WATCH: Former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz’s heartwarming reaction on getting elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame
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David Ortiz
In his very first year of eligibility, former Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was voted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Ortiz, who began his career with the Minnesota Twins, played 20 seasons in MLB. The Big Papi was a three-time World Series champion, a 10-time All-Star and a seven-time Silver Slugger Award winner.
Ortiz bagged 77.9% of the vote en route to the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot. Apart from being a ferocious competitor, the 46-year old’s on-field charisma that affected teammates and opponents alike is what sets him apart. David Ortiz offered his gratitude to all who helped him on his journey to Boston and the history books.
“I am truly honoured and blessed by my selection to the Hall of Fame — the highest honour that any baseball player can reach in their lifetime. I am grateful to the baseball writers who considered my career in its totality, not just on the statistics, but also on my contributions to the Red Sox, the City of Boston and all of Red Sox Nation.
“I am also grateful to my teammates, my managers and coaches and Red Sox ownership for their faith in me and for allowing me to be part of three world championships,” Ortiz’s statement read.
WATCH: David Ortiz’s priceless reaction
With a career studded with 541 home runs, 632 doubles, 1,768 RBIs, 2,472 hits and 1,319 walks, David Ortiz was one of the favourites to get inducted into the Hall of Fame. He was surrounded by family, friends and former teammates, flanked by the Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, when the Big Papi received the news and his reaction is one for the ages.
As Jack O’Connell of the Baseball Writers Association of America informed him of his induction, David leapt in joy, hugging his loved ones. The Red Sox too took to Twitter to share the big man’s precious moment as he burst into celebration.
David Ortiz received 307 of 405 writers’ votes to become the second Hall of Famer from the curse-breaking Boston Red Sox. Ortiz joins his pal Pedro, who is also a native of the Dominican Republic. The duo was part of the 2004 team that won the franchise’s first title in more than eight decades, ending a gigantic curse.
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Anshuman Mahapatra
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