Who Is Big Papi in Baseball?

David Ortiz, nicknamed “Big Papi,” is a former designated hitter and first baseman who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Boston Red Sox. He also played for the Minnesota Twins. Ortiz was a ten-time All-Star, won three World Series championships, and was the World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2013.

Big Papi’s Beginnings

Big Papi, or David Ortiz, is a Dominican-American former professional baseball player. David Ortiz was born on November 18, 1975, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ortiz grew up in a poor, single-parent household. When Ortiz was only thirteen years old, his mother moved the family to the United States in search of a better life.

Born in the Dominican Republic

Big Papi was born David Ortiz on November 18, 1975, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ortiz was one of six children born to Enrique and Angela Rosa Ortiz. His father worked as a hustler, while his mother cleaned houses to support the family. When Ortiz was about seven years old, his father abandoned the family, and his mother soon thereafter died of a heart attack. As a result, Ortiz and his siblings were raised in poverty by their grandmother.

Despite the difficult circumstances of his early life, Ortiz developed a love for baseball. He played the sport whenever he could, often using a milk carton for a glove. When he was 14 years old, he was signed by the Seattle Mariners organization but was later released. Undeterred, Ortiz continued to pursue his dream of becoming a professional baseball player. In 1992, he was signed by the Minnesota Twins and eventually made his major league debut in 1997.

Signed by the Red Sox in 1998

Big Papi, or David Ortiz, was signed by the Red Sox in 1998 after being released by the Minnesota Twins. He was a relative unknown at the time, but he quickly made a name for himself as a powerful hitter with a big bat. He helped lead the Red Sox to their first World Series championship in 2004, and he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Series. He has since helped the team win two more World Series titles, in 2007 and 2013. Big Papi is now one of the most popular players in baseball, and he is revered in Boston for his accomplishments on and off the field.

Big Papi’s Career

Big Papi, or David Ortiz, is one of the best sluggers in baseball history. He has played for the Boston Red Sox for most of his career, and has helped lead them to 3 World Series championships. Big Papi has hit over 500 home runs, and has a career batting average of .286. He is also a 10-time All-Star.

Helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series

In 2004, Ortiz helped the Red Sox break an 86-year championship drought by hitting .308 with 41 home runs and 139 RBIs during the regular season. He then batted .455 with a homer and four RBIs in Boston’s four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.

Won the 2007 World Series with the Red Sox

On October 28, 2007, the Red Sox won the 2007 World Series, their first championship in 86 years. Ortiz was the Most Valuable Player of the series, batting .688 with two home runs and six RBIs. In Game 4 of the series, he had five hits, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning that helped the Red Sox to an 8–1 win and a 3–1 lead in the series. In Game 5, he had another home run and two more RBIs as the Red Sox won 10–2 to capture their seventh championship.

Named the 2013 World Series MVP

In 2013, Ortiz was named the World Series MVP after leading the Red Sox to victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. He hit .688 with two home runs and six RBIs in the series.

Big Papi’s Legacy

David Ortiz, otherwise known as Big Papi, was a designated hitter and first baseman who played 20 seasons in the MLB, spending the majority of his career with the Boston Red Sox. He was a ten-time All-Star, a three-time World Series champion, and a seven-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Ortiz was one of the most feared hitters in the game and will go down as one of the greatest sluggers in baseball history.

One of the greatest sluggers of all time

Edgar Martínez, nicknamed “Big Papi”, is a Dominican former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a designated hitter (DH) and occasionally as a first baseman for the Seattle Mariners from 1987 to 2004. He is currently the hitting coach for the Mariners. He entered the MLB in 1990 as a second baseman but was converted to a designated hitter because of his great bat and lack of range in the field. He played seven seasons with Seattle before signing with the Boston Red Sox in 1998. In Boston, Martinez established himself as one of the best hitters in baseball, winning five Silver Slugger Awards and becoming one of four members of the 300–300 club in Major League history when he achieved both marks in 2000.

Martinez was born on December 18, 1963, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Paolino Martinez and Hermilda Jimenez. When he was eight years old, his father died of heart problems, leaving his family struggling to survive. As a teenager he worked alongside his mother cleaning houses while also shining shoes at a local hotel to help make ends meet. Despite his impoverished upbringing, Martinez had dreams of becoming a professional baseball player and worked hard to realize his goal.

In 1982, at the age of 19, he was signed by the Seattle Mariners as an amateur free agent. After spending several years working his way through the Mariners’ farm system, Martinez made his major league debut with Seattle in 1987. He quickly emerged as one of the best hitters in baseball, winning five Silver Slugger Awards and finishing in the top ten in American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting three times between 1995 and 2000. In 2000 he became just the fourth member of Major League Baseball’s 300–300 club when he hit .324 with 42 home runs and 156 RBIs; joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Andre Dawson as members of this prestigious group.

After spending parts of 18 seasons with Seattle, Martinez signed with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent prior to the start of the 1998 season. In Boston he continued to excel at hitting; winning two more Silver Slugger Awards while finishing second in AL MVP voting behind only New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in 1999. In 2003 he helped lead Boston to their first World Series championship in 86 years by hitting .273 with 41 home runs and 104 RBIs during the regular season; then batting .409 with 1 home run and 4 RBIs during Boston’s seven-game victory over Jeter’s Yankees in the Fall Classic. During his time withBoston he became beloved by fans for both his on-field heroics and charity work off-the-field; Martinez retired following Boston’s second World Series championship victoryin 2007 having cemented himself as oneofthe best sluggersin baseball history.”

A beloved figure in Boston

As a beloved figure in Boston, David Ortiz will always be remembered for his iconic home runs and his big personality. But he’ll also be remembered for his charitable work, both in his native Dominican Republic and in the US. After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Ortiz helped to raise millions of dollars for relief efforts. And in 2016, he founded the Big Papi Foundation to help children in need, both here and in the Dominican Republic. Thanks to Big Papi, countless children have been given the opportunity to pursue their dreams.

One of the most popular players in baseball

Big Papi, aka David Ortiz, is one of the most popular players in baseball. He played for the Boston Red Sox from 2003 to 2016, and helped the team win three World Series titles. Ortiz was known for his clutch hitting, and was named the World Series Most Valuable Player in 2013. After his retirement, Ortiz was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame.