Sunday marked an important anniversary in Boston Red Sox history.
20 years ago, on January 22, the Red Sox took a chance on a certain slugger who was down on his luck after being let go by the Minnesota Twins a few months earlier.
The slugger’s name was David Ortiz.
Luckily, Ortiz had a valuable connection with a key Red Sox star in staff ace and three-time Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez.
Martinez met with the recently released slugger and mentioned that the Red Sox had a need for some power, so he contacted the front office and requested that the team take a chance on him.
Boston did just that, signing him to a one-year, $1.2 million contract.
And the rest is history.
On this Date in 2003: After 6 seasons in Minnesota with 2.6 career WAR, David Ortiz signs as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox. Ortiz would go on to win 3 World Series with the team before retiring after the 2016 season. pic.twitter.com/hw1MOmzLXu
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 22, 2023
The Red Sox didn’t know it at the time, but they had just signed one of the most influential figures in franchise history.
Ortiz immediately emerged as the team’s designated hitter and became a star in just a few short years.
By October of 2004, it was clear that Ortiz was on his way to becoming a superstar, as he came up with some clutch hits while the Red Sox were fighting for their lives against the New York Yankees.
“Big Papi.” as he came to be known, helped the Red Sox shake the Curse of the Bambino and led the team to three World Series titles.
Ortiz was also a 10-time All-Star, a seven-time Silver Slugger, an ALCS MVP, and a World Series MVP.
Just last year, Big Papi was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
For his career, Ortiz hit for a .286 average, popped 541 home runs, and posted a 55.3 WAR.
NEXT: Red Sox Prospect Tops An Exciting 2023 List