There’s no doubt that David Ortiz is one of the biggest legends in the Boston Red Sox history. The Dominican hitter has been one of the team’s best players over their last 30 years and he’s been responsible for a bunch of historical hits that have led to the franchise’s three World Series titles over the last 13 years.
The upcoming 2016 season will be Ortiz’ last one at the MLB level and his farewell tour should comprehend plenty of standing ovations from several venues around the Majors. The Big Papi is undoubtedly one of the biggest hitters in recent years and he’s also a very likeable guy… unless you’re, of course, a Yankees fan.
Ortiz was actually asked about what he’d like to happen in his last game at Yankee Stadium scheduled for September 27th. One could’ve expected something along the lines of “we just want to win” or something like that but instead, Ortiz said he’d like to receive a standing ovation from the New York fans.
Ortiz backed from his own words this Thursday and said he was only joking and that he’d be okay with whatever thing that happens on that day. His previous remarks, however, left the question open. Does he deserve to get a standing ovation from his biggest rivals?
It’s true that Ortiz has been one of the most hated players by the Yankees ever since he crushed a deep ball to right field for a two-run shot that swung the momentum in the 2004 ALCS.
That season would end with a World Series title for Boston and they’ve won two more (2007 and 2013) to New York’s only one (2009) as of late. He’s hit 47 HRs in his career against the Yankees and there’s no doubt that the casual Yankee fan is not likely to miss him.
That being said, New York should give Ortiz a standing ovation in his final at-bat since he’s one of the most recognizable players in the American League as of late. The Red Sox did it when both Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera retired and Ortiz can easily be placed in their same category in terms of importance to their franchise.
It remains to be seen what will happen and we won’t have a definitive answer until both clubs meet for the last time this season in New York in the final days of September. Baseball, however, has always been a game of respect and the Yankees fans will have the perfect chance to continue that tradition, giving one of their biggest rivals a huge ovation in the final at-bat of this rivalry.