This Day in Red Sox History

Monday, January 22, 2003

On January 22, 2003 David Ortiz signed as a free agent with the Red Sox. Big Papi, as he is so affectionately called by members of RSN, came to the team along with two other free agents, Bill Mueller and Kevin Millar. Of the three, Papi is the only one still with the organization.

He’s also known as “Mr. Clutch” - any Sox fan should know why! According to Boston.com:

In three seasons with the Sox, David Ortiz has 15 walkoff hits, including nine walkoff homers. Last year he received a plaque from the Sox that read “David Ortiz #34 The Greatest Clutch Hitter in the History of the Boston Red Sox.”

For the past two years Papi has been a serious American League MVP candidate. In 2005 he lost to A-Fraud, after significant debates. The feeling was, since he is DH and not on the field all of the time, he doesn’t contribute as much to the game as a position player. 2006 was a different story for Papi, although he broke the Red Sox single season home run record (previously held by Jimmie Foxx), The Sox failed and therefore nobody expected M.V.Papi to take home the prize. It was awarded to Minnesota Twins player, Justin Morneau.

Do you agree a DH shouldn’t take home the MVP prize? I mean to me an MVP means a player who has provided the most value to his team. Pitchers have their own version of MVP, the Cy Young award. So what award does the DH get? Nothing? How wrong is that? Especially for a guy (like Ortiz) who has FANTASTIC stats? There aren’t enough words to talk about all of his accolades or what he’s brought as both a player and a person to RSN. He’s an MVP in my book.

This day in RSH (Red Sox History) proved to be a significant one, indeed!!!

Show your support of this Boston All-Star by picking up one of these kick-@ss shirts from theredseat.com

(No, they didn’t pay me to say that! They just happen to be my favorite site for Red Sox Apparel and related merchandise because everything they have is so unique! In fact, my ‘This Day in Red Sox History’ facts come from their Red Sox Calendar!)

(Photo taken by me at Fenway Park on 10-01-06)

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