2/7/22 by Brigham Loveland
In his first time on the ballot, Red Sox legend David Ortiz was selected as the lone member of the baseball Hall of Fame. The three-time World Series champion was able to achieve the highest honor in baseball this past January, and etch his name into baseball glory.
Before he was a World Series Champion with the Red Sox, Ortix got his start with the Minnesota Twins. Ortiz showcased below-average hitting stats for six seasons and seemed like another failed prospect. When the Red Sox picked him up in 2003, he emerged into a star. In the next five seasons in Boston, Ortiz was top five in MVP voting, won 4 Silver Slugger Awards, was a four-time all-star, and won two World Series titles. One of these titles helped the Red Sox break an 86-year drought to win the 2004 World Series.
Oritz was a dominant hitter in the American League, helping the Boston Red Sox become a consistent championship contender, and he was just as important to the city of Boston off the field.. In 2013, after the Boston Marathon tragedy, Ortiz displayed extraordinary leadership with a heartwarming speech.
That same year, Ortiz guided the Red Sox to another World Series Title. He posted an absurd .688 batting average, with 11 hits and two home runs to earn himself the World Series MVP trophy.
David Ortiz retired from baseball in 2016. He finished with a career batting average of .286, 541 home runs, 632 doubles. He was a ten-time all-star, a seven-time Silver Slugger, and a three-time World Series champion. Ortiz is entering the Hall of Fame with a 77.9% voting percentage.