years.
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Post by Kimmi on Aug 15, 2022 7:28:44 GMT -5
I was there for the Hal of Fame Induction weekend and if any of my colleagues here haven't been to one---you need to go. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like we're getting another Red Sox inductee anytime soon but just to be there to take it all in is worth the trip. Our group had one helluva time. Glad you had a good time Fred. I've never been, but it sounds like a fun experience.
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