10 Stats That Encapsulate the Greatness of David Ortiz
Legendary Numbers from Big Papi’s Legendary Career
After the Indians eliminated the Red Sox from the 2016 playoffs, David Ortiz took one final stroll around the infield as Boston fans chanted “Papi, Papi, Papi” to show their love for one of the best players to ever call Fenway Park home. It’s still hard to believe that David Ortiz is retiring, especially since he was one of the best overall players in the majors this season. But if this is indeed the end, Big Papi has left behind a baseball legacy that few can match. Here are 10 stats (in no particular order) that illustrate just how good he’s been in his now completed 20-year career.
10. David Ortiz finished with 541 career home runs, 17th on the all-time list, but 483 of those came with Boston, placing him second behind Ted Williams in Red Sox franchise history.
9. Even though Williams has the top overall total, Ortiz hit 30 or more home runs in 10 different seasons with Boston, more than any other Red Sox player.
8. In addition, even though his RBI total ranks third to Carl Yastrzemski and Ted Williams in Red Sox history, David Ortiz had 10 seasons with 100 or more RBI, again the most in franchise history.
7. Overall, Ortiz is just the 11th player to have 10 seasons with both 30 or more home runs and 100 or more RBI.
6. However, when it comes to Red Sox postseason totals, no one comes close to Big Papi (even though past players like Ted Williams didn’t benefit from the current extended playoff format). While his one-time teammate Manny Ramirez has the most career home runs in the playoffs thanks to his runs with the Indians and Dodgers, Ortiz has launched more playoff homers in a Red Sox uniform than any other player.
5. His Boston postseason dominance also extends to RBI, where he has 19 more than the next closest Red Sox player.
4. His playoff greatness isn’t limited to just Red Sox franchise records. With one RBI in his final game, he moved into a tie with Derek Jeter for the fourth-most career RBI by any player in the postseason.
3. These numbers weren’t in vain, either. Since Ortiz joined Boston in 2003, the Red Sox have won more playoff games than any other American League team.
2. Not only did these wins contribute to breaking the “Curse of the Bambino” in 2004, but Ortiz helped lead Boston to three World Series Championships during his tenure. While there are players from the early 20th century Red Sox teams with four World Series rings, Ortiz is the only player to be on the roster for each of the 2004, 2007 and 2013 championships.
1. David Ortiz has the record for most profound use of profanity in a public address. This isn’t an official stat and I can’t back it up by data, but name another instance where an athlete dropped an f-bomb in front of an audience of that size where it was not only immune from punishment, but praised for perfectly capturing the feelings of a city in the aftermath of unspeakable tragedy. And not just any athlete could’ve pulled that off; Ortiz was uniquely qualified not only on account of his years of accomplishments, but also for his upstanding character and years of involvement in the community. Yes, he compiled one of the most statistically impressive careers ever and helped break one of the most infamous championship droughts in sports history, but above all that, when an American city needed someone to speak for them amidst their suffering, a Dominican baseball player who was embraced as one of their own stepped up and delivered an absolutely perfect line. It was the greatness of David Ortiz encapsulated in a single, beautifully-profane moment.
All stats included were found asking questions using simple, natural language on StatMuse.
